Hale and Pace

Hale and Pace
File:HaleandPace2.jpg
Genre	Comedy
Written by	Adrian Baldwin Lenny Barker
Directed by	Vic Finch David G. Hillier Peter Orton
Starring	Gareth Hale Norman Pace
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	10
No. of episodes	66
Production
Producers	David G. Hillier Alan Nixon Mark Robson
Running time	30 minutes
Production company	London Weekend Television
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	2 October 1988 – 20 December 1998

Hale & Pace are a comedy duo who have starred in several TV sketch series.

Early career

Gareth Hale and Norman Pace met at Avery Hill teacher training college in Eltham South East London. They discovered much in common, particularly humour, and began playing clubs in a comedy band. One of the clubs that they most liked playing was "The Tramshed" in Woolwich. This developed into sketch writing, with show Don't Stop Now, It's Fundation. Their early TV break came on The Entertainers (1984), Pushing Up Daisies (1984) and the Saturday Gang (1986). They also appeared in The Young Ones three times, in the episodes Flood, Nasty and Time.

Edinburgh Weekend Television show

After a single one-off special for London Weekend Television in Christmas 1986, they were given a full series in 1988. The first series won the Silver Rose of Montreux, as well as the Press prize. Their relationship with ITV lasted a decade, with most of their programmes going out around 10pm on a Sunday. Their most famous comic creations are the stone faced bouncers The Two Rons - also known as The Management, who include the phrase 'I do Ron, Ron' in their stilted conversations in a reference to the song "Da Doo Ron Ron" by The Crystals. They are also famous for their ever smiling and colourfully dressed children's TV presenters Billy (Hale) and Johnny (Pace). A number of their TV sketches caused controversy, especially a performed when they pretended to have microwaved a cat. This clip got them onto the top 50 on "50 most shocking comedy moments" and they believe that the sketch gave them the notoriety that kept them in work for all the successive series. They went one-up on this sketch in the first episode of the second series where Norman holds a baby and they both move aside to show the microwave behind them. Gareth flips a coin, then the baby upstages them (assumedly unscripted) by vomiting over Norman's arm. Other sketches were heavily criticised for being perverted or almost pornographic. One sketch showed a British couple staying with a Swedish couple. The Swedes were nudists who were constantly naked, with the man (Hale) constantly asking for very intimate details of their sex lives. Although the British couple are clearly shocked and offended, they finally claim that their Swedish hosts are boring. At one point, the Swedish couple are filmed with full frontal nudity. Their genitals are only hidden by the very close positioning of the British couple's heads.

Hale & Pace's characters "The Two Rons - also known as The Management" also had a spin-off series of their own called The Management which included a number of their regular cast in permanent positions and ran for a total of 6 episodes. This series was also released on video. They also made several specials, such as the 1996 Showcase Hale & Pace Down Under from Australia and April Fools' Day.

Series 1

Season details:

• No. episodes: 7
• Aired (UK): 02/10/1988 - 13/11/1988
• Director: Vic Finch
• Producer: Alan Nixon

Episode theme
Each episode starts with a sketch before proceeding to the introduction which is a colourful montage of Hale & Pace. Both comedians have individual stills of them shot from the waist up and then shown in a quick sequence. A colourful background is used during the introduction consisting mainly of a purple/pink colour also has splashes of yellow and green. At its end, the title of the show is shown with the names Hale (green colour) and Pace (yellow colour). Each episode finishes with a sketch after the rolling credits and then the letters "LWT" and Roman numerals (MCMLXXXVIII). There are quite a few live stage performances during this season including the two Rons regularly appearing on a stage balcony.

Recurring sketches
Two Rons (with rubber chicken)
Billy & Johnny
Jed & Dave
"Readings from my latest anthology", by Groovy Wordbender (1) Don't be a square, be a rhombus (2) Ain't got no Daddio, bastardio (3) Nitrous oxide - What a gas!
Guy being greased, mimicking TV Series The Singing Detective
Deliberate blooper segments
Antique roadshow

Series 2

Season details:

• No. episodes: 6
• Aired (UK): 01/10/1989 - 05/11/1989
• Director: David G. Hillier
• Producer: Alan Nixon

Episode theme
The introduction is identical to the 1st season (1988). At the end of the episode, the year in Roman numerals is shown (MCMLXXXIX).

Recurring sketches
The two Rons
Billy & Johnny
Jed & Dave

Series 3

• No. episodes: 6
• Aired (UK): 30/09/1990 - 04/11/1990
• Director: David G. Hillier
• Producer: Alan Nixon

Episode theme
The introduction shows Hale & Pace in an early 20th century setting with Hale wearing an old hat and Pace wearing a monocle. Chickens, chicken feathers and a rubber chicken are being shaken around the room for some reason. The introduction finishes zooming in on their faces, at which point they both stick out their tongues, with Hale's tongue showing "Hale" written on it and Pace's showing "Pace". The "&" is written on Pace's hand which is positioned behind them but between their two heads, therefore clearing presenting the title "Hale & Pace". Each show finishes with a nude shot of Hale & Pace's backsides each with their name written on it (i.e. mimicking the introduction with the tongues). This became the series in which the Prisoner sketch was first shown. It proved so realistic that Lisa Blair rang up LWT asking why Val Lehman had reprised the role of Bea Smith for another one off episode. A still image of "LWT - An LWT production" and Roman numerals (MCMXC) are shown.

Recurring sketches
Old men sitting in chairs talking
The two Rons

Series 4

• No. episodes: 6
• Aired (UK): 29/09/1991 - 03/11/1991
• Director: David G. Hillier
• Producer: David G. Hillier

Episode theme
A water theme is used for this season for the credits and ad-breaks, (the credits were designed by Jan Pinkava while he was starting out at Digital Pictures in London). Hale & Pace have the appearance of being submerged in water and focussing on fish swimming past them. A shark swims right to left across the screen and then opens its jaws to begin the show. When cutting to commercials, the same shark actually shows Hale & Pace in its mouth. The episodes conclude with a single sketch followed by the text "An LWT production for ITV" and the year in Roman numerals (MCMXCI).

Recurring sketches
The two Rons
Jed & Dave
Billy & Johnny

Series 5

Season details:

• No. episodes: 7
• Aired (UK): 24/01/1993 - 07/03/1993
• Director:
• Producer:

Episode theme

Recurring sketches

Series 6

Season details:

• No. episodes: 7
• Aired (UK): 19/09/1993 - 31/10/1993
• Director:
• Producer:

Episode theme

Recurring sketches

Series 7

• No. episodes: 7
• Aired (UK): 18/09/1994 - 30/10/1994
• Director:
• Producer:

Episode theme

Episode introduction includes Hale & Pace dancing and gyrating in front of a black & white digital background. In most cases, the black & white is unevenly represented on the screen (i.e. sometimes more black than white and vice-versa). No formal title (Hale & Pace) is displayed and the backing track is 'I feel Good'. There are also many sketches performed on a live stage during this season where the stage contains an enormous background prop with the letters "HALE" placed on top of "PACE". Each episode starts with the two stars coming on stage and their jackets are taken by different people each week. Each episode concludes with rolling credits and two consecutive stills: (1) LWTP (LWT Productions) graphic (2) "An LWT programme for ITV" and the year in Roman numerals (MCMXCIV).

Recurring sketches

Sister Wendy's Art Treasures
The Golfing Cabbies
Swedish Sauna
The Open University
Jeans adverts (Levi)
Unnecessary Force Force
Mr. Poppy

Series 8

• No. episodes: 6
• Aired (UK): 08/10/1995 - 19/11/1995
• Director: Peter Orton
• Producer: Mark Robson

Episode theme
Episode introduction includes Hale & Pace dancing and gyrating in front of a black & white digital background. In most cases, the black & white is unevenly represented on the screen (i.e. sometimes more black than white and vice-versa). No formal title (Hale & Pace) is displayed but the duo perform a voiceover introducing the show as "Hale & Pace". Hale walks through a door which acts as a transition from the introduction to the opening sketch. There are also many sketches performed on a live stage during this season where the stage contains an enormous background prop with the letters "HALE" placed on top of "PACE". Each episode concludes with rolling credits and two consecutive stills: (1) LWTP (LWT Productions) graphic (2) "An LWT programme for ITV" and the year in Roman numerals (MCMXCV).

Recurring sketches
Billy & Johnny
Curly & Nige: (1) Hospital porters (2) Go camping
Jed & Dave on the road
London cabbies
John & Yokel
Sven & Benny (in a sauna)

Series 9

Season details:

• No. episodes: 7
• Aired (UK): 05/01/1997 - 16/02/1997
• Director:
• Producer:

Episode theme
The introduction shows 4 separate pieces of the faces of Hale & Pace being jumbled and put together correctly. Their faces are changing expressions whilst being put together and once completed their name (i.e. Gareth Hale) appears in a small board area. At the end of the introduction, the camera zooms in to the small board showing the show's title "Hale & Pace". It then transitions to the first sketch of the show.

Recurring sketches
London cabbies
Waiter/s with "black pepper"
Are you nervous...nervous now?
Curly & Nige: (1) In the garage (2) At the D.I.Y shop
American sherrif & his deputy
Rappers with baggy clothes
Yorkshiremen
Crime boss & his muscle
Two redheads who copy the end of what people say
Transpotters
Elderly gentleman who can't swear
Meditating man who wishes for things to happen

Series 10

Season details:

• No. episodes: 6
• Aired (UK): 23/07/1998 - 27/08/1998
• Director:
• Producer:

Episode theme

Recurring sketches
The Dopplers (1) At the fish and chips shop (2) At the magic show (3) Interviewed by a police officer about a car

Guest stars

From the first series, Hale and Pace had stars in their show. Initially, these were (then) little known performers such as Ainsley Harriot and Annette Badland. Once Hale and Pace became more well-known, more wider-known stars appeared in their shows, and the snooker player Steve Davis even played foil to the two cabbies in one episode.

DVD box sets

All 10 seasons are now released on DVD, available in region 4 from Australia (No special features or extras, simple DVD transfer)

• Seasons 1 & 2 Alternative?
• Seasons 3 & 4 Alternative?
• Seasons 5 & 6
• Seasons 7 & 8
• Seasons 9 & 10

The show is rated  M  in Australia and  R16  in New Zealand for its sexual references.

The Stonk

In 1991 they released a charity single in aid of Comic Relief. The Stonk, based on a fictitious dance craze was written by Joe Griffiths and Hale & Pace and was produced by Queen guitarist Brian May who also featured on the track. A UK number-one single for one week in March 1991, to date it is their sole chart single and raised £100,000 for Comic Relief.

Other appearances

As well as their 1991 single The Stonk, the duo also appeared in their guise as the Two Rons in a firework safety campaign run around Guy Fawkes Night, in trailers that were run for several years in the late 1980s/early 1990s, in slots often directly after Children's BBC, but also occasionally during ITV commercial breaks.

Hale & Pace continued their charity work with a 1992 stint as spokespersons for the National Egg Awareness Campaign. After some years away from television, they moved across to the BBC in 1997 and starred in the three-part series, Jobs for the Boys, a non-comedic show in which they took on a variety of employment challenges.

The duo also appeared, in brief, humorous roles of shop-keepers Harvey and Len, in Part One of the 1989 Doctor Who story Survival. This gave them the distinction of appearing in what turned out to be the last ever story in the show's original 1963-89 run.

A hybrid variety/comedy/quiz/people-show h&p@bbc (1999) was a flop. Similarly, their dramatisation of the Dalziel and Pascoe detectives for ITV in 1994 did not lead to success, and the BBC later attempted the serialisations with more success, with Warren Clarke and Colin Buchanan in the title roles. More recently they appeared in the Christmas Special of the Gervais and Merchant show "Extras", broadcast in December 2007.

Other working credits

As of August 2009 both Hale and Pace are touring Australia again with their production company.

External links

The Management at IMDb

• ClassicTelly.com Tributes to Hale and Pace