The Mrs Merton Show

The Bass Slides. We don't remember exactly when it started (although the theme tune had one) but they were certainly inspired by David Coverdale period Deep Purple when songs often ended with a lovely bass note from Glenn Hughes sliding down the neck to the nut. It became a feature. Every sting ended up with one, even when there was no bass on the rest of the music. They got more and more exagerrated.... but nobody noticed, at least they never mentioned it. Comments often came back from the 'Powers that Be' at Granada TV (who made the show) and the BBC (who broadcast it) about how much they liked the "Sweet bit" and the "Undertones one" but never the Bass Guitar Slides. There was probably one or two of them who didn't even realise it wasn't a live band playing on the show.

Congratulations to Craig (who Tim first met when Craig was a radio DJ and rescued a poorly DAT recording of an interview with a newly signed band called Oasis) and Caroline for the Royles and it's understandable that they thought the Mrs Merton format had run it's course but oh....... how we miss her.

			The Bass Slides. We don't remember exactly when it started (although the theme tune had one) but they were certainly inspired by David Coverdale period Deep Purple when songs often ended with a lovely bass note from Glenn Hughes sliding down the neck to the nut. It became a feature. Every sting ended up with one, even when there was no bass on the rest of the music. They got more and more exagerrated.... but nobody noticed, at least they never mentioned it. Comments often came back from the 'Powers that Be' at Granada TV (who made the show) and the BBC (who broadcast it) about how much they liked the "Sweet bit" and the "Undertones one" but never the Bass Guitar Slides. There was probably one or two of them who didn't even realise it wasn't a live band playing on the show. Congratulations to Craig (who Tim first met when Craig was a radio DJ and rescued a poorly DAT recording of an interview with a newly signed band called Oasis) and Caroline for the Royles and it's understandable that they thought the Mrs Merton format had run it's course but oh....... how we miss her.
		One day Patrick mentioned a new show Caroline and Craig (Cash; co-writer and occasional Malcolm Merton) were writing called The Royle Family; little did we know at the time what that would lead to.... and then there was to be no more Mrs Merton - Gutted. No more songs to do like "One Voice" with heavy metal guitar, no more gratuitous wammy dives, wah wah back in it's box and..... no more bass slides. MP3 sample clips • dancing queen.mp3 • hello hello.mp3 • one voice.mp3 • little willy.mp3 • simon.mp3
When Caroline Aherne was married to New Order's Peter Hook, "Hooky & the Boys" were the Mrs Merton Show's house band. When Caroline's brother Patrick took over the job with "The Patrick Trio" the first task was to re-record the theme tune; Caroline, her mum and other audience members came along to Courtyard Recording Studios to do their bit on backing vocals and Tim managed to persuade the production team to stretch the budget to a brass section instead of using samples - and the fun began.For the next 3 years, Patrick (on vocals & keyboards) and Tim (guitar, bass and programming) had lots of fun recording the 'walk-on stings' for the guests to....... well... to walk on to. 3 series of the Mrs Merton Show, Christmas Specials and a trip to Las Vegas.	Guests (and consequently the appropriate music for the sting) were often only confirmed on the day of the session which was usually a couple of days before filming; with one notable exception. Work on one Xmas show started a couple of weeks before filming in late October - as well as the stings there were often songs to arrange for the audience to sing (In the Navy and Perfect Day were particularly memorable) - and then it was announced that George Michael was going to be the one and only guest and he wanted to do a duet with Caroline/Mrs M...... naturally, Tim & Patrick were quite having the idea of being his backing band even if Tim was a bit invisible (the miming jobs were already spoken for). Sadly, George pulled out just before filming (for 'personal reasons' - this was the days before his LA incident) and was replaced with Edwina Curry and Max Bygraves....... which was nice.