Crabby, crusty, and curmudgeonly he may be, but Victor Meldrew, played brilliantly by Richard Wilson, voices the exasperation of the once silent majority. Accompanied by his long-suffering wife Margaret (Annette Crosbie), Victor's howlingly funny battles against what he perceives as modern-day ills have turned him into one of the great comic creations of our time.This collection gathers three of the best TV episodes from the well-known BBC 1 Series and an additional four scripts tha...

The complete series of the BBC radio sketch show that takes a post-truth look at the history of laughter.A dark, quirky parody of Desert Island Discs, Desolation Jests is a post-apocalyptic sketch show that takes a not-altogether-accurate look at the history of comedy. Featuring faux interviews with spurious celebrities, conducted by the Roy Plomley-esque host JP Doom, it poses the question ‘Which comedy sketches would you most want at your side t...

Now available together for the first time are all six episodes from the first series of classic comedy from David Renwick (who went on to write One Foot in the Grave), Andrew Marshall (who later wrote 2point4 Children) – and Eric Pode (of Croydon). Includes: 'Peel Bananas The Burkiss Way’, in which you can learn the best techniques for peeling bananas and how to get people off lightly; 'Pass Examinations The Burkiss Way’, which teaches you how to astound your friends by a...

During a 24- year playing career he was a member of the Hawick RFC team which won the last ever unofficial Championship and thereafter eight official Scottish Championships. He was capped 52 times for Scotland (a record at that time), scoring a hatful of tries (several of which appear on 'Best of ...' videos and are still shown regularly on television), penalties and drop-goals. He played for the British Lions in the first Test against South Africa in 1980 and is widely considered to have ...

Sean Long is one of the finest rugby league half-backs to ever pick up the oval ball. Long started his pro career at his hometown club Wigan Warriors and, after a short stop-over at Widnes, he was signed by St Helens in 1997 to fill the boots of another Saints legend, Bobby Goulding. It wasn't long before the Knowsley Road faithful took Longy to their hearts. Long has won every major honour in the game at club level and is the only player in Challenge Cup history to win the Lance Todd Trop...

Brian O'Driscoll is the explosive captain of the 'golden generation' of Irish rugby and a renowned genius on the field. One of the top outside centres in the game, O'Driscoll first became captain of his country in 2003 and his phenomenal record includes consecutive triple crowns in 2006 and 2007 and, perhaps most memorably, in 2009 when he led Ireland to their first Grand Slam for the first time in 60 years. Voted 'Player of the Decade' in 2010 by Rugby World magazine, O'Driscoll has risen...

For 125 years the British & Irish Lions have stood out as a unique emblem in world sport. They represent the best of the best from the four Home Nations, coming together every four years under a united badge to take on the rugby greats of the Southern Hemisphere. Lions tours embody a revered legacy that is steeped in tradition yet maintains a vibrant standing in the modern era. The Lions badge is a symbol of the ethics, values and the romance at the heart of Test match rugby. Every four ye...

Irish rugby as you've never seen it before -- from the man who got the job every rugby lover would love to have.'Rala has a gift for making people feel at ease and special at the same time' Paul O'ConnellPatrick 'Rala' O'Reilly has been bagman for the Irish rugby team for over twenty years. In that time he's witnessed many highs and lows. But for him rugby has always been about the people, the places and the experiences.Here, with hi...

Who are the biggest 'lady killers' in rugby league past and present? Which international footballer was beaten up by teenage kids in Spain? What are the best 10 on-field sledges of all time?In Gordie's Tales, The Footy Show star and Queensland and Australian league legend Gorden Tallis tells these hilarious true stories and many more. Gorden takes you inside State of Origin teams, on Kangaroo tours, and along for the ride on hilarious end of season trips. Gordie g...

The hero of 2011 was Martin Snedden. Not even a terrible earthquake prevented him from staging a magnificent World Cup. The hospitality and warmth of the New Zealand welcome at the World Cup is a memory I will always cherish.' - Paul Ackford, Sunday Telegraph, London. The story of New Zealand's greatest sporting event - and, ultimately - one of its greatest triumphs. Fascinating insights into some of the political machinations, this is not a sports book per say, although A STADIUM OF FOUR ...

Jonny Wilkinson's impact on global sport has been extraordinary. Yet Jonny has faced a battle all his life to achieve success and, crucially, happiness. A crippling fear of failure, the targets he set himself and a string of injuries have caused Jonny to question his attitude to life. In this startling new book, writing with Steve Black, Jonny opens up for the very first time, revealing his darkest moments and explaining in a practical way the steps and techniques he has taken to ensure su...

Fully updated to include Ireland's historic victory over the All Blacks and their 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam.From Jack Kyle's immortals to Brian O'Driscoll's golden generation, this is the story of Irish rugby told in the players' words.Celebrated rugby writer Tom English embarks on a pilgrimage through the four provinces to reveal the fascinating and illuminating story of playing test rugby in the emerald green of Ireland - all the glory of victory, all t...