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Birthday:
09-27-1945
Deathday:
12-08-2008 (63 years)
Birthplace:
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Biography
Robert Alexander "Bob" Spiers (27 September 1945 – 8 December 2008) was a director.
He is particularly noted as the director of the early series of Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2001), the musical comedy Spiceworld, and of the second series of Fawlty Towers (1979). He also worked with Steven Moffat on Press Gang and Joking Apart.
Spiers won a BAFTA Award twice for his work as a television comedy director.
He is particularly noted as the director of the early series of Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2001), the musical comedy Spiceworld, and of the second series of Fawlty Towers (1979). He also worked with Steven Moffat on Press Gang and Joking Apart.
Spiers won a BAFTA Award twice for his work as a television comedy director.
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Their works
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Queen of the Wild Frontier
Act like Vicar
event1993
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Convicts Mick and Gary are being escorted to the dentist when their prison van has an accident and they wind up at a remote farmhouse occupied by Fiona and Susie, two sex-starved sisters who have been waiting to have babies with the right men, whilst these two may not be the right ones, they are certainly available.
The Comic Strip Presents...
Act like Vicar (1 ep.)
event1982 star_border 7.4
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The Comic Strip is a group of British comedians, who came to prominence in the 1980s. They are known for their television series The Comic Strip Presents... which was labelled as an example of alternative comedy. The core members are Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardson, Jennifer Saunders and Alexei Sayle with frequent appearances by Keith Allen, Robbie Coltrane and others.
That Darn Cat
Director (1 ep.)
event1997 star_border 5
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While making his nightly rounds in the neighborhood, Patti's pet cat D.C. finds himself the carrier of a call for help from a kidnap victim. Patti enlists skeptical law enforcement help to find the victim before it's too late.
Spice World
Producer (1 ep.)
event1997 star_border 4.8
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World famous pop group the Spice Girls zip around London in their luxurious double decker tour bus having various adventures and performing for their fans.
Chilly Dogs
Director (1 ep.)
event2001 star_border 5.4
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A man must participate in the Iditarod dog race across Alaska to inherit property from his legendary grandfather, but ends up getting much more than he bargained for.
The Best of French & Saunders
Director (1 ep.)
event2002
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A compilation of all the best sketches from Britain's favourite female comedy double-act. They are all here - the music numbers, Hollywood spoofs, the uncannily perceptive mickey-taking of our various - and particularly female - obsessions, and much, much more.
A Fistful of Travellers' Cheques
Director (1 ep.)
event1984 star_border 7
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Two students calling themselves Carlos and Miguel arrive in Spain dressed as gunslingers to live out their dream of being in a spaghetti Western. At a cafe in a remote town they meet two Australian girls who have picked up a scruffy hitch-hiker and a would-be rapist dressed as a matador.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Last Shout
Director (1 ep.)
event1996 star_border 7.3
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Eddy and Patsy prepare to go on a skiing holiday to hopefully indulge in the jet-setting lifestyle of the international celebrity elite when Saffy is proposed to by her stuffy, upper-class boyfriend, Paolo. Eddy hits the slopes and has a near death experience where God appears to her and tells her it's not yet her time. When Eddy comes to, she waits for a sign that she should get involved in Saffy's wedding. As she returns to the house, it appears all hell has broken loose- relatives piling up, practically squatting, and Saffy about to lose her mind. Eddy calms her by throwing money at her as they bond together, planning Saffy's dream wedding. What could go wrong?
Up Line
Director (1 ep.)
event1987
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Three alternative comedians get involved in a pyramid-selling organization, Pathway, in order to finance their act. They gain great success by deploying their skills as entertainers, only to eventually discover the sinister purpose behind the Pathway organization.
Absolutely Fabulous: A Life
Director (1 ep.)
event1998 star_border 10
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During the filming of her very own documentary, 'A Day in My Life', Edina drops in on her mother who's working in a Help the Aged charity shop. There, she reminisces about the people and events which have made her what she is today.
How to Be Absolutely Fabulous
Director (1 ep.)
event1995 star_border 6
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Jennifer Saunders hosts a party of AbFab outtakes and behind-the-scenes footage.
Five Go Mad in Dorset
Director (1 ep.)
event1982
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In the 1950s, four children, Anne, described as a 'proper little housewife', the rather butch George who has an unhealthy relationship with her dog Timmy and their brothers Dick and Julian, whose relationship seems to be more than fraternal, go on a cycling holiday in Dorset where their flair for detection - plus their snobbery and xenophobia - gets a whole string of suspicious characters arrested.
War
Director (1 ep.)
event1983 star_border 10
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1985:- England has been invaded by the Warsaw Pact countries and middle-class couple Hermine and Godfrey retreat to their rural hide-away but after witnessing a bunch of incompetent commandos kill each other, they get separated.
The Beat Generation
Director (1 ep.)
event1983
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In the monochrome world of 1960, pretentious Alan, violent Kix and sex-mad Eleanor are part of a colony of beat poets, living a hedonistic, unreal existence in a large villa overlooking the sea. Dumped by his girlfriend Jeremy is anxious to be part of their circle until two girls from the outside world and a wild party open his eyes to what really matters.
Five Go Mad on Mescalin
Director (1 ep.)
event1983
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On their way to stay with Mrs French at Hot Turkey Farm, the Famous Five hear on the radio their Uncle Quentin's escaped prison. Arriving at the farm they're appalled to meet the vulgar millionaire, Mr Budweiser, and his spoilt son, Willy. Julian and Dick are so incensed, they sleep outdoors where they spy 2 heavies being secretly villainous. The trail leads to Love Island, where they discover Uncle Quentin and his boyfriend Toby.
Susie
Director (1 ep.)
event1984
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In rural England, school teacher Susie Darling is planning to leave her boring husband Martin for lusty mechanic Dave when she meets romantic former pop star Garry Dreadful, who has moved to the village to start a traditional farm and asks her to live with him.
Gino: Full Story and Pics
Director (1 ep.)
event1984
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A hoodlum is turned into a celebrity when he steals a cab and subsequent events are blown out of proportion by the media.
The Fast Show Live
Director (1 ep.)
event1998 star_border 8
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Recorded live at London's Hammersmith Apollo in 1998, The Fast Show Live features all of the original cast of the highly successful sketch series (Caroline Aherne excepted) including Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day, Charlie Higson and Arabella Weir and practically all of their myriad characters and catchphrases.
Didn't You Kill My Brother?
Director (1 ep.)
event1988
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Carl Moss leaves jail,where he has taken the rap for his evil twin Sterling,and has been declared a model prisoner. Pauline Sneek,his probation officer - and girlfriend - gets him community work teaching youngsters how to lead law-abiding lives. This displeases Sterling,as he needs the young delinquents for his bicycle stealing ring.
Are You Being Served?
Director (13 ep.)
event1972 star_border 7.2
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This comedy series, which follows the exploits of employees at London's fictional "Grace Brothers" department store, is full of sexual innuendo, slapstick, visual gags, and double entendres. Much of the show's humor parodies Britain's class system, and many of the show's characters are based on stereotypes of the period, including the effeminate Mr. Humphries and the rich, but stingy, store owner.
Dad's Army
Director (5 ep.)
event1968 star_border 7.4
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Introducing the Walmington-On-Sea home guard. During WW2, in a fictional British seaside town, a ragtag group of Home Guard local defense volunteers prepare for an imminent German invasion.
The Goodies
Director (21 ep.)
event1970 star_border 7.5
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A British television comedy series of the 1970s and early 1980s, combining surreal sketches and situation comedy.
Joking Apart
Director (11 ep.)
event1993 star_border 6.7
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Joking Apart is a BBC television sitcom written by Steven Moffat about the rise and fall of a relationship. It juxtaposes a couple, Mark and Becky, who fall in love and marry, before getting separated and finally divorced. The twelve episodes, broadcast between 1993 and 1995, were directed by Bob Spiers and produced by Andre Ptaszynski for independent production company Pola Jones.
The show is semi-autobiographical; it was inspired by the then recent separation of Moffat and his first wife. Some of the episodes in the first series followed a non-linear parallel structure, contrasting the rise of the relationship with the fall. Other episodes were ensemble farces, predominantly including the couple's friends Robert and Tracy. Paul Mark Elliott also appeared as Trevor, Becky's lover.
Murder Most Horrid
Director (8 ep.)
event1991 star_border 6.6
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A comedy that started in 1991 as a pilot, Murder Most Horrid stars Dawn French as various characters, as she embarks on a different mystery every episode. In one way or another she is involved with murder - either committing the crime herself or even getting bumped off herself!
French & Saunders
Director (6 ep.)
event1987 star_border 7.5
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French and Saunders is a British sketch comedy television series written by and starring comic duo Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. It is also the name by which the performers are known on the occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act.
Agony Again
Director (1 ep.)
event1995 star_border 7
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Agony Again is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 in 1995. Starring Maureen Lipman, it is the sequel to Agony, an ITV sitcom that aired from 1979 to 1981. Agony Again was written by Carl Gorham, Michael Hatt and Amanda Swift.
Not the Nine O'Clock News
Director (1 ep.)
event1979 star_border 7
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Classic sketch comedy show satirising the news and culture of the late 70s and early 80s which introduced Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones and Pamela Stephenson.
Days Like These
Director (13 ep.)
event1999
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Days Like These is a British TV series remake of the popular American sitcom That '70s Show. Directed by Bob Spiers, it was broadcast Fridays at 8.30pm on ITV in 1999 and used many of the same names, or slight alterations. It was set in Dunstable, Bedfordshire. Only 10 of the 13 produced episodes were aired. Five began broadcasts of That '70s Show after the failure of Days Like These and it was one of the first comedy shows imported onto the channel.
Bottom
Director (6 ep.)
event1991 star_border 7.9
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Richie Richard (socially awkward, sexually inexperienced) and Eddie Hitler (carefree alcoholic ) are two social outcasts living on the dole. Trapped together in a squalid flat in Hammersmith, London they are perpetually skint, bored and sexually frustrated. They spend their days scheming, bickering, and being nasty and sadistic to each other.
Fawlty Towers
Director (6 ep.)
event1975 star_border 8.3
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Owner Basil Fawlty, his wife Sybil, a chambermaid Polly, and Spanish waiter Manuel attempt to run their hotel amidst farcical situations and an array of demanding guests.
The Adventures of Lano and Woodley
Director (2 ep.)
event1997 star_border 9.2
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The Adventures of Lano and Woodley is an Australian comedy television show starring the comedic duo of Lano and Woodley, consisting of two series which aired on ABC TV from 1997 to 1999. The first series was distributed on VHS and in 2004 The Complete Adventures of Lano and Woodley was released as a 2-disc DVD rather than each series being released separately.
Absolutely Fabulous
Director (22 ep.)
event1992 star_border 7.5
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Set in the world of fashion and PR, immature fun-loving mother Edina Monsoon and her best friend Patsy drive Eddie's sensible daughter, Saffron, up the wall with their constant drug abuse and outrageous selfishness. Numerous in-jokes and heavy doses of cruel humour have made this series a cult hit in the UK and abroad.
Press Gang
Director (22 ep.)
event1989 star_border 7.3
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The activities of the staff at The Junior Gazette, a children's weekly newspaper produced by a group of school pupils.
The Fast Show
Director (1 ep.)
event1994 star_border 7.8
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The Fast Show is a multi BAFTA award winning sketch comedy show written and produced by Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.
A Bit of Fry & Laurie
Director (6 ep.)
event1989 star_border 7.9
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A British comedy television series with turns of phrase and elaborate wordplay, written by and starring former Cambridge Footlights members Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.
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