Harry Hill's Shark Infested Custard

Background

The series was produced by Hill's long running production team, Avalon Television, and broadcast on ITV between October 2005 and January 2006. Hill co wrote the series, with British comedian Dean Wilkinson.

The series was originally broadcast at 4:30 pm on Fridays on CITV, children's programming on the ITV Network. The series co starred Siobhan Hayes and Joann Condon. The name of the show is derived from the punchline of the well known children's joke, "What's yellow and dangerous? Shark infested custard!."

The show was deemed as new territory for Harry Hill, as prior to broadcast, he had never made the plunge into children's television. However, for many years Hill, whose comedy has always generally been smut-free and seldom of harsh language, has appealed to a large audience of all ages with his mad comedic routines.

While it may have originally been a surprise when Hill announced his show plans on his website, the cross to children's entertainment was not entirely unexpected. Two books – Harry Hill's Whopping Great Joke Book, and Harry Hill's Bumper Book of Bloopers – were released to tie in with the series.

Cancellation

Hill was quoted to have said that thirteen episodes of the series were produced. However, after only six episodes, a repeat of the first episode was shown on 2 December 2005, and from then nothing was broadcast. The official website was removed, and nothing was to be found on the official website of CITV.

Hill himself expressed concern and disappointment over the post production and editing of the series. Harry’s official website stated the show would return in "Spring 06". However, one call to ITV, said there was nothing planned on the schedules.

Synopsis

In a very similar setup to his Channel 4 breakthrough series in the 1990s, Harry Hill, the show included various sketches, recurring jokes, musical numbers, a segment entitled "Meet The Johnsons", in which Harry would invite a family with the surname Johnson onto the show, and a Multi-Coloured Swap Shop style game, entitled "Help The Aged".

The series also featured classic Harry Hill characters, such as Stouffer the Cat, and Harry's "son from his first marriage" – ventriloquist doll Garry Hill. Several new characters were also introduced, Burly Caroline, Harry Hill Snr., Speed Camera Boy, a giant, and a musical "genius", Evelynne Hussey. The self aware formulaic style continued, with each show ending on a song, as per Harry Hill.

Overview

The following blurb was used to synopsise the series when originally broadcast:

"Families of Johnsons will flock to climb Harold Hill…… Got a family of Johnsons? Plastered celebrities will struggle to be recognised…… Natasha Kaplinsky, the tap-dancing Armadillo will defend her title in Harry’s ‘Pet Idol’…… Have you got a pet to challenge this thick-skinned prima donna?.

This is a rare opportunity to watch bald men spell, to marvel at Evelynne’s wonderful instrument and to find a friend for Speed Camera Boy – if you’re very quick! In the studio, hundreds of 8 to 11 year olds will out the woman with the annoying laugh… banish vegetables that don’t look like Harry…. and if you’ve got a Nan, you too can have 15 minutes of fame…".