Michael Cumming: 20 Years of Snuff Box, How it Was Made & British Cult Comedy Classics | TalkBox Ep. 77
Twenty years of Snuff Box! Rich Fulcher is joined by his old friend and renowned comedy director Michael Cumming for a brilliant behind-the-scenes look at one of the most distinctive British comedy shows of its generation.Michael has directed some of the most iconic comedy on British television, including Brass Eye, Toast of London and The Mark Thomas Comedy Product. But this week, he and Rich are looking back at the making of Snuff Box, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.They discuss how Rich and Matt Berry first became a comedy partnership through The Mighty Boosh, how Snuff Box was commissioned, and why they wanted to create something more ambitious than a conventional sketch show. With its tightly connected storylines, surreal characters, outrageous scenes and original music, Snuff Box became something entirely its own.Michael shares stories from behind the camera, including the executive notes that made him laugh, the freedom Rich and Matt were given, the infamous teddy bear scene, and recording the legendary "Crack Baby" song in a cocaine den with a real child.They also get into the show's cult following, its influence on comedy that came afterwards, why it's so frustrating that people still struggle to find it available to watch, and why Michael believes television may not give two performers that kind of creative freedom again.Plus, Michael looks back at his Brass Eye anniversary screenings, the importance of watching comedy together in a cinema, nearly working with Rich on The Mighty Boosh, working with Matt Berry on Toast of London, and the archives he wishes he'd kept (including the Brass Eye rushes he taped over with Twin Peaks!).And much, much more.SNUFF BOX 20TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENINGSBirmingham, Mockingbird Cinema | Friday 13 November 2026Tickets: https://mockingbirdcinema.com/MockingbirdCinema.dll/WhatsOn?f=1929462Manchester, Cultplex | Saturday 14 November 2026Tickets: https://cultplex.co.uk/Cultplex.dll/WhatsOn?f=1403329OXIDE GHOSTS: 30 YEARS OF BRASS EYEMichael's Brass Eye anniversary screenings are also celebrating 30 years of the landmark series. Find tickets here: https://www.michaelcumming.co.uk/oxide%20ghosts/GET TALKBOX EARLY ON PATREONSupport the podcast and get full episodes before their public release, plus exclusive content and more:https://patreon.com/RichFulchersTalkBoxBuy Us A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/talkboxMERCH IS HERE!https://richfulcher.bigcartel.com/ Listen to Talk Box wherever you get your podcasts and drop your thoughts in the comments cause we read them all!Follow Rich for updates and behind-the-scenes weirdness:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rich_fulcher/Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rich_FulcherFrom the twisted, itchy mind behind The Mighty Boosh, Snuff Box, Rick and Morty, and more.
