The Young Ones (1982)
The anarchic British sitcom that blew up the rulebook, launched a comedy revolution, and made four chaotic student housemates utterly unforgettable.
The Young Ones - Series Information
- Original Title: The Young Ones
- First Air Year: 1982
- Last Air Year: 1984
- Created by: Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle et al.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (29 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: November 9, 1982 (United States - TV-14), November 9, 1982 (United Kingdom - 15)
- Networks: BBC Two
- Alternative Titles: Els Joves (ES)
- Production Companies: BBC
The Young Ones - Plot
The misadventures of four lunatic students who live in a shared student house. There's Rick, the overblown political one addicted to Cliff Richard, Vyvyan the experimental scientific one/part-time anarchist, Neil the worried hippy, and Mike the ladies' man (at least he is in his mind).
The Young Ones - Trailer
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The Young Ones - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Ben Elton
- Alexei Sayle
- Rik Mayall
- Lise Mayer
Main Cast
- Adrian Edmondson
- Rik Mayall
- Nigel Planer
- Christopher Ryan
- Alexei Sayle
- Mark Arden
- Stephen Frost
- Ben Elton
- Robbie Coltrane
- Paul Bradley
Writers
- Ben Elton
- Lise Mayer
- Rik Mayall
- Alexei Sayle
The Young Ones - FAQs
What made The Young Ones so revolutionary for British comedy?
The Young Ones tore up the rulebook for British sitcoms by blending anarchic slapstick, surreal non-sequiturs, and sharp political satire in a way no show had attempted before. It launched the alternative comedy movement into the mainstream, turning its cast into icons and permanently reshaping what a sitcom could be.
Is The Young Ones worth watching today?
Absolutely. Despite airing over four decades ago, The Young Ones remains ferociously funny and surprisingly fresh. Its anarchic energy, brilliant physical comedy from Adrian Edmondson and Rik Mayall, and gleefully absurd plotting have aged remarkably well. It holds a strong cult reputation and is considered essential viewing for fans of British comedy.
Who played the four main characters in The Young Ones?
The four housemates were brought to life by Adrian Edmondson as the violent punk Vyvyan, Rik Mayall as the pompous self-styled revolutionary Rick, Nigel Planer as the perpetually miserable hippy Neil, and Christopher Ryan as the delusionally suave Mike. Alexei Sayle also appeared regularly as various members of the Balowski family.
Where can you watch The Young Ones?
The Young Ones is available to buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home. There is currently no subscription streaming option, so purchasing individual episodes or the full series through one of these digital platforms is the most straightforward way to watch.
Who created and wrote The Young Ones?
The series was created by Ben Elton, Alexei Sayle, Rik Mayall, and Lise Mayer, who also served as its primary writers. The writing team's backgrounds in alternative comedy clubs gave the show its raw, confrontational edge, and their collaborative approach produced some of the most inventive comedy scripts in British television history.
Did The Young Ones win any awards or critical recognition?
While The Young Ones was not a major awards circuit contender during its original run, it earned enormous critical and cultural recognition over time. It is widely cited as one of the greatest British sitcoms ever made, credited with launching the alternative comedy movement and influencing generations of comedians, writers, and filmmakers worldwide.
Why did The Young Ones end after only two seasons?
The creators made a deliberate choice to end the show after just 12 episodes across two seasons, concluding with a memorably explosive finale. Rather than risk the series outstaying its welcome, they opted to go out on their own terms — a decision widely praised as artistically bold and one that cemented the show's legendary status.
What shows are similar to The Young Ones?
If The Young Ones is your kind of chaos, you'll likely enjoy Monty Python's Flying Circus for surreal sketch brilliance, The Mighty Boosh for absurdist British comedy, Brass Eye for savage satirical edge, and Only Fools and Horses for classic British sitcom warmth. I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson offers a modern anarchic fix.
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