Hale and Pace

*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 an English comedy duo who have starred in several TV sketch series.

Early career

Gareth Hale and Norman Pace met at a teacher-training college in Eltham, South-East London, and roomed together. 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 on The Young Ones (TV series) three times, in the episodes Flood, Nasty and Time.

London 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 (Pace's head is only inches away from the female model's exposed vulva, while the other actress' head is inches away from Hale's exposed penis).

Hale & Pace's characters "The Two Rons - also known as The Management" also had a spin-off series of their own called "The Management (iMDB link)" which included a number of their regular cast in permanent positions and ran for a total of 6 episodes. This series was released on video, and is usually easily available through specialist second-hand video shops. They also made several specials, like the 1996 Showcase Hale & Pace Down Under from Australia and April Fools' Day.

Series 1

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, mimiking TV Series The Singing Detective
Deliberate blooper segments
Antique roadshow

Memorable sketches
Welcome to the CIA (takeoff of Godfather movie)
Jennings & O'Keefe prison gardening
Two "unfit" pool players
The brother who broke the rules and gets punished
"Save the cat" (music recording)
The Walkman brothers
Jack and Hank (the piano player)
Sir Walter Riley & the banana
Sid of the Sunday league

Other trivia

Look out for a young Ainsley Harriott participating in some of the sketches.
Currently showing in the UK on Men & Motors channel (since October 2007) on Monday nights at 22:00, with another episode at 22:30.

Series 2

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 Ron's
Billy & Johnny
Jed & Dave

Memorable sketches
Fatal irritation
Guide cat
Simon & Garfunkel impersonation
The English dead

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). A still image of "LWT - An LWT production" and Roman numerals (MCMXC) are shown.

Recurring sketches
Old men sitting in chairs talking
The two Ron's

Memorable sketches
Jazz duet
Auctioneer who nobody can understand
"I'll have a go"
"The Humpada" (musical takeoff of the "Lambada"). Note: This sketch (the humpada) has since been considered by H&P as one of their worst ever ideas.^{[citation needed]}

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 Ron's
Jed & Dave
Billy & Johnny

Memorable sketches
Fight when paying for a bill
Studying for an Open University degree at prison
The Managing Director (musical)
Higgen's VS Armitage's gangs (acting like children)

Series 5

Season details:

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

Episode theme

Recurring sketches

Memorable sketches

Series 6

Season details:

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

Episode theme

Recurring sketches

Memorable 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)
Unneccasary Force Force
Mr. Poppy

Memorable sketches

Sex Chat
Selling Hale and Pace to audiences around the world
Burning Issues
Cutting toe nails
REM Song

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)

Memorable sketches
Yorkshire Airlines
Stars with Stars in their eyes
Peek-a-boob
? "In Person" interview
The Proclaimers impersonation
Sir Richard
REM impersonation

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

Memorable sketches
Scary butler
Killing machine
Mr.Eddie 'Razor Shallow-Grave Chainsaw' Slater
DFI furniture outlet sale
Somebody up there wears big trousers
Monseur Collins at the casino
Count Cleansing
Oaday Mock Of Oasis

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

Memorable sketches
The Dopplers at the fish and chips shop

Guest stars

From the first series, Hale and Pace had stars in their show. Back then, people like Ainsley Harriot (best known as a TV chef in the UK) and Annette Badland (Known in the UK for her role as "Charlotte," the PA in Bergerac). Once Hale and Pace were well-known comedians, better 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)

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.

Preceded by "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash	UK number one single 23 March 1991 (1 week)	Succeeded by "The One and Only" by Chesney Hawkes

Other appearances

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 five minute humorous roles of shop-keepers Harvey and Len, in the 1989 Doctor Who story 'Survival'. This gave them the distinction of appearing in what turned out to be the last ever story in Doctor Who's original 1963-89 run. A hybrid variety/comedy/quiz/people-show hotchpotch 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

ClassicTelly.com Tributes to Hale and Pace