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Synopsis
Aiming to do for Welsh undertakers what Father Ted did for Irish priests, this series follows a family who try to get their business of the ground... but fail to get their clients under it. The Thomas' run a family firm of undertakers. They're a colourful bunch whose daily mishaps and unsuccessful burials develop into offbeat antics with hilarious outcomes. At the beginning of each episode a villager dies in bizarre circumstances. And with each deceased villager, the funeral parlour becomes less and less competent in burying the dead. Ivor Thomas, head of the family firm, is petrified of dead bodies, and with his three eccentric sons in tow, every attempted funeral turns ino anther botched job.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Much in the vein of 'Father Ted' and 'Nightingales', this offbeat comedy series is much better than the rather bald title would suggest. I didn't see it on TV, and you probably didn't either, because it was a flagship show for the Beeb's digital channel BBC Choice at a time when barely anyone in the UK had digital TV. But look at the comedy talent on that! I picked up this DVD on the basis of the performers' names, and I consider it a decision well made.
The show centres around Thomas, Thomas, Thomas and Thomas Funeral Directors - dad Ivor (big-hearted, unfortunately corpse phobic, played by the fantastic William Thomas) and his three sons, Arwell (straight-laced, a bit wet, played by Alex Lowe), Gwynne (porky, simple-minded, played by Tony Way) and eldest son Percy (a bit evil, jailed for five years for dressing the stiffs as Roy Orbison and taking them on tour, played by Rhys Thomas who also wrote the series). Paul Whitehouse features prominently - a filthy newsagent in the first series, a flouncy camp vicar in the second - and the guest stars include Jo Scanlan, Steve Furst, Matt Lucas, Tom Baker, Bill Oddie, Charlie Higson (also the series script editor), Brian Blessed, Mark Williams, David Walliams, Christopher Cazenove, Phil Cornwell, Nerys Hughes, Michael Jayston, Simon Day, Art Malik, etc, etc.
There are actually two discs in this box, to wit Series 1 (6 episodes) plus extras and Series 2 (7 episodes). For reasons we may never know, Series 1 is on disc 2 and Series 2 is on disc 1. Series 1 is variable - there are a couple of episodes in which the guest stars appear as themselves, which basically devolve into wheeling out the catchphrases and inviting the viewers to notice the big name guest. The rest of it is good stuff, though. The show really hits its stride in Series 2, with proper studio sets, what looks like more of a budget, and a hard rock funeral march theme by none other than Brian May. Many of the episodes on this disc are British comedy classics, scuppered only by the tiny audiences they played to.
There are three commentary tracks on each disc, featuring Rhys Thomas, Tony Way, and whichever guest performers were handy. Disc 2 also has some outtakes, extended scenes, and a brief look behind the scenes of Series 2. All in all this is no shoddy package. In the name of Rabbi Gaby Roslin, give it a chance.
The show centres around Thomas, Thomas, Thomas and Thomas Funeral Directors - dad Ivor (big-hearted, unfortunately corpse phobic, played by the fantastic William Thomas) and his three sons, Arwell (straight-laced, a bit wet, played by Alex Lowe), Gwynne (porky, simple-minded, played by Tony Way) and eldest son Percy (a bit evil, jailed for five years for dressing the stiffs as Roy Orbison and taking them on tour, played by Rhys Thomas who also wrote the series). Paul Whitehouse features prominently - a filthy newsagent in the first series, a flouncy camp vicar in the second - and the guest stars include Jo Scanlan, Steve Furst, Matt Lucas, Tom Baker, Bill Oddie, Charlie Higson (also the series script editor), Brian Blessed, Mark Williams, David Walliams, Christopher Cazenove, Phil Cornwell, Nerys Hughes, Michael Jayston, Simon Day, Art Malik, etc, etc.
There are actually two discs in this box, to wit Series 1 (6 episodes) plus extras and Series 2 (7 episodes). For reasons we may never know, Series 1 is on disc 2 and Series 2 is on disc 1. Series 1 is variable - there are a couple of episodes in which the guest stars appear as themselves, which basically devolve into wheeling out the catchphrases and inviting the viewers to notice the big name guest. The rest of it is good stuff, though. The show really hits its stride in Series 2, with proper studio sets, what looks like more of a budget, and a hard rock funeral march theme by none other than Brian May. Many of the episodes on this disc are British comedy classics, scuppered only by the tiny audiences they played to.
There are three commentary tracks on each disc, featuring Rhys Thomas, Tony Way, and whichever guest performers were handy. Disc 2 also has some outtakes, extended scenes, and a brief look behind the scenes of Series 2. All in all this is no shoddy package. In the name of Rabbi Gaby Roslin, give it a chance.
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
I think i may have been one of the only people that saw this on BBC Choice, im certainly the only person i know who did. I cant believe the BBC didn't give this comedy the recognition it deserved. Having recently bought the dvd and watched both series,I am truely aghast at how funny it is and the genius idea of making a comedy out of 4 goons running a family funeral parlour in Wales. When i look and see all the rubbish comedy on BBC 3 now and endless mind numbing repeats, i just believe they should be re-showing this. Its hilarious, true comic heavyweights playing characters that you can see they absolutely revelled in. I do not have enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe how well written and funny Fun at the Funeral Parlour is; so I will just say its Genius and you must see it yourself.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
This was a terrifically silly show, regrettably overlooked by the terrestrial BBC channels and left to become a minor cult favourite on the cable/satellite netherworld. The episodes were a weird and often wonderful concoction of insane ideas and bizarre interaction - difficult to summarise beyond stating that anything that could and usually did happen in this weird world of dead bodies and very curious people. There were also many guest performers, including Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Brian Blessed, Bill Oddie, Tom Baker, Christopher Cazenove, Art Malik, Phil Cornwell and Dudley Sutton. Three stars from The Fast Show - Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson and Mark Williams - also lent a hand, with Higson doubling as script editor. Fun At The Funeral Parlour writer (and co-star) Rhys Thomas had latterly begun contributing to The Fast Show, first as a production runner and then as a writer and participant, playing Paul, assistant to Swiss Toni. Thomas created this new show when just 20 (a fact that may have dissuaded BBC2 from taking it) but neither this youth nor the tight budgetary restrictions blunted what was, in many respects, a delightful first effort.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Offbeat but fairly decent!
Completely off the wall but has some truly great moments. And some truly cringe-inducing ones too! Overall well worth a viewing.
Published 3 months ago by Juggernaut
No fun at the Funeral Parlour!
To say this series is absolute rubbish would be vastly understating just how rubbish it is. It must be the worst DVD I have ever bought. It has been duly cremated!!
Published 6 months ago by S. Roseman
Quirky
Good value as you get both series on the DVD. Quirky but entertaining enough. Not top quality comedy but funny enough to keep you watching.
Published 9 months ago by Lib
More fun in a real funeral parlour
A not very funny comedy was what I found upon viewing this dvd. I bought it for my wife who works for a funeral director thinking it would be a bit of fun, but no one thought it... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lampwicke
The award winning Gary Bellamy, before he was award winning, or Gary...
I missed this when it was on BBC Choice or whatever it was but couldn't resist the box set at just under 4 Squids.
It is very good and I recommend it to anyone. Read more
It is very good and I recommend it to anyone. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Ian
Not worth watching
I bought this recently on here as it was so cheap and I'm expanding my comedy DVD collection. I'm selling this on straight away though as it doesn't meet the criteria to be part... Read more
Published 17 months ago by M. Wood
You might like it.
This is a strange and silly show. I think the critics would describe it as `hit and miss' (No - `I' would describe it as `hit and miss' - critics would be less kind). Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kenee
NO FUN AT ALL
I enjoyed The IT Crowd,Curb Your Enthusiasm,Bilko,Larry Sanders and Dexter, the last of which I regard as comedy. Read more
Published 17 months ago by George Brennan
Great, off-beat comedy
A cross between black humour and slapstick, Fun at the Funeral Parlour will please some of the people some of the time. I won't repeat what other reviewers have already stated. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Cary
Deathly, dreadful lame comedy supposedly set in Wales
This is I believe the first time that an item has been brought to my attention via Amazon lists or "you might like" that I have then checked the reviews of and thought how did I... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Papalamour
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