Trevor and Simon
Encyclopedia
Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson are a British
comedy
duo, best known for their contributions to the BBC1 children's television series
Going Live!
and Live & Kicking
during the late 1980s and throughout much of the 1990s. When they were first signed up for Going Live, the duo were instructed simply to be clean and funny but not to worry about specifically tailoring their material to children.
!"; Ken and Eddie Kennedy, the Barbers whose insanitary salon would usually be visited by the programme's star guest each week; World Of The Strange, two cloaked characters who believed that everything - even the most banal, everyday occurrences - was due to mysterious supernatural forces; and the Sister Brothers, market traders of questionable character who would introduce a competition each week.
Trevor and Simon were absent from the 1991-1992 series of Going Live, their role as comic relief being filled by Nick Ball and James Hickish. However, Trevor and Simon returned for the final series of Going Live in 1992-1993, and continued when it became Live And Kicking, in the 1993-1994 season. Although their comeback was arguably not as successful, it did include some memorable skits including Sofa For Two With Three in which Trevor and Simon would sit at the two ends of a two-seater settee, with a celebrity guest in the middle. The sofa had been specially weakened in the middle so that the guest would sink into it, and finding themselves unable to get up would have no choice but to sit there while Trevor and Simon made fun of them. For their final series with Live & Kicking (1996-1997), Trevor and Simon's sketches were separated from the main show in a special show-within-a-show, Transmission Impossible, which was also repeated separately later in the week. This section was not so well received, though it did introduce the "Art For'em" sketch featuring pretentious artists-cum-critics Dominic Bel Geddes and Daniel Cakebread, and concluding each week with the memorable catchphrase "let's roll on the floor!". Other memorable sketches were the X-Files-inspired Eggs Files, featuring Lincoln Eggs And His Close Friend, Pickling Time with Pickling Jeff (And Jobe's Here As Well!), and one set in The Draper Brothers' dry cleaning shop with the catchphrase "we don't do duvets!".
-themed video game based quiz show
, on the now defunct television station .tv, called Games Republic
.
In 2001, Trevor and Simon performed their first live show in over three years, unleashing demonic rituals and some of history's most vile characters on audiences with "Trevor and Simon's Circus of Evil". Whilst the show was widely criticised by the media, it struck a chord with young adults with whom Trevor and Simon shared a childhood.
Trevor was a musician at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival
on the Sunday, playing with his band in the John Peel
Tent. Simon appeared on maracas
for a song.
Trevor and Simon wrote an episode for the sixth series of My Parents Are Aliens
called "Dan's the Man" in 2006. They also visited the set during the filming of the episode but did not guest on the show.
In December 2006 they appeared in the BBC Two programme It Started With Swap Shop, a retrospective of BBC Saturday morning television, featuring in a filmed sequence with Phillip Schofield
and Sarah Greene
, then in a studio sketch as the dry cleaners.
Trevor and Simon have also written scripts for the BBC's children's channel, Cbeebies' art programme, Doodle Do
. They also notably opened BBC Radio 5
when it launched at 9am on 27 August 1990.
Trevor and Simon gave their opinions on Big Brother Celebrity Hijack Big Mouth in January 2008.
On the 5 September 2008, they co-presented the breakfast show for the radio station Marcher Sound, as part of the station's 25th anniversary celebrations. On 8 April 2009 they appeared on Celebrity Juice
on ITV2
.
Since 2009, Trevor and Simon have produced a regular podcast
.
Trevor and Simon were guests on 'Big Brother's Bit On Side' in September 2011.
Trevor and Simon have also written episodes for the 2010 series of the CBBC programme, Dani's House.
On 24 February 2011 they took part in an event called Comedy Rush (hosted by comedian Rufus Hound) at London's Shaftesbury Theatre. They were one of 60 acts who were given 60 seconds of stage time in front of a paying audience. They performed a sketch in which Trevor was dressed in a yellow body-stocking.
on a novelty single release of his 1968 hit Jennifer Juniper
; adopting their roles as 1960s-style folk duo The Singing Corner, the pair made spoken interjections throughout Donovan's performance, concluding with Trevor having to explain to Simon that the singer was not in fact Jason Donovan
.
There was also a video released of their 1993 tour "The Blimey That's Good! Tour" which has sketches from their characters MC Mick McMax and Moon Monkey (brought to you by Pot Fish), Blimey That's Good!, The Rogers Brothers and their game show 'It's A Shame' where you could win no prizes. The pieces were linked together by appearances from Ken and Eddie Kennedy The Barbers. It was recorded at the Ambassador's Theatre in August 1993.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
duo, best known for their contributions to the BBC1 children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
Going Live!
Going Live!
Going Live! was a Saturday morning magazine show, broadcast on BBC1 between 1987 and 1993. It was presented by Phillip Schofield and Sarah Greene.Other presenters included Trevor and Simon, Peter Simon, Emma Forbes, and puppet Gordon the Gopher....
and Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking was a BBC Saturday morning children's magazine programme, running from 1993 to 2001. The fourth in a succession of Saturday morning shows, it was the replacement for Going Live!, and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of...
during the late 1980s and throughout much of the 1990s. When they were first signed up for Going Live, the duo were instructed simply to be clean and funny but not to worry about specifically tailoring their material to children.
Overview
Although much of Trevor and Simon's work for the programmes took the form of one-off sketches, it is their repertoire of regular characters for which they are best remembered. These included The Singing Corner, a 1960s-style folk duo whose catchphrase was "swing your pantsTrousers
Trousers are an item of clothing worn on the lower part of the body from the waist to the ankles, covering both legs separately...
!"; Ken and Eddie Kennedy, the Barbers whose insanitary salon would usually be visited by the programme's star guest each week; World Of The Strange, two cloaked characters who believed that everything - even the most banal, everyday occurrences - was due to mysterious supernatural forces; and the Sister Brothers, market traders of questionable character who would introduce a competition each week.
Trevor and Simon were absent from the 1991-1992 series of Going Live, their role as comic relief being filled by Nick Ball and James Hickish. However, Trevor and Simon returned for the final series of Going Live in 1992-1993, and continued when it became Live And Kicking, in the 1993-1994 season. Although their comeback was arguably not as successful, it did include some memorable skits including Sofa For Two With Three in which Trevor and Simon would sit at the two ends of a two-seater settee, with a celebrity guest in the middle. The sofa had been specially weakened in the middle so that the guest would sink into it, and finding themselves unable to get up would have no choice but to sit there while Trevor and Simon made fun of them. For their final series with Live & Kicking (1996-1997), Trevor and Simon's sketches were separated from the main show in a special show-within-a-show, Transmission Impossible, which was also repeated separately later in the week. This section was not so well received, though it did introduce the "Art For'em" sketch featuring pretentious artists-cum-critics Dominic Bel Geddes and Daniel Cakebread, and concluding each week with the memorable catchphrase "let's roll on the floor!". Other memorable sketches were the X-Files-inspired Eggs Files, featuring Lincoln Eggs And His Close Friend, Pickling Time with Pickling Jeff (And Jobe's Here As Well!), and one set in The Draper Brothers' dry cleaning shop with the catchphrase "we don't do duvets!".
Later career
Between 1999 and 2000 Trevor and Simon hosted an EgyptianAncient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
-themed video game based quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
, on the now defunct television station .tv, called Games Republic
Games Republic
Games Republic was a 30 minute TV game show which was broadcast on BSkyB's .tv channel from 1999 to 2000. It had an Egyptian theme and was hosted by Trevor and Simon....
.
In 2001, Trevor and Simon performed their first live show in over three years, unleashing demonic rituals and some of history's most vile characters on audiences with "Trevor and Simon's Circus of Evil". Whilst the show was widely criticised by the media, it struck a chord with young adults with whom Trevor and Simon shared a childhood.
Trevor was a musician at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival
Glastonbury Festival
The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts, commonly abbreviated to Glastonbury or even Glasto, is a performing arts festival that takes place near Pilton, Somerset, England, best known for its contemporary music, but also for dance, comedy, theatre, circus, cabaret and other arts.The...
on the Sunday, playing with his band in the John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
Tent. Simon appeared on maracas
Maracás
Maracás is a town and municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil.-References:...
for a song.
Trevor and Simon wrote an episode for the sixth series of My Parents Are Aliens
My Parents are Aliens
My Parents are Aliens is a British sitcom produced by Yorkshire Television and later Granada Productions for CITV about an eccentric family, which was produced as seven annual series, first broadcast in 1999 and ending in 2006...
called "Dan's the Man" in 2006. They also visited the set during the filming of the episode but did not guest on the show.
In December 2006 they appeared in the BBC Two programme It Started With Swap Shop, a retrospective of BBC Saturday morning television, featuring in a filmed sequence with Phillip Schofield
Phillip Schofield
Phillip Bryan Schofield is an English broadcaster and television personality best known for presenting shows such as This Morning, Dancing on Ice, and various game shows including The Cube.-Early life and career:...
and Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
, then in a studio sketch as the dry cleaners.
Trevor and Simon have also written scripts for the BBC's children's channel, Cbeebies' art programme, Doodle Do
Doodle Do
Doodle Do is a British television programme designed for pre-school children. It is currently aired on the CBeebies channel. The programme features three "Doodle Doers" — puppets called "Dib-dab", "Scribble" and "Stick" — who interact with a human presenter, Chris .Dib-dab, Stick and...
. They also notably opened BBC Radio 5
BBC Radio 5 (former)
BBC Radio 5 was a BBC radio network that carried sport, children's and educational programmes.It was transmitted via analogue radio on 693 and 909 kHz, and lasted for three years and eight months. The success of BBC Radio 4's coverage of the Gulf War, on a service known as Scud FM,...
when it launched at 9am on 27 August 1990.
Trevor and Simon gave their opinions on Big Brother Celebrity Hijack Big Mouth in January 2008.
On the 5 September 2008, they co-presented the breakfast show for the radio station Marcher Sound, as part of the station's 25th anniversary celebrations. On 8 April 2009 they appeared on Celebrity Juice
Celebrity Juice
Celebrity Juice is a British television comedy panel game show on ITV2 that has been airing since 24 September, 2008. The show is presented by Keith Lemon, with regular captains Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton, alongside regular panellist Rufus Hound...
on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
.
Since 2009, Trevor and Simon have produced a regular podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
.
Trevor and Simon were guests on 'Big Brother's Bit On Side' in September 2011.
Trevor and Simon have also written episodes for the 2010 series of the CBBC programme, Dani's House.
On 24 February 2011 they took part in an event called Comedy Rush (hosted by comedian Rufus Hound) at London's Shaftesbury Theatre. They were one of 60 acts who were given 60 seconds of stage time in front of a paying audience. They performed a sketch in which Trevor was dressed in a yellow body-stocking.
Merchandise
Two compilation videos were released - "Trev And Simon's Stupid Video" and "Trev and Simon's Other Video" - as was a book, "Trevor and Simon's Stupid Book". In 1990 the pair also collaborated with singer DonovanDonovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
on a novelty single release of his 1968 hit Jennifer Juniper
Jennifer Juniper
"Jennifer Juniper" is a song and single by Donovan, released in 1968. It charted in the UK and USA. It was written about Jenny Boyd, sister of Pattie Boyd, while they were all with The Beatles in Rishikesh. She married Mick Fleetwood and was, at one time, the sister-in-law of George Harrison and,...
; adopting their roles as 1960s-style folk duo The Singing Corner, the pair made spoken interjections throughout Donovan's performance, concluding with Trevor having to explain to Simon that the singer was not in fact Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
.
There was also a video released of their 1993 tour "The Blimey That's Good! Tour" which has sketches from their characters MC Mick McMax and Moon Monkey (brought to you by Pot Fish), Blimey That's Good!, The Rogers Brothers and their game show 'It's A Shame' where you could win no prizes. The pieces were linked together by appearances from Ken and Eddie Kennedy The Barbers. It was recorded at the Ambassador's Theatre in August 1993.