Where the cast of Not The Nine O’Clock News are now – from sad death to time in prison
IT was the iconic Eighties sketch show that got everybody laughing thanks to its fun-poking at the latest news and policitcs.
Starring an eclectic cast of household names, the show aired between 1979 and 1982 and is often credited with the rise in alternative comedy in British television.
Now, one of the show’s writers, Richard Sparks, has admitted he thinks it is time that the show makes a comeback.
The star admitted the current political landscape has plenty that he could write about, telling the Express in a recent interview: “Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the scandal over gifts could be a plum target.
“All that stuff is going to waste as material isn’t it. What a wonderful sketch you could have about that. I mean I could write it in 10 seconds and it just write itself.”
But what happened to the most famous faces from the sitcom and where are they now…
Rowan Atkinson
Arguably the most famous amongst the cast, Rowan has managed to carve out an impressive career for himself after the show.
After the show, he bagged the leading role in Blackadder which went on to become one of the Beeb’s most popular shows.
Rowan also became well-known for his portrayal of the unmistakable Mr. Bean as well as the iconic Johnny English films.
At the age of 58, Rowan famously fell for the much-younger actress Louise Ford and left his wife in order to be with her.
The pair went on to have a child with each other with Rowan becoming a father to the tot in his sixties.
Chris Langham
Chris once had a glistening career in the world of comedy and was famed for his role as Hugh Abbot in the BBC sitcom The Thick of It.
He even picked up the gong for Best Actor at the 2006 BAFTA Awards for his portrayal as well as the BBC Two comedy Help alongside Paul Whitehouse and Alison King.
However, his career was ground to a halt when he was arrested and later charged with downloading 15 child sexual abuse videos and images
He was jailed for ten months, which was later reduced to six on appeal.
Chris claimed in defence that he downloaded the material as research for his character as a ‘peeping Tom’ in Help and insisted he had only watched a few seconds of four of the videos.
Judge Dame Heather Steel went on to argue this was “highly improbable”.
Chris’ career has failed to be revived since his prison release with him appearing in just a 2011 low-budget movie titled Black Pond and another movie the following year before failing to be employed again.
Mel Smith
Mel became one of the country’s leading comedy performers following his participation in the show.
He worked alongside Nine O’Clock News star Griff Rhys Jones a lot in his career with the becoming a double act after their time on the programme.
Some of his most notable TV show appearances include Smith and Goody, The Young Ones and Colin’s Sandwich.
Mel faced a number of health issues across his life and was hospitalised with stomach ulcers in 1999 after accidentally taking 50 Nurofen tablets in one day.
In 2013, aged just 60, he was revealed to have died after he suffered a a heart attack at his home in London.
Pamela Stephenson
Pamela has achieved success in two completely separate careers.
As well as her work in comedy, television and performing – she opted to train in psychology in the early 90s after meeting all of her comedy goals.
She began studying at the Antioch University in the United States and graduated with a doctorate in clinical psychology from the California Graduate Institute in 1996 before going on to set up her own private practise.
Pamela went on to found the the Los Angeles Sexuality Centre with a focus on the investigation of transgender people.
With her current focus primarily in that line of work, she did make a return to TV with a stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2010.
Griff Rhys Jones
Griff, like his fellow cast members, enjoyed a career in the spotlight with a huge comedy career.
However, he also managed to achieve success as a TV host and in the world of documentaries.
Between 2008 and 2018, he replaced Denis Norden as the host of bloopers show It’ll Be Alright On The Night before axed BGT judge David Walliams took over.
In 2022, he fronted Griff’s Canadian Adventure, a new six-part series for Channel 4 which saw him exploring across Canada.
Best 80s sitcoms
We take a look at some of the best sitcoms to air on TV in the 80s.
The Simpsons
This satirical depiction of life in the US was developed by Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, and Sam Simon. It first launched in 1989 and has been going ever since as viewers tune in to see the antics of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and the rest of the Springfield residents. With over 35 series making it onto the television airwaves, it has become one of the most famous and long-running television shows in history.
Only Fools And Horses
Widely accepted as one of the best British sitcoms of all time, Only Fools and Horses has made viewers laugh for decades. Seven series of the show were made for the BBC One from 1981 for ten years. Set in working-class Peckham, it starred Sir David Jason in his most famous role as the infamous market trader Derek “Del Boy” Trotter. Nicholas Lyndhurst starred as his younger half-brother, Rodney Trotter. In 2004, it was voted as Britain’s Best Sitcom in a BBC poll.
Full House
The US sitcom Full House was created in 1987 with Bob Saget starring father-of-three Danny Tanner. After his wife died, he called in the help of his brother-in-law Jesse (John Stamos) and best friend Joey (Dave Coulier) to move in and help raise his young daughters, DJ (Candace Cameron Bure), Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and Michelle (Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen). After eight series, the show came to an end before Netflix revived the franchise for a spin-off, Fuller House.
Golden Girls
Seven series aired from 1985 until 1992. It followed Four women – who were previously married – moved in together in a shared apartment in Miami. Together, they faced various struggles and encounter comical situations in their daily lives. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty starred in roles that short them to superstardom.
Cheers
1982 was the year that saw the inception of Cheers. An eclectic group of people from all different paths of life meet at a bar Cheers. The boston boozer sees the group share their experiences as they work and drank at the establishment. It starred the likes of Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman. Huge names such as Kelsey Grammer, Woody Harrelson and Kirstie Alley also starred in the hit series.
Growing Pains
Dr. Jason Seaver (Alan Thicke) is a psychiatrist who works from home so his wife, Maggie (Joanna Kerns), can resume her career as a journalist. They share three children, Mike (Kirk Cameron), Carol (Tracey Gold), and Ben (Jeremy Miller). This was before their precocious daughter Chrissy (Ashley Johnson) was born. The programme tackled topical issues such as drugs, suicide, peer pressure and alcohol.