Friday Night Dinner: 10 Years And A Lovely Bit Of Squirrel aired on Channel 4 last night. Intended as a celebration of the hugely popular sitcom's anniversary, it sadly also became a tribute to actor Paul Ritter, who died on 5th April. Friday Night Dinner ran for six series and 36 episodes plus 1 special, a brilliantly observed comedy with lots of puerile pranks, bizarre behaviour, catchphrases galore (including the inspiration for today's title), laugh out loud moments balanced with moments of pathos and poignancy.
It was an emotional 90 minutes, with some classic clips and outtakes, and insights from Robert Popper, who created the show and wrote every single episode, and the cast. Paul Ritter was clearly very ill at this point the interviews were filmed, and it was heartbreaking to see him so unwell but his love and passion for the show shone through. What an incredible and selfless man. The final episode aired in the UK on 1st May 2020, in the early weeks of the first national lockdown and was a welcome salve. The series' availability on streaming services will hopefully ensure that it's popularity and Paul Ritter's comedic brilliance will endure.
Inspired by last night's show, here's a 90 minute sequence of animal related songs, kicking off with the Friday Night Dinner theme and over 21 songs taking you through various musical genres and eventually full circle with a dub-flavoured re-rub of the opening song. As Paul Ritter's character Martin Goodman would frequently exclaim, "Shit on it!"
1) Animal (Punks Jump Up Remix): Miike Snow (2009)
2) Animal Magic (Dance Vocal) (Remix By Justin Strauss & Murray Elias): Belouis Some (1987)
3) New Town Animal In A Furnished Cage: XTC (1978)
4) Animals: Talking Heads (1979)
5) How Animals Move: John Parish (2002)
6) We Love Animals (The Love Supreme Remix): Crookers ft. Soulwax & Mixhell (2010)
7) Like An Animal (Album Version): The Glove (1983)
8) March Of The Balloon Animals: Dengue Fever (2009)
9) Animal (New Mix): R.E.M. (2004)
10) Animal Magic (Album Version): The Blow Monkeys (1986)
11) Strangle Your Animal: Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie (1988)
12) Animal Nitrate: Suede (1993)
13) Animals & Men (Album Version): Adam & The Ants (1979)
14) Animal Static (Remix): Grinderman (2007)
15) Party Animal: Luke Vibert & B.J. Cole (2000)
16) Crazy Farm Animal (Single Version): Julian Cope (1989)
17) Do Animals Believe In God?: Pink Military (1980)
18) Strange Animal: Sparks (2008)
19) Animal In The Mirror: Luxuria (1988)
20) Animal Magic: Adrian Sherwood ft. Lee 'Scratch' Perry (2006)
21) Animal (Mark Ronson Extended Dub Remix): Miike Snow (2009)