Five Go Mad in Dorset 1982
Step back to the 1950s and meet four unusually nosy children whose holiday in Dorset quickly turns into a chain-reaction of comic chaos.
Director: Bob Spiers
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Five Go Mad in Dorset (1982) about?
Four 1950s children on a cycling holiday in Dorset find their love of detection—and their snobbery—spiralling into a series of mistaken arrests. What starts as innocent nosiness soon spirals into surreal, knockabout comedy as their assumptions run wild.
Who directed Five Go Mad in Dorset?
Bob Spiers helmed this half-hour sketch, bringing his signature timing and visual wit to the chaos.
Who stars in Five Go Mad in Dorset?
The main foursome is played by Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders, with Daniel Peacock and a scene-stealing Robbie Coltrane rounding out the cast.
Is Five Go Mad in Dorset (1982) worth watching?
Packed into a brisk 30 minutes, this cult classic showcases early 80s British comedy at its most nimble and mischievous. If you enjoy anarchic satire and rapid-fire one-liners, it's absolutely worth tracking down.
How long is Five Go Mad in Dorset?
The film runs for 30 minutes.
Five Go Mad in Dorset (1982) — A 1950s teen mystery packed with satire and chaos
Step back to the 1950s and meet four unusually nosy children whose holiday in Dorset quickly turns into a chain-reaction of comic chaos. Anne plays the prim 'little housewife,' George's devotion to her dog Timmy borders on the obsessive, and Dick and Julian's relationship raises a few eyebrows. When their inflated sense of snobbery and knee-jerk suspicion collide with a parade of suspicious strangers, the result is a surreal, fast-paced half-hour of mayhem that only sharp-witted British satire can deliver.
Directed by the legendary Bob Spiers and bursting with absurd character ticks, this 30-minute sketch-comedy masterpiece skewers post-war class anxieties and the fine art of jumping to conclusions. With Adrian Edmondson, Dawn French, Peter Richardson and Jennifer Saunders trading barbs and costumes, Five Go Mad in Dorset delivers razor-sharp one-liners and a visual energy that still feels fresh decades on.