Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7080 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-09-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 390 minutes

Synopsis
Aiming to do for Welsh undertakers what Father Ted did for Irish priests, this series follows a family who try to get their business of the ground... but fail to get their clients under it. The Thomas' run a family firm of undertakers. They're a colourful bunch whose daily mishaps and unsuccessful burials develop into offbeat antics with hilarious outcomes. At the beginning of each episode a villager dies in bizarre circumstances. And with each deceased villager, the funeral parlour becomes less and less competent in burying the dead. Ivor Thomas, head of the family firm, is petrified of dead bodies, and with his three eccentric sons in tow, every attempted funeral turns ino anther botched job.

Customer Reviews

Better than the title
Much in the vein of 'Father Ted' and 'Nightingales', this offbeat comedy series is much better than the rather bald title would suggest. I didn't see it on TV, and you probably didn't either, because it was a flagship show for the Beeb's digital channel BBC Choice at a time when barely anyone in the UK had digital TV. But look at the comedy talent on that! I picked up this DVD on the basis of the performers' names, and I consider it a decision well made.

The show centres around Thomas, Thomas, Thomas and Thomas Funeral Directors - dad Ivor (big-hearted, unfortunately corpse phobic, played by the fantastic William Thomas) and his three sons, Arwell (straight-laced, a bit wet, played by Alex Lowe), Gwynne (porky, simple-minded, played by Tony Way) and eldest son Percy (a bit evil, jailed for five years for dressing the stiffs as Roy Orbison and taking them on tour, played by Rhys Thomas who also wrote the series). Paul Whitehouse features prominently - a filthy newsagent in the first series, a flouncy camp vicar in the second - and the guest stars include Jo Scanlan, Steve Furst, Matt Lucas, Tom Baker, Bill Oddie, Charlie Higson (also the series script editor), Brian Blessed, Mark Williams, David Walliams, Christopher Cazenove, Phil Cornwell, Nerys Hughes, Michael Jayston, Simon Day, Art Malik, etc, etc.

There are actually two discs in this box, to wit Series 1 (6 episodes) plus extras and Series 2 (7 episodes). For reasons we may never know, Series 1 is on disc 2 and Series 2 is on disc 1. Series 1 is variable - there are a couple of episodes in which the guest stars appear as themselves, which basically devolve into wheeling out the catchphrases and inviting the viewers to notice the big name guest. The rest of it is good stuff, though. The show really hits its stride in Series 2, with proper studio sets, what looks like more of a budget, and a hard rock funeral march theme by none other than Brian May. Many of the episodes on this disc are British comedy classics, scuppered only by the tiny audiences they played to.

There are three commentary tracks on each disc, featuring Rhys Thomas, Tony Way, and whichever guest performers were handy. Disc 2 also has some outtakes, extended scenes, and a brief look behind the scenes of Series 2. All in all this is no shoddy package. In the name of Rabbi Gaby Roslin, give it a chance.

Nice!
I've been waiting for such a long time for this series to be released, that I've actually forgotten why I was waiting for it. Now then...
This sitcom appeared on the ill fated BBC Choice and asides from a short run on UK Gold disappeared into relative obscurity. Shame! It really is a tidy little ensemble and never took itself at all seriously. Some of the best cameo performances ever; who needs 'Extra's' when you can watch Tom Baker and Brian Blessed at their best with some of the most inane babble you've ever heard.
You get both series 1 & 2 (a complete boxset for all the diehard fanatics!) and the extra content is fairly competent.
But the gem is to watch these episodes with some knowledge that only you and nine other people will ever watch the most underated overlooked and very well hidden comedy series never to be shown.

Genius!
I think i may have been one of the only people that saw this on BBC Choice, im certainly the only person i know who did. I cant believe the BBC didn't give this comedy the recognition it deserved. Having recently bought the dvd and watched both series,I am truely aghast at how funny it is and the genius idea of making a comedy out of 4 goons running a family funeral parlour in Wales. When i look and see all the rubbish comedy on BBC 3 now and endless mind numbing repeats, i just believe they should be re-showing this. Its hilarious, true comic heavyweights playing characters that you can see they absolutely revelled in. I do not have enough adjectives in my vocabulary to describe how well written and funny Fun at the Funeral Parlour is; so I will just say its Genius and you must see it yourself.