Bomb

First aired on BBC2 on 30 November 1982 Bomb, is for me, the weakest of the 12 episodes of The Young Ones.

There's a dirty great hole in the first floor landing and a large red atom bomb sat unexploded by the fridge. For a while the boys step round the bomb, until at last Vyvyan notices it. Of course panic ensues, but this is dissipated by the arrival of the TV Licence man (Mr Right bleedin' Bastard, played by Roger Sloman) who wants a word with the guys about their lack of a licence.

Once this distraction is averted, the boys decide on what to do with the bomb. Unfortunately, as ever they cannot agree on what to do with the bomb. Rick plans to threaten the British Government with it, whilst Mike's plan is to make money by selling the bomb to Colonel Gaddafi. Neil decides to consult the Protect and Survive manual, and ends up sitting under a table in the kitchen. All that Vyvyan wants to do is to make the bomb explode so that he can watch what happens. Consequently, he gets shut up in the wardrobe.

Eventually, the bomb begins to crack, much like an egg beginning to hatch. What happens? I can't tell you, it will spoil the ending, but suffice to say, it IS the least satisfactory ending of all the episodes. Ooh, I am Mr Picky, me.

Music is provided by Dexy's Midnight Runners with their cover of Van Morrison's Jackie Wilson Said. The Alexei Sayle input in this episode relates, not surprisingly perhaps, to the buying and selling of arms. This time, he plays Reggie Balowski, Jerzei's son.