Harry Enfield is a British comedian, actor, writer, and director who is best known for creating and performing a variety of comic characters. Some of his most popular recurring characters include Loadsamoney, Kevin the Teenager, and The Scousers. Enfield’s characters are known for their exaggerated stereotypes and catchphrases, and have become embedded in British pop culture.
When did Harry Enfield first gain fame for his characters?
Harry Enfield first rose to fame in the late 1980s with his characters on the television sketch show Spitting Image. It was here that he introduced some of his most enduring characters like Stavros the Kebab Shop Owner and Loadsamoney. However, Enfield’s breakthrough came in 1990 when he created his own sketch show, Harry Enfield’s Television Programme, alongside comedy partner Paul Whitehouse. It was through this show that Enfield introduced many of his most beloved characters and skits.
What were some of Enfield’s most popular early characters?
Some of Enfield’s most popular recurring characters from his early sketch shows included:
- Loadsamoney – A loud, obnoxious character who constantly boasted about how much “Loadsamoney” he had.
- Stavros the Kebab Shop Owner – A Greek kebab shop owner with a heavy accent.
- The Scousers – Loud, tracksuited stereotypes of working class Liverpudlians.
- Ancient Greek Philosophers – Philosophers like Socrates and Plato portrayed as football hooligans.
These exaggerated and over-the-top characters allowed Enfield to mock different societal groups and attitudes in the late 80s and early 90s Britain. Loadsamoney served as a satire of selfish yuppie culture, while Stavros made fun of ethnic stereotypes. The Scousers parodied a perceived delinquency among working class youth. Enfield’s flair for accents and physical comedy made these characters highly entertaining.
What was one of Enfield’s most iconic sketch characters in the 90s?
One of Enfield’s most iconic characters from the 1990s was Kevin the Teenager. Kevin was an irritable, spotty adolescent who embodied all the worst stereotypes about sullen, rebellious teens. He first appeared in Harry Enfield’s Television Programme in 1990.
Some key features of Kevin the moody teenager included:
- “Kevin face” – His sullen, eye-rolling, disaffected facial expression.
- “KEVIN!” – His long-suffering mother constantly yelling his name in frustration.
- “It’s so unfair!” – His catchphrase complaining about petty grievances.
- Droning, sarcastic tone – Used whenever responding to his parents.
Kevin the Teenager proved hugely relatable for the teenage demographic in the 90s. But he also allowed parents to laugh at the ridiculousness and triviality of teenage angst. The sketches exaggerated Kevin’s petulance for comedic effect. Kevin was so popular that a sample of his catchphrase “Kevin! Kevin! Kevin!” was used in the Sham 69 song “Back on the Street”.
What were some other popular teen characters played by Enfield?
In addition to Kevin the Teenager, some other memorable angsty, rude teenager characters played by Harry Enfield included:
- Perry the Teenage Slob – An idiotic, messy, rude teenage boy.
- Kev’s Mate Les – Kevin’s senseless, belligerent friend.
- Wayne Slob – A filthy, vulgar teenage boy smoking cigarettes and drinking.
- The Self-Righteous Brothers – Two sanctimonious teens who think they know it all.
Much like Kevin, these exaggerated characters allowed Enfield to mock and poke fun at the perceived traits of teenagers – their moodiness, rebelliousness, pettiness, and know-it-all attitudes. The comic exaggeration of these stereotypes struck a chord with 1990s audiences. Enfield’s knack for capturing the teenage tone of voice and posture gave these characters great comedic appeal.
When did Enfield introduce his chav character Vicky Pollard?
In 2002, Harry Enfield introduced another iconic teenage character – Vicky Pollard. Vicky was featured in a new sketch series written by Enfield and Paul Whitehouse called Harry & Paul.
Vicky Pollard was meant to satirize the British chav stereotype. Key features of the character included:
- Exaggerated “chavvy” accent and slang – Constantly using words like “yeah but no but yeah.”
- Teenage pregnancy – She frequently mentions her many children and pregnancies.
- Chain smoking cigarettes and drinking.
- Hanging around in public, usually with a pram.
- Wearing tracksuits, gaudy jewelry, hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Much like Enfield’s previous teenage characters, Vicky Pollard mocked a certain youth subculture in an exaggerated way. Her repetitive speech patterns, shrill voice, and socially-deviant behavior allowed Enfield to parody the perceived traits of “chav” culture for comedic effect. Vicky Pollard became another iconic Enfield character of the late 90s and early 2000s.
What other “chav” characters did Enfield portray?
In addition to Vicky Pollard, some other “chav” type characters portrayed by Harry Enfield include:
- Kylie Virul – Vicky Pollard’s friend who constantly borrows things.
- Maddie – A rude teenage girl who frequently swears at others.
- Chav Teen Mum – An irresponsible teenage mother smoking near her baby.
- Bodge and Smudge – Filthy, unhygienic teenage boys in tracksuits.
Like Vicky, these characters all satirized and exaggerated the stereotypical traits associated with British “chav” culture – the swearing, smoking, wearing tracksuits, hanging around in public spaces, teen pregnancy, petty crime, and overall social deviance. Enfield exaggerated these qualities for comedic effect, allowing audiences to laugh at the ridiculous extremes of the stereotypes.
What were some other memorable sketch characters played by Enfield?
In addition to his iconic teenage characters, Harry Enfield portrayed a number of other exaggerated comic characters across multiple sketch shows, such as:
- Tim Nice-But-Dim – An extremely polite but incredibly stupid upper class man.
- Smashie and Nicey – Loud DJs who spoke in 80s radio slang.
- The Old Gits – Elderly men who complain about everything.
- Modern Dad – A father trying too hard to be “cool”.
Again, we see Enfield’s skill at identifying British stereotypes and sub-cultures and mocking them through extreme exaggeration. Tim Nice-But-Dim allowed him to poke fun at upper class airs and oblivious privilege. Smashie and Nicey parodied the bombast and hyperactivity of 80s DJs. The Old Gits embodied narrow-minded old fashioned attitudes. Modern Dad satirized parents trying too hard to be hip and youthful.
In each case, identifying these societal targets and turning up their most ridiculous qualities to an extreme allowed Enfield to generate great comedic effect. The exaggerated physicality he brought to each character also added to the humor.
How did Enfield transition his characters to television shows and films?
In addition to sketch comedy, Harry Enfield eventually translated some of his most popular characters into television sitcoms and films. These included:
- Harry Enfield’s Television Programme – Sketch show starring many iconic Enfield characters (1990-1992).
- Harry & Paul – Sketch series with Paul Whitehouse featuring newer characters like Vicky Pollard (2007-2012).
- Kevin & Perry Go Large – Feature film focused on Kevin the Teenager (2000).
- Rock & Chips – Prequel sitcom about Enfield’s Scousers characters as children (2010-2011).
The transition to television and film allowed extended plotlines and stories to develop with Enfield’s characters outside of the sketch format. The longevity and popularity of characters like Kevin and The Scousers left room for additional content focused specifically on them in these new mediums.
How did Enfield’s characters change and develop over time?
While Harry Enfield’s most iconic characters were created in his early sketch comedy shows in the 1990s, he continued developing new characters and re-inventing old ones over the decades.
Some ways his characters evolved and changed over time:
- Updated cultural references – Characters incorporated more modern slang, technology, trends.
- Aging alongside Enfield – Teen characters like Kevin grew into adults.
- Greater range of characters – Expanded beyond youth/teens to mock broader stereotypes.
- Adapted to changing audience tastes – Dropped racially/socially offensive material.
For example, Kevin the moody teenager eventually grew into a bumbling adult while retaining some of the same characteristics. Enfield introduced more characters satirizing modern obsessions like health fads. Recurring personas like The Scousers were updated with contemporary slang and clothing. The evolution of his characters allowed Enfield to sustain his comedy across decades by adapting to the times.
What are some later Harry Enfield characters and shows from the 2000s onwards?
Some notable Harry Enfield characters and sketch shows from later in his career include:
- Them and Us (1999-2000) – Sketch show satirizing class differences.
- Celeb (2002) – Mockumentary sitcom starring Enfield as severalcharacters.
- Harry & Paul (2007–2012) – Featured newer characters like Daffyd Thomas the “only gay in the village”.
- Facejacker (2010–2012) – Prank call show where Enfield played prank victims.
Although less groundbreaking than his 90s sketch comedy, Enfield continued to showcase his versatility and ability to morph into new alter-egos. The Facejacker prank calls relied more on accents and impersonation rather than developed recurring characters. But Enfield proved he could still generate laughs by inhabiting different personalities.
What enduring impact have Enfield’s characters had on British comedy?
Harry Enfield’s cast of comic grotesques have left an enduring mark on British comedy due to:
- Cultural relevance – His characters became touchstones in British pop culture.
- Catchphrases – Loadsamoney’s “Oi!” and Kevin’s “Kevin!” entered the lexicon.
- Social commentary – Made observational satire of class and youth.
- Cross-generational appeal – Characters like Kevin resonated across decades.
- Laughing at ourselves – Allowed audiences to see humour in British stereotypes.
Enfield identified societal caricatures and gleefully mocked them. His exaggerated performances gave timeless human traits like teenage angst and middle-aged complaining a comedic lens. References to characters like The Scousers or The Old Gits are still widely understood today. His comedy portrayed the quirks of British life in the late 20th century.
How did Enfield influence other British sketch performers?
As one of the most popular sketch comedy stars of the 90s, Harry Enfield paved the way for many comedians who came after him. His impact on British comedy can be seen through:
- Inspiring mockumentary style – Used in shows like The Office.
- Over-the-top character acting – Seen in comedians like Sacha Baron Cohen.
- Observational parody – Influenced Armando Iannucci’s political satires.
- Exaggerated regional accents – Impacted Limmys and Scot Squad’s Scottish humor.
- Sketch show formatting – Provided template for Little Britain, Catherine Tate, etc.
By honing his skills in exaggerated caricatures, catchphrases, and satire, Enfield tuned the formula for sketch comedy success. His work paved the way for a new generation of British sketch performers who followed.
Conclusion
Throughout his career, Harry Enfield portrayed an enormous range of hilarious comic stereotypes that have become lodged in the British cultural psyche. His rude teenagers like Kevin, Vicky Pollard and Perry allowed audiences to laugh at the exaggerated tropes of youth rebellion, while characters like Loadsamoney sent up the obsessive materialism of 1980s Britain. Enfield had a gift for identifying societal absurdities and mocking them through over-the-top, high energy performances. Alongside his comedy partner Paul Whitehouse, his sketch shows of the 1990s like Harry Enfield’s Television Programme provided an influential template for character-based sketch comedy. While Enfield’s work parodied the quirks and eccentricities of Britain in the 80s and 90s, his comedy remains widely beloved today. His best characters have permanently entered the pantheon of great British comic creations.