'We put a stink bomb in Stephen Fry's shoe': Vic and Bob on the inspired idiocy of Shooting Stars

In the early days of British television, Vic and Bob's Shooting Stars brought a fresh wave of anarchic humor to the airwaves. The brainchild of Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves – Jim Moir – this irreverent panel show was born from a live quiz session during Vic Reeves' Big Night Out, which left an indelible mark on both comedians.

As Bob recounts, their initial idea for Shooting Stars took shape when the BBC expressed interest in developing it further. "We were doing a Vic and Bob Christmas TV special and thought we might be able to get away with having that 'Big Quiz'," he says. The show's writers spent hours crafting true or false questions, but the excitement of creating something new kept them enthralled.

One memorable moment from early shoots involved George Dawes – Matt Lucas in a romper suit – whose appearance was solely at Vic Reeves' discretion. "He'd come to me before filming and say: 'At some point, can you ask me if I like going to the cinema?' I never let him tell me what this was setting up," Bob reveals.

Guests were often caught off guard by the challenges on Shooting Stars, which ranged from sabotaging their seats to being caged with a mock monkey. The show's unpredictability drew people in, and even some A-listers like Larry Hagman were unsure of what to expect but ultimately enjoyed themselves.

Jim Moir adds that the show allowed celebrities to glimpse behind the glamour of fame: "It was one of the few places where you got a little glimpse into what a celebrity was really like." The format's flexibility and willingness to take risks made it an antidote to more conventional comedy, and its impact on television programming cannot be overstated.

One notable instance showcased Vic Reeves' cunning – literally. He allegedly placed a stink bomb in Stephen Fry's shoe, which left the entire studio reeling. This particular prank became one of Jim Moir's most memorable contributions to Shooting Stars.

The show's creative freedom also led to some unusual set designs and makeup choices, with Vic Reeves drawing lines on his face for added effect. The results were often laugh-out-loud funny, as in the case of Rubbing My Knees – a sound effect inspired by an old kids' Christmas record where an elderly gentleman rubbed his knees while singing.

Despite its unorthodox nature, Shooting Stars carved out a loyal audience and remains an essential part of British television's history. As Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves continue to push the boundaries of comedy, their creation will forever be remembered as a trailblazing force in the world of entertainment.

I think it's crazy how Shooting Stars managed to bring that anarchic energy to the small screen back in the day! The fact that they could make A-listers like Larry Hagman laugh despite the unpredictability of the show is just wild. It's awesome how Bob and Vic pushed the boundaries of comedy and created something truly unique. And I mean, who wouldn't want to see a stink bomb go off in Stephen Fry's shoe?! The way they used creativity and took risks with set designs and makeup choices is really inspiring. It's no wonder Shooting Stars carved out such a loyal audience and remains an essential part of British TV history.

OMG, this nostalgia is EVERYTHING ! I'm so glad they shared all these behind-the-scenes stories about Shooting Stars - it's clear that Vic and Bob's chemistry was what made the show so special . The way they poked fun at each other and the guests, it's still laugh-out-loud funny today . And who can forget George Dawes in the romper suit? That's some genius editing right there! The fact that celebrities like Larry Hagman enjoyed themselves despite being caught off guard just goes to show how unpredictable and charming Shooting Stars was . It's no wonder it carved out a loyal audience - the show was truly one-of-a-kind, and its impact on TV programming is still felt today . Can we get a reboot or revival of this classic now? #ShootingStarsForever #VicAndBobComedy #90sTVLegends

they were sooo funny back in the day lol! i remember watching that show with my family all the time we always had a laugh at those stunts and pranks vic Reeves was like a genius or something, who else could pull off a stink bomb prank on stephen fry?

I THINK SHOOTING STARS WAS LIKE THE ULTIMATE COMEDY EXPERIMENT - IT WAS LIKE THEY TOOK EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG AND MADE IT WORK ! VIC REEVES' PRANK ON STEPHEN FRY WAS CLASSIC , BUT WHAT REALLY MADE THE SHOW WORK WAS ITS ABILITY TO MAKE GUESTS FEEL LIKE THEY WERE IN ON THE JOKE TOO. IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE PART OF A BIG COMEDY CLUB, AND YOU COULD TELL THEY ALL HAD AN AMAZING TIME TOGETHER . THE FACT THAT THEY COULD JUST GO WILD AND DO WHATEVER THEY FELT LIKE WITHOUT ANY REAL CONSEQUENCES WAS LIKE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN COMEDY LAND .

I'm loving this retro vibe, but you know what's more retro than some old TV show? The state of our current election cycle! I mean, think about it, we've got politicians promising us the moon and then pulling the rug out from under us like a classic game of Shooting Stars. Bob Mortimer would be all over that, asking them true or false questions like "Do you support increased funding for arts programs?" Meanwhile, Jim Moir's behind-the-scenes antics would have him sneaking in some extra stink bombs... I mean, sound effects. It's like the whole thing is one big comedy sketch! The question is, who's the real comedian here – the politicians or Bob and Vic?

I'm still on my second watch of this "Shooting Stars" show and I gotta say, it's like they stole all the fun from our school talent shows . Vic Reeves was like a kid with a bag full of tricks, always pushing boundaries and taking risks. And George Dawes' romper suit was just the cherry on top! But what really gets me is how raw and unpolished the show felt – it was like they were all just winging it. I mean, who puts a stink bomb in someone's shoe? Only Vic Reeves, mate . Anyway, I can see why this show is still making waves after all these years – its irreverence and unpredictability are still infectious. But back in my day, we didn't need all these fancy pranks to have a laugh... our school talent shows were basically just an excuse for everyone to make fools of themselves .

I mean I love how old-school Shooting Stars still has that anarchic vibe it's crazy to think about some A-listers like Larry Hagman being totally caught off guard by those challenges! And Vic Reeves' stink bomb prank on Stephen Fry is just genius . What's also interesting is how the show gave celebs a glimpse into what it's really like to be in the public eye, you know? Like they were part of this crazy crew rather than being treated like royalty .

I think that's why Shooting Stars remains so beloved even after all these years – it was never afraid to get weird and try new things. And can we talk about George Dawes' romper suit appearance though?

I'm loving this blast from the past! Shooting Stars seems like such a wild card back then, but in the best possible way? I mean, who wouldn't want to see George Dawes in a romper suit or Vic Reeves with a stink bomb in Stephen Fry's shoe? That level of unpredictability is what made it so appealing.

But what really got me thinking was Bob Mortimer's comment about the show allowing celebrities to glimpse behind the glamour of fame. It sounds like Shooting Stars was one of those rare experiences where people felt comfortable being silly and vulnerable on TV.

I'd love to see some archival footage or interviews with former guests to get a better sense of what it was really like to be on the show. Who were some of the most memorable guest stars? What kind of pranks did Vic Reeves come up with? Some sources, please!

OMG u gotta see the old clips from Shooting Stars!!! i mean its like they really had no idea what was gonna happen on that show lol. George Dawes in a romper suit though still cracks me up every time. and omg Stephen Fry getting stink bombed vic reeves is literally a genius. idk how they got away with some of the stuff they did on that show but it worked lol. the creativity and freedom to be weird was what made Shooting Stars so special. its still one of my fave shows eva

I'm so down for more shows like Shooting Stars! It was always about being weird and making people laugh. I loved how it kept you on your toes, never knowing what's gonna happen next . And can we talk about Vic Reeves' stink bomb prank? That was genius! The way the show blended humor with a bit of chaos was magic. I think that's why it still holds up today - it's like they're still making jokes at me, even after all these years

lol u gotta be kiddin me about this shooting stars thing... like who thought it was a good idea to put people on stage and just mess with them all day? and yeah ok so vic reeves is a genius or whatever but i mean come on, that stink bomb prank on stephen fry was just rude. i dont get why ppl still look back at this show as some kinda goldmine for comedy when its just weird and annoying. and dont even get me started on the romper suit guy... who wears a romper suit to a tv quiz?

So like the original Vic & Bob show was literally just a quiz session gone wrong... who knew that would become Shooting Stars? I mean, George Dawes in a romper suit is still the most iconic thing ever! I've got to ask, has anyone tried making one of those stink bombs at home? Asking for a friend...

so I was reading about this old TV show shooting stars and it got me thinking... how many times have we seen a "fresh wave" come into town and change everything? always looks like a good thing at first, but is it really worth the risk of disrupting the status quo? in some cases, yeah it's necessary to shake things up, but sometimes I think we get so caught up in trying to be edgy or "cool" that we forget what's truly important: being genuine and respectful

Shooting Stars was one of those shows that really understood how to create a unique dynamic between guests & hosts . The way they'd craft these ridiculous challenges & then just roll with them was pure genius. I mean, who else could make a stink bomb prank or a mock monkey gag work in a live setting? It's amazing to think about how many A-listers were caught off guard by those moments of chaos . The show's ability to showcase the human side of celebrities, warts & all, was definitely a key part of its charm. And let's not forget Vic Reeves' knack for creative set design – that Rubbing My Knees sound effect is still one of my all-time faves . All in all, Shooting Stars was a true original that left an indelible mark on British TV history .