ShadeGrenade In the autumn of 1991, B.B.C-2 enjoyed surprising ratings success with networked repeats of Gerry Anderson's 'Thunderbirds'. They followed this up with 'Stingray' and 'The Man From U.N.C.L.E.', as well as several shows from the I.T.C. stable, including 'U.F.O.', 'The Champions' and 'Randall & Hopkirk ( Deceased ). It was to tap into this vogue for retro action telly that inspired 'Fast Show' creator Charlie Higson to revive the latter. He made several changes, such as turning Jeannie into Marty's girlfriend instead of his wife, and giving a ghostly world for Hopkirk to inhabit, presided over by the all-wise spirit mentor 'Wyvern' ( Tom Baker ). When I heard that Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer had been cast as the leads, my blood ran cold. To make matters worse, they had ( so I felt ) been given the wrong roles - Reeves would have made a superb 'Jeff', while Mortimer should have been 'Marty'. I was not really looking forward to the show. But I changed my mind after viewing the first episode. 'Drop Dead' was loosely based on 'My Late Lamented Friend & Partner', but had more humour. Vic and Bob were better than expected, though not actors as such. The gorgeous Emilia Fox set the television alight as 'Jeannie' though. Guest-stars in the series included Sir Derek Jacobi, Charles Dance, Gareth Thomas, David Tennant, Hugh Laurie, and Jessica Stevenson. Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, the late Mike Pratt made a cameo in one episode! I think what Higson really wanted to do was to essentially remake 'The Avengers'. It explains why his version of 'Randall & Hopkirk ( Deceased ) had the the same quirky surrealism as Steed and Mrs.Peel's adventures combined with a dose of supernatural fantasy. After an excellent first series, 'R & H ( Dec ) returned a year later, but the stories were less amusing and inventive. Viewers lost interest quickly. However, it can now be seen as having paved the way for Russell T. Davies' successful 2005 revival of 'Dr.Who'.

Mike Hall Don't watch this if you're expecting to see the 60's version of Randall and Hopkirk, with prettier effects. Randall and Hopkirk 2000 (as I shall call it), is nothing of the kind. It is the same TV series in name alone and that's the way it should be.Gone are the seedy back-street meetings of a TV series that seemed to be almost embarrassed to feature this fantasy element - which only arose because creator Dennis Spooner wanted to write a series about a ghost. The original Randall and Hopkirk was almost apologetic about the fact that one if its main characters was dead.Thankfully Randall and Hopkirk 2000 revels in it. The plots are a little predictable, but if you want heavy detective drama go watch Cracker. Writer Charlie Higson did what they daren't in the 60's. He had fun.The only real flaws are Reeves and Mortimer. Whoever told Vic and Bob that they can act should be shot through the lungs. That said, there has been a very clear improvement in the quality of their acting as the series has progressed.And don't even get me started on Tom Baker. The man is a genius!Roll on series two!

wiztwas Vic and Bob are not really my cup of tea, yet this brings out the very best in them and is original yet following in the same tradition of the original series, of which, I was a fan.They bring new life to a dead character and inject the original screenplay style with their own charm.The sexy seductive sound-track and the chemistry of Jeff and Jeannie, and the cameo onslaught overwhelms the senses with admiration for the entire team that produces it.Retaining so much of the seventies yet injecting it with so much of today it is a different series to the original, yet it respects the original at the same time as being satirical. It is truly a unique series and one which, for me, is un-missable.

Jinty-2 Having just seen the fourth episode of this new series I feel I can now safely say that it's the funniest show I've seen in years! Not being a Reeves & Mortimer fan (until now that is) I've never seen any of their comedy stuff, so I had no idea what to expect when it was announced they were doing a remake of Randall & Hopkirk. I am an avid fan of the original R&H series however and would be first to yell out if I thought they were making a mess of it. But they're not. It's a fantastic updated version of what was a fantastic 'cult' show; it's NOT a remake, more of a homage. It's fantasy, it's fun, and that's the whole point of the show! I can't wait for the second series. Nice one Vic and Bob.