'Spaced': Tube Talk Gold

It's been a little while since the last edition of Tube Talk Gold, but we'll be taking a look back at classic shows of years gone by on a regular basis from now on. This week, we put late '90s/early '00s Channel 4 sitcom Spaced under the microscope and examine just what made the exploits of Tim (Simon Pegg), Daisy (Jessica Hynes) and co. so darn watchable!

Spaced: Originally broadcast from September 24, 1999 to April 13, 2001

First off, it's probably fair to say that - fantastic as it is - Spaced takes a little while to get going. The show's first three episodes have their moments, but don't quite reach the heady heights of what is to come. It's with the fourth instalment of series one - the paintball episode - that Spaced really begins to strike fried gold, and the sitcom's first run even manages to conclude in a way that is emotional without seeming queasily sentimental. It's a difficult trick for any show to pull of, let alone an oft-surreal comedy series.

So why exactly is Spaced so good? Credit obviously must go to series stars and co-creators Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes (or Stevenson, as she was then). Though Spaced can often take a detour into the bizarre, it's lead characters Tim and Daisy that keep the show grounded. Daisy is a refreshingly original character - lazy, neurotic yet frequently cheerful, she's thankfully a far cry from the 'female best friend' or 'girlfriend' stereotypes that populate most sitcoms.

And in Pegg's Tim, we have probably the most honest portrayal of a TV geek ever seen. He's the icon of a million sci-fi buffs and gaming fiends across the world. Speaking of which, Spaced is pretty much a geek's paradise, with Pegg and Stevenson's co-written episodes referencing everything from Evil Dead to Doctor Who, from The Phantom Menace to Tekken. A single episode will have you crying with laughter and nodding in warm acknowledgment.

The show's superb supporting cast should not be overlooked either. Simon Pegg's hetero-life-partner Nick Frost is on hand here as militaristic man-child Mike, and, as with his Hot Fuzz role, Frost brings an appealing innocence to the part. Then there's Julia Deakin's brilliantly sozzled Marsha and Katy Carmichael's fashion fascist Twist, while the manic Brian is such an enduring and memorable character that Mark Heap has since made a career out of playing similar oddballs in the likes of Green Wing and Friday Night Dinner. And that's not even counting the show's phenomenal string of guest actors - David Walliams is great as Brian's former mentor Vulva, and who can forget Peter Serafinowicz as Tim's gravel-voiced nemesis Duane Benzie?

Taking a look behind the camera, some of Spaced's enduring appeal has to be credited to Edgar Wright. The director - who has since graduated to Hollywood with the likes of 2010's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the upcoming Ant-Man film - helmed all 14 episodes of Spaced and, with his use of rapid-fire editing and innovative camera techniques, ensured that the show looked like no other sitcom on television. Many have attempted to ape Spaced's style since it ended, but at the time, the series was truly original.

One final, crucial point is that Spaced ended leaving us wanting more. After just two short series, we waved goodbye to the residents of 23 Meteor Street. Ever since, fans have been campaigning for the show's return, with Simon Pegg refuting the latest resurrection rumours as recently as last month - over ten years after the series ended.

But if you're one of the lucky few who's yet to experience Spaced and still has all that comedy goodness to come, do yourself a favour - check it out now! Both series are available to buy separately on DVD and can also be watched on 4oD, but the discerning television watcher should track down the Definitive Collectors' Edition DVD box-set - it's an absolute treasure. And for those of you still wondering if Tim and Daisy ever got together in the end, it also includes a special bonus treat...

Watch a classic Spaced clip below:



Were you a fan of Spaced? Share your memories of the show below!