Editing Murder Most Horrid

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Murder Most Horrid.jpeg
| caption              = Title screen
| alt_name             =
| genre                = [[Black comedy]]<br>Crime
| creator              = [[Paul Smith (television writer)|Paul Smith]]
| writer               = Various
| developer            = [[Talkback Productions]]
| presenter            = 
| starring             = [[Dawn French]]
| voices               = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = [[Simon Brint]]<br />[[Simon Wallace]]
| opentheme            = 
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = 
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| num_series           = 4
| num_episodes         = 24
| list_episodes        = 
| executive_producer   = [[Peter Fincham]]
| producer             = Sophie Clarke-Jervoise<br />[[Jon Plowman]]
| editor               = Geoff Hogg<br />Michael John Bateman
| location             = London, England
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = 
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| channel              = [[BBC Two]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|1991|11|14|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1999|4|2|df=yes}}
| related              =  
}}

'''''Murder Most Horrid''''' is a British [[black comedy]] [[anthology series]] starring [[Dawn French]]. It was broadcast on [[BBC Two]] for four series runs, in 1991, 1994, 1996 and 1999.

Created by [[Paul Smith (television writer)|Paul Smith]], who also co-created ''[[Colin's Sandwich]]'' (with Terry Kyan, as noted below) and has written for ''[[The Brittas Empire]]'', among other programmes, the series starred French as a different character in each episode. Many episodes were directed by [[Bob Spiers]], who also worked with French on ''[[The Comic Strip Presents...]]'' and ''[[French and Saunders]]''.

== Format ==
Most episodes parodied the [[Thriller (genre)|thriller]] and [[murder mystery]] genres with one episode lampooning the trials and tribulations of being a children's presenter in general, and ''[[Blue Peter]]'' in particular. In 1998, this episode ("Murder at Tea Time") was repeated to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ''Blue Peter'', as part of a section entitled "Spoof Peter", which also featured (among others) the ''[[Monty Python's Flying Circus|Python]]'' skit "How to Do It".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/190117.stm Here's once the BBC made 40 years earlier: Blue Peter Celebration]. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref>

Each episode was stand-alone, and the episodes were written by different writers or writing teams with several contributing multiple episodes across the four series. Among these writers, the pairing of series-creator Paul Smith with Terry Kyan (who had previously collaborated on ''[[Not the Nine O'Clock News]]'' and ''[[Alas Smith and Jones]]'') is particularly notable. The two would subsequently create and write ''[[Bonjour la Classe]]'', starring [[Nigel Planer]].<ref>[http://epguides.com/BonjourlaClasse/guide.shtml ''"Bonjour la Classe"'' Episode Guide at epguides.com]. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref>

Other series writers included ''[[Private Eye]]'' editor and ''[[Have I Got News For You]]'' stalwart [[Ian Hislop]], ''[[Press Gang]]'' creator and ''[[Doctor Who]]'' showrunner [[Steven Moffat]], award-winning children's author [[Anthony Horowitz]], [[Nick Newman]] and [[John O'Farrell (author)|John O'Farrell]].

Episodes in series 1 mostly opened with French selecting and reading from a book, usually a quotation actually or allegedly from [[Shakespeare]]; series 2 onward dropped this opening. The series' theme song, which featured at the end of the episode, was sung by [[Ruby Turner]]. The lyrics changed between episodes, the penultimate line always a word rhyming with "horrid", sometimes humorously forced. The murders ranged from the straightforward to the bizarre, with the murder weapon shown on a pedestal during the end credits.

==Episodes==
===Series 1 (1991)===
{{Episode table |background=#B0171F |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 1
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = The Case of the Missing
| DirectedBy = [[Bob Spiers]]
| WrittenBy = [[Ian Hislop]] & [[Nick Newman]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|11|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = [[Woman police constable|WPC]] Diane Softly (French) is suddenly put in charge of a seemingly straightforward murder case, which gradually becomes more complex and mysterious.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[John Boswall]] (Judge), [[Paul Mark Elliott]] (Max Rammell), [[Stephen Frost]] (Sgt. Dawkins), [[Gary Love]] (Constable Williams), [[Timothy Spall]] (Pathologist), [[Geoffrey McGivern]] (Mason), [[Bill Paterson (actor)|Bill Paterson]] (Chief Inspector)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 2
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = The Girl from Ipanema
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = Terry Kyan & [[Paul Smith (television writer)|Paul Smith]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|11|21|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = When housekeeper Maria (French) arrives at the house of MP Howling and his wife Lydia, she doesn't quite find things the way she expected. But one day, Maria witnesses a violent attack on Lydia by her husband and things start to take a turn for the better.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[Marsha Fitzalan]] (Lydia's friend), [[James Cossins]] (Sir Hugh Lotterby), [[Jane Asher]] (Lydia Howling), [[Jacey Sallés]] (Silvia), [[Martin Jarvis (actor)|Martin Jarvis]] (Maurice Howling), [[Christopher Good]] (Leonard)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 3
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = He Died a Death
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = Nick Newman & Ian Hislop
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|11|28|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Backstage at a London theatre, rivalry turns into suspicion when one of the cast is murdered during a performance. With French as Judy Talent, an actress in a play.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[Kevin McNally]] (Inspector Turner), [[Stephen Moore (actor)|Stephen Moore]] (Basil Hampton), [[Kevin Allen (actor)|Kevin Allen]] (Simon Pleasance), [[Kenneth Cranham]] (Inspector Salford), [[Ben Miller]] (PC Watkins), [[Robin Driscoll]] (Reg), [[Gwen Taylor]] (Beryl), [[Tony Slattery]] (Tony Sparkle), [[Harriet Thorpe]] (Sarah Deveraux), [[Greg Cruttwell]] (Timmy Duval), [[Togo Igawa]] (Japanese tourist)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 4
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = A Determined Woman
| DirectedBy = James Hendrie
| WrittenBy = James Hendrie
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|12|5|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Scientist Rita Proops (French) brings her equipment home to start working on the ultimate invention&nbsp;— the time machine. But this causes friction at home with disastrous results.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[Michael Sharvell-Martin]] (Judge), Soo Drouet (Porter), [[Caroline Blakiston]] (Dr. Rachel Vine), [[Kathy Burke]] (Helen), [[Jim Broadbent]] (Selwyn Proops)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 5
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Murder at Tea Time
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = [[Jez Alborough]] & Graham Alborough
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|12|12|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Bunty Bresslaw (French) is a successful children's television presenter, an expert in [[sticky-back plastic]] and a favourite with the young viewers of ''Write Away''. However, when her younger co-presenter is asked to pose for a wax modelling session at Madame Tussauds, jealousy arises off camera, and Bunty decides to put her young rival in his place.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[Jane Booker]] (Sally), Geraldine McNulty (Mandi), Rebecca Stevens (Lizzie), [[Andy Parsons]] (Charlie), [[David Harewood]] (Jonathon), [[Dexter Fletcher]] (Colin), [[Marco Williamson]] (Donald)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 6
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Mrs Hat and Mrs Red
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = Dawn French & Ian Brown & James Hendrie
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1991|12|19|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Mrs Hat is shocked when she bumps into her [[doppelgänger]], and ends up following her home. She finds herself literally stepping into her shoes and taking over her luxurious lifestyle. Both Katie Hatcliffe and Sonya Redfern are played by French.<br> ''Guest actors:'' [[Robert Llewellyn]] (Taxi Driver), [[Jim Carter (actor)|Jim Carter]] (Roy Redfern), [[Kate McEnery]] (Jemima Redfern), [[Ricco Ross]] (Gary), Geoffrey McGivern (Guy), Beresford Le Roy (Supermarket Manager), Claire Cathcart (Cashier), [[Brian McCardie]] (Supermarket Assistant), [[Mia Soteriou]] (Pianist), Susie Fairfax (Friend), Harriet Thorpe (Friend), [[Matilda Thorpe]] (Friend), Francesca Brill (Jemima's Friend)
| LineColor = B0171F
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1994)===
{{Episode table |background=#500050 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 7
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Overkill
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = [[Steven Moffat]]
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|3|3|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Tina Mellish, social worker turned reluctant assassin; also features [[Emma Amos (actress)|Emma Amos]], [[Amanda Donohoe]], [[Colin Salmon]], [[Peter Vaughan]] and Geoffrey McGivern
| LineColor = 500050
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 8
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Lady Luck
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = Terry Kyan & Paul Smith
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|3|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = Dawn as Denise Cunningham, hairdresser; also features [[Ann Bryson]] and [[Sean Gallagher (actor)|Sean Gallagher]]
| LineColor = 500050
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 9
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = A Severe Case of Death
| DirectedBy = Marcus Mortimer
| WrittenBy = [[Chris England]]
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|3|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Maud Jenkins/'Dr Adams', Victorian maid turned cross-dressing doctor; also features [[Lucy Benjamin]], [[John Fortune]], [[Timothy West]], [[James Saxon (actor)|James Saxon]], [[Georgina Hale]], [[David Gooderson]], [[Brian Hibbard]] and [[Roy Evans (actor)|Roy Evans]]
| LineColor = 500050
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 10
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = We All Hate Granny
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = James Hendrie
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|3|24|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Lily Gibbs, grandmother; also features [[James Fleet]] and [[Victoria Wicks]]
| LineColor = 500050
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 11
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Mangez Merveillac
| DirectedBy = Bob Spiers
| WrittenBy = Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|3|31|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Verity Hodge, travel and cookery writer; also features [[Jane Booker]], [[Philip Jackson (actor)|Philip Jackson]], [[Kevin McNally]] and [[Clarke Peters]]
| LineColor = 500050
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 12
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Smashing Bird
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = [[Jon Canter]]
| OriginalAirDate ={{start date|1994|4|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Vikky, [[nightclub singer]]; also features [[David Bamber]], [[Hywel Bennett]], [[Philip Martin Brown]], [[Mark McGann]] and [[Ray Winstone]]
| LineColor = 500050
}}
}}

===Series 3 (1996)===
{{Episode table |background=#575757 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 13
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Girl Friday
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = Paul Smith
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|5|10|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Sally Fairfax, P.A.; also features [[Nigel Havers]] and [[Geraldine McNulty]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 14
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = A Life or Death Operation
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = [[Mark Burton (writer)|Mark Burton]] & [[John O'Farrell (author)|John O'Farrell]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|5|17|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Kate Marshall, surgeon and TV presenter; also features [[John Bird (actor)|John Bird]] and [[Brigit Forsyth]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 15
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Dying Live
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphries
| WrittenBy = Steven Moffat
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|5|24|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Daisy Talwinning, sacked abattoir worker; also features [[Jim Carter (actor)|Jim Carter]], [[Helen Lederer]], [[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]], [[Marcus D'Amico]], and [[Jonathan Coy]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 16
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = The Body Politic
| DirectedBy = Ferdinand Fairfax
| WrittenBy = [[Anthony Horowitz]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|5|31|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Linda Bryce, schoolteacher and wife of the Leader of the Opposition; also features [[Hugh Laurie]] and [[John Bennett (actor)|John Bennett]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 17
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Confess
| DirectedBy = [[Coky Giedroyc]]
| WrittenBy = Jon Canter
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|6|7|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as Wendy Hodge, police sergeant; also features [[Minnie Driver]], [[Roger Lloyd-Pack]] and [[Clive Russell]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 18
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Dead on Time
| DirectedBy = Ferdinand Fairfax
| WrittenBy = Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1996|6|14|df=y}}
| ShortSummary = French as The Grim Reaper; also features [[Sophie Okonedo]], [[Danny Webb (actor)|Danny Webb]] and [[Brian Capron]]
| LineColor = 575757
}}
}}

===Series 4 (1999)===
{{Episode table |background=#000000 |overall= |series= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |viewers= |episodes=
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 19
| EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Frozen
| DirectedBy = Coky Giedroyc
| WrittenBy = Nick Vivian
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|2|19|df=y}}
| Viewers = 5.50
| ShortSummary = French as Lily Wood-Newton, churchgoer and pillar of the community; also features [[David Battley]] and [[Joanna Scanlan]]
| LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 20
| EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Going Solo
| DirectedBy = [[Tony Dow (director)|Tony Dow]]
| WrittenBy = [[Paul Smith (television writer)|Paul Smith]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|2|26|df=y}}
| Viewers = 4.02
| ShortSummary = French as Tracey Phillips, yachtswoman; also features [[Jim Carter (actor)|Jim Carter]], Liam Hess and [[Sarah Lancashire]]
| LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 21
| EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Whoopi Stone
| DirectedBy = Coky Giedroyc
| WrittenBy = Jon Canter
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|3|5|df=y}}
| Viewers = 3.96
| ShortSummary = French as Barbara Greaves/Whoopi Stone, police constable turned 'Queen of New York'; also features [[Jamie Foreman]] and Will Barton
| LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 22
| EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Confessions of a Murderer
| DirectedBy = [[Edgar Wright]]
| WrittenBy = Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|3|19|df=y}}
| Viewers = 3.40
| ShortSummary = French as Harriet Snellgrove, serial confessor and nuisance; also features [[Hugh Bonneville]], [[Graeme Garden]] and [[Philip Jackson (actor)|Philip Jackson]]
| LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 23
| EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Elvis, Jesus and Zack
| DirectedBy = Tony Dow
| WrittenBy = Steven Moffat
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|3|26|df=y}}
| Viewers = 2.82
| ShortSummary = French as Jill Tanner, head of the Obituaries Department at Broadcast One; also features [[Sean Hughes (comedian)|Sean Hughes]], [[The Krankies|Janette Krankie]], [[Chris Langham]], [[Paul Reynolds (actor)|Paul Reynolds]], [[Nick Stringer]], [[Pip Torrens]] and [[Jake Wood]]
| LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber = 24
| EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Dinner at Tiffany's
| DirectedBy = Dewi Humphreys
| WrittenBy = [[Jonathan Harvey (playwright)|Jonathan Harvey]]
| OriginalAirDate = {{start date|1999|4|2|df=y}}
| Viewers = 3.26
| ShortSummary = Tiffany Drapes, [[lunch lady|school dinner lady]]; also features [[Frances Barber]] as Gloria Twigge, a glamorous, selfish, alcoholic, spoilt Head Teacher; [[Thelma Barlow]], [[Geraldine McNulty]] and [[Peter Serafinowicz]]
| LineColor = 000000
}}
}}

== Reception ==
Reviewing the DVD release, ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]'' wrote: "Dawn French's first solo effort has been eclipsed by the wider success of her ''[[The Vicar of Dibley|Vicar of Dibley]]'', and of comedy partner [[Jennifer Saunders]]' ''[[Absolutely Fabulous|Ab Fab]]''. But this arguably sees French on her best form".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.empireonline.com/tv/murder-horrid/ |title=''Murder Most Horrid'' Review <nowiki>|</nowiki> TV Show – Empire |last=Thomas |first=William |date=2 March 2008 |website=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref>

=== Awards ===
* ''Murder Most Horrid'' won the 1994 [[British Comedy Awards|British Comedy Award]] for '''Best TV Comedy Drama'''<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/Sections/Awards/British_Comedy_Awards/1994 British Comedy Award Winners of 1994 at IMDB]. Retrieved 11 January 2008</ref>

==Home media==
===VHS===
Two videos of the series were released by the [[BBC]] in 1996, through [[BBC Worldwide]]/[[Talkback Productions|Talkback]] (the former of which became [[2 Entertain|2 | entertain]]). Both were released on 3 June 1996, the first containing three episodes from series one and the second, three episodes from series two.  These two series were not repeated on British television as often as the later series and, as a result, episodes not featured on the videos released by the BBC (The Case of the Missing, He Died A Death, Mrs Hat and Mrs Red, A Severe Case of Death, We All Hate Granny and Smashing Bird) have proven fairly difficult to view.

*'''Murder Most Horrid''': ''The Girl from Ipanema/A Determined Woman/Murder at Tea Time'' (BBCV5854) EAN: 5032680800767
*'''Murder Most Horrid''': ''Overkill/Lady Luck/Mangez Merveillac'' (BBCV5855) EAN: 5014503585525

===DVD (Region 2)===
*'''Murder Most Horrid: Volume 1''' was released by [[Fremantle (company)|FremantleMedia]] on 10 March 2008. The second series was released on 10 September 2012, with the third on 8 April 2013 and the fourth being 28 October 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Amazon UK|title=Murder Most Horrid&nbsp;— Series 3 & 4|website=Amazon UK |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Most-Horrid-DVD/dp/B008JCDCO2/|access-date=12 July 2013}}</ref>
*'''Murder Most Horrid: The Complete Collection''' was released 18 November 2013 by FremantleMedia.<ref>{{cite web|last=Amazon UK|title=Murder Most Horrid&nbsp;— The Complete Collection|website=Amazon UK |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murder-Most-Horrid-Complete-Collection/dp/B00F4578F6/|access-date=3 February 2014}}</ref>

===Streaming===
As of November 2023, the first two series of the show are currently available to stream in the United States through [[Freevee]], and in the United Kingdom through [[BritBox]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{BBC programme}}
*{{BBC Online|id=comedy/guide/articles/m/murdermosthorrid_7774635.shtml|title=''Murder Most Horrid''}} Comedy Guide
*[http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/murder/index.html ''Murder Most Horrid''] at Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide
*{{epguides|MurderMostHorrid|Murder Most Horrid}}
*{{British Comedy Guide|tv|murder_most_horrid}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0101149}}

[[Category:1991 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1999 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1990s British black comedy television series]]
[[Category:1990s British crime television series]]
[[Category:BBC television comedy]]
[[Category:BBC anthology television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Fremantle (company)]]
[[Category:1990s British anthology television series]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Television shows set in the United Kingdom]]