''In Bed with Medinner'' is a late-night British TV programme starring Bob Mills and originally broadcast in the 1990s. It is a precursor to the contemporary ''

Harry Hill's TV Burp ''Harry Hill's TV Burp'' (also referred to as ''TV Burp'') is a British television comedy clip series, written and hosted by comedian Harry Hill, and produced by Avalon Television for ITV. The show's format sees Hill take a comedic look tow ...

'',

Russell Brand Russell Edward Brand (born 4 June 1975) is an English comedian, actor, podcaster and media personality. He established himself as a stand-up comedian and radio host before becoming a film actor. After beginning his career as a comedian and la ...

's '' Ponderland'' and

Paddy McGuinness Patrick Joseph McGuinness (born 14 August 1973) is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television presenter. He rose to fame with the help of fellow comedian Peter Kay, who invited him to appear on the television comedy series '' That Peter ...

's '' Paddy's TV Guide''. ''In Bed with Medinner'' was a

London Weekend Television London Weekend Television (LWT; now part of the non-franchised ITV London region) was the ITV (TV network), ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties at weekends, broadcasting from Fridays at 5.15 pm (7:00&nbs ...

production for

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...

. Stand-up comic Bob Mills specialised in a cynical view of life and its everyday objects, and in pastiches of popular culture icons. The show was set in Mills' home, which was dressed to resemble the home of Number Six from ''

The Prisoner ''The Prisoner'' is a British television series created by Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan portrays Number Six (The Prisoner), Number Six, an unnamed British intelligence agent who is abducted and imprisoned in a The Village (The Prisoner), mysteri ...

'' and, in the final series,

Steed Steed is a working animal, especially a horse, used as a mount (especially for warfare). Steed may also refer to: People with the name * Steed Malbranque (born 1980), French footballer * Edward Steed (born 1987), British cartoonist * Joel Steed ...

's flat from ''

The Avengers Avenger(s) or The Avenger(s) may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Marvel Comics universe * Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes **Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of "The Infinity Sag ...

''. The first three series opened with a parody of ''The Prisoner'' while the fourth and final series was re-titled ''Still In Bed With Medinner'', and the opening sequence changed to be a parody of the classic ''Avengers'' Series Five title sequence. Mills wanders around his flat (actually a studio set), telling ludicrous fictional anecdotes about his showbusiness friends and reminiscing about his (fictional) time as a television producer. These stories are illustrated by genuine clips from the ITV archives, which, interspersed with Mills' own heavily contrived commentaries and bizarre non-sequiturs, come together to reveal surreal fictional backstories.

Original broadcasts and video releases

''In Bed with Medinner'' ran from 1992 through to 1999, totalling 60 episodes: fifty-four 30-minute episodes and six 60-minute episodes. * Series One consisted of two 30-minute specials shown 20 November and 27 November 1992. * Series Two consisted of six 60-minute episodes and ran from 8 April to 13 May 1994. * Series Three consisted of twenty-six 30-minute episodes and ran from 11 January to 22 November 1997. * Series Four consisted of twenty-six 30-minute episodes and ran from 6 February to 24 April 1998 and 10 January to 25 April 1999. * An hour-long compilation of highlights of the first and second series ''Wot a Palaver − The Best of In Bed with Medinner'' broadcast by London-area

on 2 August 1996, having been released on VHS on 26 September 1994.

Cultural references

The title was a parody of

Madonna Madonna Louise Ciccone ( ; born August 16, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Referred to as the "Queen of Pop", she has been recognized for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production, ...

's 1991 film '' In Bed with Madonna''.''In Bed With Madonna'' was titled ''

Truth or Dare Truth or dare? is a mostly verbal party game requiring two or more players. Players are given the choice between answering a question truthfully, or performing a "dare". The game is particularly popular among adolescents and children, and is so ...

'' in the US and Canada.

Episode guide

* In Bed with Medinner (series 1) * In Bed with Medinner (series 2) * In Bed with Medinner (series 3) * In Bed with Medinner (series 4)

Notes

External links

Comedy Guide - ''In Bed with Medinner''
at

bbc.co.uk BBC Online, formerly known as BBCi, is the BBC's online service. It is a large network of websites including such high-profile sites as BBC News and BBC Sport, Sport, the on-demand video and radio services branded BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, t ...

In Bed With Medinner fansite
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916121402/http://www.inbedwithmedinner.com/ , date=16 September 2021 1992 British television series debuts 1999 British television series endings 1990s British comedy television series ITV comedy Television series by ITV Studios London Weekend Television shows Television series about television British English-language television shows