The Tube: Channel 4 airs retrospective

A new retrospective of music and comedy programme The Tube is to air on Channel 4 next month.

Rewind: The Tube will be broadcast on Friday 20 September, as the channel “heads back to the 80s for a night of nostalgic fun.”

Although best known for music, The Tube crossed over into live comedy, featuring the cast of The Young Ones, Frank Sidebottom and French & Saunders.

The Tube, which was broadcast on Channel 4 between 1982 and 1987, also gave Vic Reeves his TV debut.

It was produced by Tyne Tees Television at its now-demolished City Road studios in Newcastle.

Jools Holland, who presented The Tube with Paula Yates, said that it was the first show in a while “where music and comedy got together again.”

Channel 4’s celebration of the 80s will also feature the Big Fat Quiz of the 80s, special editions of Alan Carr’s Chatty Man and 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, and a one-off revival of quiz show Fifteen to One hosted by Adam Hills.

Hills will present the special edition of the quiz show, which was presided over by William G. Stewart between 1988 and 2003.

The Australian comedian is currently presenting the third series of The Last Leg for the channel.

Channel 4 said: “The evening will host a night of classic shows, all given a nostalgic twist and in between programmes, viewers will be treated to a host of comedy sketches featuring some interesting celebrities.”