I'll never tire of this. I remember watching it when it was first broadcast, laughing like everyone else at all the typical Rowley Birkin gibberish, then the silence came, punctuated by a ticking clock, then the hammer blow. I was left feeling self conscious for having laughed at what was a desperately serious tale. The stunned silence before the appreciative applause shows the audience felt the same. This was absolutely masterful writing, acting, delivery and above all else, timing. This, right here, is why Mr Whitehouse is world class.
I had the exact same experience. This ,for me, turned into his best one. It had so much impact due to the acting, character and story. One of the ones burned into the brain!
This scene hits me like nothing else. I watched it with my wife when it came out and we were impressed with the surprise element. Wonderfully done. She cried. A few years later, I held her in my arms as she died. And I cried. After that, I got very very drunk.
"I held her in my arms"...... then a 15 second pause... the ticking clock, the drifting smoke, the silence with the crackling fire in the background...but more important the look in his eyes, devastating loss never to be gotten over.. "I'm afraid i was very drunk"... then stunned silence from the studio audience as they realise the history they have just witnessed before they applaud. Easily one of the best British television performances ever put to film.
I agree it's pure class. Used to watch these with on Friday nights with my mates getting high, laughing and chuckling away, but then this sketch came on and there was a stunned silence and we just all looked at each other with really sad teary eyes. Never forget that.
@@staygoldponyboy8881 Oh my God, were you there too? Watching this on two pills was......interesting, to say the least. We had to watch The Trapdoor afterwards, to bring the mood back up. 😯
Is well documented that the rest of the cast thought this to be the finest bit of the Fast Show. I think it's the finest piece of acting ever put to film. Never fails to make me cry.
It’s 2023. Bought this DVD in a charity shop for 20p. Thought nothing of a bit of 90’s nostalgia. Been laughing all the way through the DVD. Then this scene popped up. Gave me the absolute shivers. I had to come onto RUclips to share what I felt. Glad soo many felt the same. Thanks everyone for sharing this moment. Thanks Paul Whitehouse for creating this moment. 🙏
Probably the best value for 20p you'll ever get. The Fast Show really was one of the finest programs on TV, Paul Whitehouse is a genius in every sense. Glad you enjoyed it, this scene is magical.
What I love about this scene is that Rowley never actually says what happens to the girl. We see the aching sadness in his eyes, reminiscing for something so precious that was lost, never to be found again. We do the rest with our imagination. Very moving.
johnny depp always said paul whitehouse is one of the best actors hes ever seen,,,, i think this sketch proves him totally right i remember watching this first time it was on and i went from crying with laughter to just about crying because it was so heartbreaking, you dont need to understand what hes saying, his face says more than any words ever could, total genius.
This, and "Old Holmes" from that Mitchell and Webb look have just the best writing to make you feel sad for them in the first of the sketch, immediately followed by making you sad yourself just by the realisation of the true plot of the scene. Things like "The Inbetweeners" has its place in comedy, but we need more of this!
I almost like to think that this, tragic story, Caused him to be the way that he ended up; A man, forever heartbroken, when he lost the love of his life
No no he wasn't drunk at that time, he is simply saying he was drunk as to not want to continue the story and resurface or share the pain of that time. He knows the audience has accepted that explanation in all the other stories so they'll accept it in this instance. At least that's how I see it
This actually made me cry and I felt very strange until I read the comments. It’s 2023 and this acting by Paul Whitehouse is probably the finest I’ve ever seen. Wow 😢
I remember the first time I saw this. I was expecting the usual laughter to come as rowley was one of my favourite characters, and this was like a sucker punch to the guts, I was not expecting it. Great writing, a powerhouse performance by Whitehouse and it is my favourite sketch of any sketch show. It gets me every time I watch it. Brilliant!!
I remember the first time I saw this. Such a shock when all the previous sketches have been so funny. Incredible acting. It's up there with the final scene of Blackadder Goes Forth for me. Very emotional.
Simply the best acting I have ever seen and under 2 mins. Amazing. I cry every time. Brilliant. When I think of who wins oscars couldn't lace this guys shoes!!!!'
@@danielwilliamson6180 it's plausible. Me and my dad love this and we were on about how funny Paul Whitehouse is and this character in particular how genius it is, but how this scene is just so sad😭
When I was young, it happens to every young man, I'm sure. She was a really beautiful woman. She had a very long neck. Very intelligent, really piercing eyes. Of course, the war came along. There was never really anything between us. I remember a really beautiful song - I can't remember any more. Phyllis and I was in absolute flood of tears. It was very cold and she... Phyllis... I held her in my arms... I'm afraid I was very drunk. :(
I heard "Then the War came along... That was really it between us..." In other words, they had gone their separate ways, by choice, accident or obligation.
@@Radagast- I am fairly reliably told that young American soldiers drafted or enlisted during the Vietnam War at age 18 or 19 or so would commonly marry female friends before being deployed. There was no particular romance or sexual connection. However, if the serviceman died on active service the young widow would get a widow's benefit and a host of other benefits to keep her. Perhaps not so attractive for girls in New York, Boston, Chicago or California. But in small towns in the Dakotas or Mississppi or Missouri, for sure. Most of the servicemen returned, of course, (death rate was about 2 per cent of US personell, although much higher for those assigned as infantry and associated arns ) and so on return they invariably got divorced, although perhaps some of them actually made a go of the marriage.
For those of us who'd watched the Rowley Birkin sketches as they were broadcast over the years, for Whitehouse to gut-punch us all with the realisation of what lead to the character's isolation, alcoholism and everything else, was completely overwhelming. This is what comedy is for, sudden insights into another soul's barely concealed trauma. It's up there with sonnet 29 for what the English language can say about loss and pain for me.
Absolute Genius. Who else does this in a comedy sketch show ? No-one !. Depth and pathos without sentimentality is a hard trick to pull off. I remember I was quite shocked when I first seen this and it still affects me today
If ever there was a moment of genius that captured drama, comedy and sadness it’s this short piece of TV. I lived in London in the 1990’s where we would sit in front on the tv no phones, no social media and no distractions. Just being in the moment. What a privilege to have seen this when it was aired. It takes me back to a beautiful England and a special time in my life. Take a bow Sir.
Paul Whitehouse displaying a consummate acting skill. The twenty seconds or so prior to his admission of being very drunk shows a technique second to none without saying a word.
It's 1.33 am, I'm on holiday in Spain. I'm quite drunk, and have no clue as to why I'm here. But this is so beautiful and so sad. Whitehouse is a wonder 💙
I always found this sketch saddeningly touching...the feeling of loneliness, guilt, and heartbreak...living on the scenarios of what could of or should have been.... When he mentioned the war, the song the cold .... i always see them at a dance before an air strike and she didn't survive...but he did...🥺 Sadly this is no doubt what so so many people actually went through! The way he captured the emotions of such a story with so few understandable words in such a small time frame truly shows his acting skills are exceptional...
All of humanity in those eyes. As has been said by far better people than me, perhaps the finest moment in British TV acting. This man deserves a knighthood.
I remember when i first saw this scene.I was so used to laugh at that specific character in the previous episodes so that when he started talking incoherently-again-revealing his sad story i caught myself laughing..only to realize what really happened.Powerful scene which shows Paul Whitehouse's brilliant talent a unique ability to jump from comedy to drama at mere seconds..He is so underrated..
I was exactly the same. I laughed with everyone else and, very soon after, the deafening silence of his pause floored me. I felt so self conscious and wrong for laughing at what developed into a tale of heartbreak. The acting here is world class.
This is so amazing, something of a British speciality reallly,... reminds me of the very last episode of Black Adder season 4. You wait for that cracking last big laugh, instead you get tears of empathy. It is simply brilliant. Thank you
I used to work right next to where Paul lived and saw him pass by often, this sketch always stayed with me. He passed by one day as I was standing there, he had a ohone to his ear so I didn't want to intrude but I gave him a thumbs up and I hope it conveyed my sentiments about his absolute genius. Kudos Paul.
paul should be very proud of such a performance of a man i think we all regard as somebody who has no charector but in this clip totally disposes of that showing true beautiful love and losing, of a then young rowley very heart rendering.
Such a talented actor. Carried on talking with his eyes in the silence.... beautiful, with the smoke and the ticking clock. He also sounded younger when he spoke about being drunk. Such clever acting and direction. Bravo 👏
Here in 2021, this is still the most amazing performance from Mr Whitehouse, pure genius. What a character to create, and then to deliver so poignantly. No wonder Johnny Depp no less once called Paul Whitehouse the best actor he'd seen.
Gut wrenching. Turns the sketches apparent assumption of laughing at an old drunk on its head. Many people will empathise with the emotions of regret, pain and love similtaneously personified by Whitehouse in one stare. I saw this sketch as a teenager and remembered it as being unique amongst Fast Show sketches. It's exactly as I remember it.
And in 1:35 seconds; you can see why Johnny Depp said this man was the best actor in the world! Absolutely beautiful moment! No reason to know why, no reason to know how..hits you everytime
wonderfully acted and powerful stuff made me weep too. I wonder how many of us have relatable experiences? I knew a lovely young lady once who I absolutely adored, we were both young and sadly I really had little idea how to treat women (yes I am ashamed of my behaviour back then) I went to university and lost touch with her for over 30 years. Thanks to the magic of the internet I found her again recently and now we talk again and I'd like to think were friends again, nothing more though, which is lovely, though in all honesty it's a bit bittersweet.
Sublime. There is a moment of dawning when one realises this is a love regret, which then compounds the profound sadness with the guilt of initial inappropriate laughter by the audience. Exquisitely timed, acted and written.
This, the ending to Blackadder, and the Sherlock Holmes scene at the end of Mitchell and Webb are all in the same league of beautifully acted scenes written by comedy writers, that have no right to go as hard as they do.
After "I held her in my arms" he is looking deep into your soul towards the end there. Paralyses you with his helpless look of loss as he goes right back to the moment.
This is utterly heartbreaking, and proves what a superb actor Paul Whitehouse is. In terms of devastating sadness in a comedy show, the only other sketch I can think of that comes close, is Mitchell and Webb's 'Sherlock Holmes' sketch. Like this Rowley Birkin one, don't watch that if you're afraid of crying. This is why British comedy is a closed door to some people - a lot of the best stuff is as dark as night, and can, in a sketch show, lead to funny characters sometimes being made real by tragedy. Rowley Birkin's stare, where you can sense 'the wheels going round', as he realises, that, had he not been 'very, very drunk', he might have been able to prevent a tragedy occurring. And it's haunted him all his life. It's a masterpiece in two minutes, and it gets me every single time. Genius.
They say that 85% of communication is non verbal, & this beautiful clip shows why. Whitehouse has gigantic acting ability to impart, without context or build up, without emotive music, & with only a couple of key words, a whole gamut of thoughts emotion & poignancy. Oscar winning.
Brilliant acting by Paul. Reduced to tears with a few words and a look. You can see that that experience has affected his whole life.One of the saddest things I have seen. Genius.
Like many others ....I was taken by surprise when this aired years ago and it struck me then and it does now . I never forgot it either and just watched it for the first time in over a decade. Poignant and touchingly sad ...
I think Paul is so hugely underrated as a straight actor because of his comedic work. He really deserves something to showcase his serious acting, like Bryan Cranston got with Breaking Bad.
_Help_ was a great programme that really showcased his acting, both comedic and serious. Unfortunately it was a double-act with Chris Langham, another brilliant actor who... um... yeah. There was a region 4 DVD, but good luck finding it with a google-proof name like that :(
I also remember this one, and it's also my favourite. Very touching, sad and so true. It's no wonder Johnny Depp has said Paul Whitehouse is the best actor in the world. Thank you, max1018. Wonderful to see this clip after many years.
*This short film is the only one I know that takes the viewer on such a rollercoaster of emotions in just one minute and forty seconds* : That pause as he looks into your eyes......... _the ticking of the clock_ ........ ..... the delivery at the end........such pathos
Really good acting by Paul Whitehouse. Especially 1:13 - 1:29 "I held her in my arms... I'm afraid I was very drunk". It was about tragedy and regret. Rowley telling a sad story about a woman he loved whom he lost. I believed she died in his arms.
I'll never tire of this. I remember watching it when it was first broadcast, laughing like everyone else at all the typical Rowley Birkin gibberish, then the silence came, punctuated by a ticking clock, then the hammer blow. I was left feeling self conscious for having laughed at what was a desperately serious tale. The stunned silence before the appreciative applause shows the audience felt the same. This was absolutely masterful writing, acting, delivery and above all else, timing. This, right here, is why Mr Whitehouse is world class.
I had the exact same experience. This ,for me, turned into his best one. It had so much impact due to the acting, character and story. One of the ones burned into the brain!
@@mrspankyuk beautiful
I was widowed myself at 35. My wife was 36, we both loved the fast show. This one always gets to me.
This scene hits me like nothing else. I watched it with my wife when it came out and we were impressed with the surprise element. Wonderfully done. She cried. A few years later, I held her in my arms as she died. And I cried. After that, I got very very drunk.
@Enda Dorgan This sketch has everything in it. Sorry about your dad. I feel your pain. If you want to talk: tony@mail.be
Thanks for sharing.
All the best.
Like you mate, this scene hit me in my heart, stay strong my friend
What? Bro, so sorry.
"I held her in my arms"...... then a 15 second pause... the ticking clock, the drifting smoke, the silence with the crackling fire in the background...but more important the look in his eyes, devastating loss never to be gotten over..
"I'm afraid i was very drunk"... then stunned silence from the studio audience as they realise the history they have just witnessed before they applaud. Easily one of the best British television performances ever put to film.
Craig Reilly absolutely. Absolutely. Truly, truly one of the most spine chilling things I have ever seen. It never fails to move me. Incredible.z
I remember this well, so unexpected, delivered so well, very touching.
It is a full 15 second pause - how many shows would have the confidence to do that now?
I agree it's pure class. Used to watch these with on Friday nights with my mates getting high, laughing and chuckling away, but then this sketch came on and there was a stunned silence and we just all looked at each other with really sad teary eyes. Never forget that.
@@staygoldponyboy8881 Oh my God, were you there too? Watching this on two pills was......interesting, to say the least. We had to watch The Trapdoor afterwards, to bring the mood back up. 😯
Up there with the last scene of Blackadder goes forth....truly moving performance
Is well documented that the rest of the cast thought this to be the finest bit of the Fast Show. I think it's the finest piece of acting ever put to film. Never fails to make me cry.
I think it's the finest piece of acting ever put to film. -too.
Yes, pure class.
@@slinkycowboy I think it might have been this scene that Jonny Depp stated that Whitehouse was the finest character actor he'd ever known.
- It might sound like hyperbole if it wasn't so brilliant and moving.
Here in 2020, still crying when I see this. Perfection.
YUP... the pause is deafening...
2021 almost 2022 one of the best shows ever made ... Paul Whitehouse excelled in this clip
2022 and it gets me in the gut every time 😢
When great comedy goes sad it's the saddest, saddest thing
Pp
It’s 2023. Bought this DVD in a charity shop for 20p. Thought nothing of a bit of 90’s nostalgia. Been laughing all the way through the DVD. Then this scene popped up. Gave me the absolute shivers. I had to come onto RUclips to share what I felt. Glad soo many felt the same. Thanks everyone for sharing this moment. Thanks Paul Whitehouse for creating this moment. 🙏
Probably the best value for 20p you'll ever get. The Fast Show really was one of the finest programs on TV, Paul Whitehouse is a genius in every sense. Glad you enjoyed it, this scene is magical.
It's an amazing scene but I'm curious as to WHY he wrote it as it is so at odds with the other Rowley Birkin QC sketches
What I love about this scene is that Rowley never actually says what happens to the girl. We see the aching sadness in his eyes, reminiscing for something so precious that was lost, never to be found again. We do the rest with our imagination. Very moving.
The explanation of why he drank so heavily.
Pure art.
This punches me ever so hard my wife died when i was 29. He got it spot on
So sorry for your loss
johnny depp always said paul whitehouse is one of the best actors hes ever seen,,,, i think this sketch proves him totally right i remember watching this first time it was on and i went from crying with laughter to just about crying because it was so heartbreaking, you dont need to understand what hes saying, his face says more than any words ever could, total genius.
yeah and an amazing comedic writer :)
Indeed.His face is very expressive.The way he changes from laugher to sadness is impressive.
This, and "Old Holmes" from that Mitchell and Webb look have just the best writing to make you feel sad for them in the first of the sketch, immediately followed by making you sad yourself just by the realisation of the true plot of the scene. Things like "The Inbetweeners" has its place in comedy, but we need more of this!
IIRC Depp specifically referenced this sketch when he was talking about it.
I almost like to think that this, tragic story,
Caused him to be the way that he ended up;
A man, forever heartbroken, when he lost the love of his life
No no he wasn't drunk at that time, he is simply saying he was drunk as to not want to continue the story and resurface or share the pain of that time. He knows the audience has accepted that explanation in all the other stories so they'll accept it in this instance. At least that's how I see it
@Dancemomslover711
You completely missed the point.
The message is that he feels guilt in the fact that in his lady's last moments, he wasn't sober.
This. This is one of the finest character pieces ever put to film.
Definitely, sir. I remember watching it on TV, wondering whether to laugh or not. Reminds me of the end of Blackadder.
@@robertwright7937 The 'Old Holmes' scene that saw off That Mitchell and Webb look, too.
@@chimpaflimp Just watched it, I've never seen that before. Robert Webb is brilliant. Thank you.
Always. It doesn't matter how many times I watch it, it always makes me cry
This actually made me cry and I felt very strange until I read the comments. It’s 2023 and this acting by Paul Whitehouse is probably the finest I’ve ever seen. Wow 😢
I remember the first time I saw this. I was expecting the usual laughter to come as rowley was one of my favourite characters, and this was like a sucker punch to the guts, I was not expecting it. Great writing, a powerhouse performance by Whitehouse and it is my favourite sketch of any sketch show. It gets me every time I watch it. Brilliant!!
It was a sucker punch, just not the sucker punch you were expecting.
I remember the first time I saw this. Such a shock when all the previous sketches have been so funny. Incredible acting. It's up there with the final scene of Blackadder Goes Forth for me. Very emotional.
when this hit me - and then the clock sounded the immediate thought was BlackAdder
One of Britain’s greatest actors.
Simply the best acting I have ever seen and under 2 mins. Amazing. I cry every time. Brilliant. When I think of who wins oscars couldn't lace this guys shoes!!!!'
You're absolutely bang on. Paul Whtehouse is one of the best actors ever.
I heard Charlie Higson and John Thomsen cried talking about in a documentary.
I remember Johnny Depp saying that Paul Whitehouse is the greatest actor I have ever met!
@@danielwilliamson6180 it's plausible. Me and my dad love this and we were on about how funny Paul Whitehouse is and this character in particular how genius it is, but how this scene is just so sad😭
When I was young, it happens to every young man, I'm sure. She was a really beautiful woman. She had a very long neck. Very intelligent, really piercing eyes. Of course, the war came along. There was never really anything between us. I remember a really beautiful song - I can't remember any more. Phyllis and I was in absolute flood of tears. It was very cold and she... Phyllis... I held her in my arms... I'm afraid I was very drunk. :(
@Enda Dorgan 1:36
I heard "Then the War came along... That was really it between us..."
In other words, they had gone their separate ways, by choice, accident or obligation.
@Enda Dorgan I don't remember putting a time stamp on at the end because I was very very drunk.
@@Radagast-
I am fairly reliably told that young American soldiers drafted or enlisted during the Vietnam War at age 18 or 19 or so would commonly marry female friends before being deployed. There was no particular romance or sexual connection. However, if the serviceman died on active service the young widow would get a widow's benefit and a host of other benefits to keep her. Perhaps not so attractive for girls in New York, Boston, Chicago or California.
But in small towns in the Dakotas or Mississppi or Missouri, for sure.
Most of the servicemen returned, of course, (death rate was about 2 per cent of US personell, although much higher for those assigned as infantry and associated arns ) and so on return they invariably got divorced, although perhaps some of them actually made a go of the marriage.
"... beautiful woman. And I was absolutely smitten. "
Comedians often make the best actors & Paul Whitehouse proves it here.
This is my favourite Fast Show sketch
This scene reminds me of a quotation by John Greenleaf Whittier...
"For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these... it might have been."
...might *have* been.
***** Thanks
Your comment....should be top of the pile for this video. Nobody has put it better
I forget where I read it (and TBH I think it was an advert), but it's been said that the two saddest words in the English language are _if only_...
Regrets. Death. Terror.
Greatest acting ever deserves an Oscar makes you laugh then cry inside 2 minutes beautiful
"I held her in my arms." That was all it took.
The ticking of the clock in the last few moments only adds to the power of the piece, not only superbly acted but directed also
For those of us who'd watched the Rowley Birkin sketches as they were broadcast over the years, for Whitehouse to gut-punch us all with the realisation of what lead to the character's isolation, alcoholism and everything else, was completely overwhelming.
This is what comedy is for, sudden insights into another soul's barely concealed trauma.
It's up there with sonnet 29 for what the English language can say about loss and pain for me.
Absolute Genius. Who else does this in a comedy sketch show ? No-one !. Depth and pathos without sentimentality is a hard trick to pull off. I remember I was quite shocked when I first seen this and it still affects me today
Me too. Its the character we all would like to be but secretly know that it will end badly?
If ever there was a moment of genius that captured drama, comedy and sadness it’s this short piece of TV. I lived in London in the 1990’s where we would sit in front on the tv no phones, no social media and no distractions. Just being in the moment. What a privilege to have seen this when it was aired. It takes me back to a beautiful England and a special time in my life. Take a bow Sir.
The most stunning turnaround of a character catchphrase in comedy history.
That is a piece of art, and I defy anyone to suggest otherwise
Paul Whitehouse displaying a consummate acting skill. The twenty seconds or so prior to his admission of being very drunk shows a technique second to none without saying a word.
It's 1.33 am, I'm on holiday in Spain. I'm quite drunk, and have no clue as to why I'm here. But this is so beautiful and so sad. Whitehouse is a wonder 💙
I always found this sketch saddeningly touching...the feeling of loneliness, guilt, and heartbreak...living on the scenarios of what could of or should have been....
When he mentioned the war, the song the cold .... i always see them at a dance before an air strike and she didn't survive...but he did...🥺
Sadly this is no doubt what so so many people actually went through!
The way he captured the emotions of such a story with so few understandable words in such a small time frame truly shows his acting skills are exceptional...
He is the most talented character actor, possibly ever.
All of humanity in those eyes.
As has been said by far better people than me, perhaps the finest moment in British TV acting. This man deserves a knighthood.
John Edwards absolutely agree
Best delivered line in history. Glad to see I’m not the only in floods of tears
Most beautiful moment in comedy
I remember how I felt when I first saw this. It remains beautiful, horrible.
It's perfect.
The way he hold the suspense draws you in, the clock ticking and fireplace crackling all add to the atmosphere. Very poignant and brilliant acting.
"Ladies and Gentlemen you have just witnessed a Genius give a Masterclass on how to act."
Shame about the 240p resolution. The acting skill here is in the eyes. A rare skill not many actors have.
Once again this has reduced me to tears. A master piece.
I remember when i first saw this scene.I was so used to laugh at that specific character in the previous episodes so that when he started talking incoherently-again-revealing his sad story i caught myself laughing..only to realize what really happened.Powerful scene which shows Paul Whitehouse's brilliant talent a unique ability to jump from comedy to drama at mere seconds..He is so underrated..
+Λαυρέντιος Ψαροκάηκας Totally agree :)
I was exactly the same. I laughed with everyone else and, very soon after, the deafening silence of his pause floored me. I felt so self conscious and wrong for laughing at what developed into a tale of heartbreak. The acting here is world class.
I think shows how serious what alcohol can do to you
@@garethflattery3010
Yes.
This is so amazing, something of a British speciality reallly,... reminds me of the very last episode of Black Adder season 4. You wait for that cracking last big laugh, instead you get tears of empathy. It is simply brilliant. Thank you
@Enda Dorgan I assume so Edna. Similarly touching and unexpected. British brilliance...
Also the 'Old Holmes' sketch from Mitchell & Webb
ruclips.net/video/Pp02ubGuTIU/видео.html
4 minutes of laughs then a gut-punch at the end.
Paul is an absolute genius. Comedy but reduces me to tears every time I see it.
I used to work right next to where Paul lived and saw him pass by often, this sketch always stayed with me. He passed by one day as I was standing there, he had a ohone to his ear so I didn't want to intrude but I gave him a thumbs up and I hope it conveyed my sentiments about his absolute genius. Kudos Paul.
paul should be very proud of such a performance of a man i think we all regard as somebody who has no charector but in this clip totally disposes of that showing true beautiful love and losing, of a then young rowley very heart rendering.
I found this so moving, akin to Black Adder 'going over the top' . Brilliant delivery from Paul Whitehouse..
Just under two minutes of the finest acting anyone will ever see.
Paul a very unrated actor. He still brings happiness to the screen.
Such a talented actor. Carried on talking with his eyes in the silence.... beautiful, with the smoke and the ticking clock. He also sounded younger when he spoke about being drunk. Such clever acting and direction. Bravo 👏
This is why Johnny Depp pronounced Paul Whitehouse the greatest actor of his generation...
Here in 2021, this is still the most amazing performance from Mr Whitehouse, pure genius. What a character to create, and then to deliver so poignantly. No wonder Johnny Depp no less once called Paul Whitehouse the best actor he'd seen.
I held her in my arms….a stare that lingers eternally….
Does anyone else come here when they just want to see a magnificent piece of acting?
Gut wrenching. Turns the sketches apparent assumption of laughing at an old drunk on its head. Many people will empathise with the emotions of regret, pain and love similtaneously personified by Whitehouse in one stare. I saw this sketch as a teenager and remembered it as being unique amongst Fast Show sketches. It's exactly as I remember it.
And in 1:35 seconds; you can see why Johnny Depp said this man was the best actor in the world! Absolutely beautiful moment! No reason to know why, no reason to know how..hits you everytime
Amazing. How the laughter gradually dies down and all you can hear is the clock. Beautiful
wonderfully acted and powerful stuff made me weep too. I wonder how many of us have relatable experiences? I knew a lovely young lady once who I absolutely adored, we were both young and sadly I really had little idea how to treat women (yes I am ashamed of my behaviour back then) I went to university and lost touch with her for over 30 years. Thanks to the magic of the internet I found her again recently and now we talk again and I'd like to think were friends again, nothing more though, which is lovely, though in all honesty it's a bit bittersweet.
every time i see this i just wish i was in that room. It looks so lovely. I hope i get old enough to sit in a chair drinking brandy.
Sublime. There is a moment of dawning when one realises this is a love regret, which then compounds the profound sadness with the guilt of initial inappropriate laughter by the audience. Exquisitely timed, acted and written.
His eyes tell the story in this scene. I remember when I first saw it and it broke my heart a little.
Amazing actor.
This, the ending to Blackadder, and the Sherlock Holmes scene at the end of Mitchell and Webb are all in the same league of beautifully acted scenes written by comedy writers, that have no right to go as hard as they do.
The finest actor of a generation
Just for that one moment, you get a glimpse of someone else's hell.
No wonder he stays drunk.
So moving to watch even so many years on. Simply beautiful and amazing writing
After "I held her in my arms" he is looking deep into your soul towards the end there. Paralyses you with his helpless look of loss as he goes right back to the moment.
I saw this when it first aired and it stayed with me. Wonderful acting.
This is utterly heartbreaking, and proves what a superb actor Paul Whitehouse is. In terms of devastating sadness in a comedy show, the only other sketch I can think of that comes close, is Mitchell and Webb's 'Sherlock Holmes' sketch. Like this Rowley Birkin one, don't watch that if you're afraid of crying. This is why British comedy is a closed door to some people - a lot of the best stuff is as dark as night, and can, in a sketch show, lead to funny characters sometimes being made real by tragedy. Rowley Birkin's stare, where you can sense 'the wheels going round', as he realises, that, had he not been 'very, very drunk', he might have been able to prevent a tragedy occurring. And it's haunted him all his life. It's a masterpiece in two minutes, and it gets me every single time. Genius.
I love the way his eyes aren't quite in sync when he blinks, it's touches like that which make the difference between good acting and great acting.
pure brilliance - i love it more each time
They say that 85% of communication is non verbal, & this beautiful clip shows why. Whitehouse has gigantic acting ability to impart, without context or build up, without emotive music, & with only a couple of key words, a whole gamut of thoughts emotion & poignancy. Oscar winning.
Brilliant acting by Paul. Reduced to tears with a few words and a look. You can see that that experience has affected his whole life.One of the saddest things I have seen. Genius.
This is my fave fast show sketch ever, thanks for getting it up!
Such good acting on Whitehouse's behalf in this. Perfect.
This is absolutely incredible, just goes to show how much you can say without saying anything at all
Well that wasn't what i was expecting..
Amazing how much he can convey with his face and voice
So powerful. The humanity of this sketch still makes me shiver.
Like many others ....I was taken by surprise when this aired years ago and it struck me then and it does now . I never forgot it either and just watched it for the first time in over a decade. Poignant and touchingly sad ...
It's just brilliant. Oh,and utterly heart breaking too of course!
I think Paul is so hugely underrated as a straight actor because of his comedic work. He really deserves something to showcase his serious acting, like Bryan Cranston got with Breaking Bad.
_Help_ was a great programme that really showcased his acting, both comedic and serious. Unfortunately it was a double-act with Chris Langham, another brilliant actor who... um... yeah. There was a region 4 DVD, but good luck finding it with a google-proof name like that :(
Absolute floods of tears indeed!
Wow, what an amazing actor.
This is just simply great.
Brilliant, just brilliant. My favourite comedy sketch of all time.
I remember this even getting to me as a kid. Brilliantly acted.
Beautiful
I also remember this one, and it's also my favourite. Very touching, sad and so true.
It's no wonder Johnny Depp has said Paul Whitehouse is the best actor in the world.
Thank you, max1018. Wonderful to see this clip after many years.
Fantastic and this is 2023
Just sublime.
Always puts a lump in my chest.
If you've ever loved and lost this is an absolute tear-jerker. That pause...💔
to go from this to "hilarious story" Is just genius! Gives me goose bumps!!
*This short film is the only one I know that takes the viewer on such a rollercoaster of emotions in just one minute and forty seconds* :
That pause as he looks into your eyes......... _the ticking of the clock_ ........
..... the delivery at the end........such pathos
He is master at timing and audience reaction ,,it is simply genius the way they could balance a sketch on a knife edge between hilarity and sadness...
Very touching and butifull,paul white house a genious
Powerful.
I cry every time.
Bloody moving!
Melts my heart everytime i see this
Really good acting by Paul Whitehouse. Especially 1:13 - 1:29 "I held her in my arms... I'm afraid I was very drunk". It was about tragedy and regret. Rowley telling a sad story about a woman he loved whom he lost. I believed she died in his arms.
Or went to fight in the war maybe
@@J5X7 I think she died. "It was very very cold and she, Phyllis... I held her in arms."
Powerful and brilliant stuff...
Utterly brilliant.