Editing Men Behaving Badly (section)

==Production==
''Men Behaving Badly'' is based on Simon Nye's 1989 book of the same title. Producer [[Beryl Vertue]] first considered it for a film before deciding it was suited for television adaptation. [[Harry Enfield]], already a well-known comedian, was cast first. He had seen [[Martin Clunes]] perform in a play and recommended him for the other lead.<ref name="BBC"/><ref name=interview>{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/mar/18/how-we-made-men-behaving-badly| title=How we made Men Behaving Badly| work=The Guardian| date=18 March 2013| access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>

Enfield felt out of place in the sitcom and announced he was leaving after the first series.<ref name="BBC"/>{{efn|Vertue has since said that Enfield never intended to stay for more than one series.<ref name=interview/>}} When [[Thames Television]] found out, their immediate reaction was to end the series, and they had to be persuaded to put on a second series, with Neil Morrissey replacing Enfield. After Thames lost their television franchise, [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] decided that a peak viewing figure of seven million was insufficient and withdrew support. Incensed, Vertue approached the BBC who agreed to broadcast the show.<ref name=interview/>

In 1994, the BBC aired the first of a further four series. The shift to a new station and a later time slot meant, as the BBC claimed, the show could indulge in "more colourful language and behaviour".<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/menbehavingbadly/|title=BBC&nbsp;— Comedy&nbsp;— Men Behaving Badly|publisher=BBC|date=28 October 2014|access-date=11 July 2017}}</ref> The show became highly successful on [[BBC One|BBC1]], drawing a [[cult following]].<ref name=telegraph/>

In 2002, it was revealed that Simon Nye and the cast had agreed to revive the series for three further specials the following year, in which Vertue wanted the show to focus on how Gary and Dorothy were coping with parenthood.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1969313.stm |title=Men to Behave Badly again |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=5 May 2002 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> The idea was shelved the following year after Caroline Quentin became pregnant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2003/02/23/2285/going_badly |title=Going Badly: Sitcom return shelved|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=23 February 2003|website=Chortle|access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref> In October 2014, Clunes and Morrissey returned to the characters of Gary and Tony for the first time since 1998 in a sketch for [[Channel 4]]'s "[[The Feeling Nuts Comedy Night]]" and ''[[Stand Up to Cancer]]'' [[telethon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29598727 |title=Men Behaving Badly return for charity sketch|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=13 October 2014 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=14 October 2014}}</ref>

The first series (featuring Enfield) never repeated on the BBC; the second ITV series (featuring Morrissey) has been repeated.<ref name="BBC"/>

In October 2024, the BBC announced that Neil Morrissey and Martin Clunes are set to reunite for a new travel series titled ''Neil & Martin’s Bon Voyage'', which will feature their road trip across [[France]], exploring local culture and cuisine while reminiscing about their 30-year friendship.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Amin |first=Meghna |date=2024-10-08 |title=90s Men Behaving Badly icons to finally reunite after 26 years |url=https://metro.co.uk/2024/10/08/90s-men-behaving-badly-icons-finally-reunite-26-years-21754456/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref> This was broadcast in three weekly episodes on U&Gold in March and April 2025.