Bottom - Series 1-3 [DVD]

Product Information

Sometimes things get edited a bit for American network release, so I assume that sometimes these versions get made into box sets? Despite being a penniless slob, he occasionally projects a pompous sort of snobbery in an attempt to impress others and boost his self-esteem; he is sexually frustrated and obsessed with losing his virginity. Bottom follows their miserable lives together fighting boredom, and each other, and trying unsuccessfully to find someone to have sex with. Richie and Eddie are trapped at the top of the tallest Ferris wheel in Western Europe which is due to be blown up the very next day.

Before I begin, the entire purpose for this thread is solely for the discussion of DVD's edited from the original TV version. In season 3 there is an episode stuck on a Ferris wheel, the Halloween episode (my favourite), packing for a holiday, counterfeit money, the honeymoon caper, and the stolen BBC camera. Mayall appeared again, this time live on stage, to abruptly end Edmondson's performance by hitting him several times with a frying pan.An episode from the 1995 series has been pulled from the catch-up service of TV channel Gold over scenes that ‘could be deemed offensive to the Royal Family’.

The original scripts can be found in the published script books, and several completely removed scenes were included in the VHS release Fluff that consisted mostly of bloopers. The violence is exaggerated for comic effect, and the slapstick is extreme, usually involving them demolishing their apartment. The plot of the season three episode Dough involves the pair forging money which contains pornographic doodles of the Royals that are described in the show as ‘tantamount to treason’.

I believe A Royal Flush had something like 14 mins cut out of it in the recent Complete Only Fools and Horses DVD Collection. He explained that Mayall was eager to revive their old characters, but struggled to accept that Edmondson was not interested. I just checked with my Australian-release Fawlty Towers DVD set and then with my Netherlands-release Fawlty Towers set - and that line has been cut from both versions.