The final months of 2011 were an exciting time for the Booshniverse. Join us for now for the final instalment of our four-part retrospective as we relive it all over again. . .

October

October began buzzing with Booshy delights. The month’s start saw previews for the upcoming 25^th series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks.  Meanwhile, Matt Berry and Rich Fulcher continued on their North American Snuff Box DVD tour in Canada, Los Angeles, and Fulcher in NYC.

While London Madcaps prepared to get their books scribbled by Noel Fielding and Dave Brown, the BBC were busy at work filming the Victorian spoof drama Bleak Old Shop of Stuff. The series, starring TVO regulars Katherine Parkinson and James Bachman, as well as Stephen Fry, is meant to start airing in the New Year. The Sightseers, the Alice Lowe/Steve Oram film collaboration was also underway by mid-October. For the nostalgic at heart, cult DJ extrodinaire Pogo released “Zoo Zoo”, a Mighty Boosh mash-up.

The first of four TVO Scribblings wristband competitions was announced, with peelers in London, and soon thereafter Edinburgh vying for guaranteed admission to meet the Shambletons. Psycho Delia mixed some tunes, and IAMX fans were pleased to see the band’s triumphant return to a London stage in one hell of a show! Friend of TVO, Hayden Black, saw Goodnight Burbank, his series that started as webisodes with cameos from the likes of Rich Fulcher and John Barrowman, make its North American televisual debut. Familiar face Alan Partridge, the infamous alter ego of Steve Coogan, announced his returning to both radio and TV.

Blackpool’s Comedy Carpet was unveiled, Booshy jaunts included! Lucky American peelers got the opportunity to catch the Matt Berry/Steve Agee film Angry White Men as it enjoyed a limited release in California and North Carolina. In yet another bout of nostalgia, Vlad the Impaler returned to the handlebars of Serge and the rest of Kasabian’s musical bicycle.

October almost over, we at TVO continued to look back, this time upon both Unnatural Acts and the 10^th Anniversary of the Boosh Radio Series that started it all. Noel and Dave’s creepy installation made its way onto the Tubes of You as the tumultuous month came to a close!

November

We jumped into November with a history lesson about the Boosh’s origins and inspirations, from 1930s Jazz to On the Hour. As autumn turned to winter, James Cook and Chris Corner ended summer.

Madcaps went indeed mad as Noel and Dave headed north, and we talked to Noel about his many endeavours in our exclusive interviews. In light of IAMX’s brilliant performance in London, we reminded all those who’ve forgot about Chris Corner’s Sneaker Pimps. Noel lent his sultry tongue to describing his art, while Matt Berry offered the rather interesting opportunity to become a part of his upcoming Christmas single.

Early into the month, preview clips for the second series of Mongrels began appearing in preparation for the premiere on 7^th November. With the premiere also came our own Mongrels Take Over Week, during which we featured exclusive interviews with Tony Way, Rufus Jones, Adam Miller, Lucy Montgomery, Dan Tetsell, Warrick Bronlow-Pike, Katy Brand, and Paul Kaye.

Steve Coogan again challenged Rupurt Murdoch, this time via a rather intelligent piece in the blogosphere. Rich did a slew of gigs around London, and Joey Page announced a December gig of his own. Matthew Holness, in true Garth Marenghi fashion, created The Reprisalizer, a website devoted to Holness’ character Bob Shuter. Sharon Horgan fans were delighted to find that the comedienne has filmed a pilot for American television, and that she’d be starring in The Borrowers with Stephen Fry later in the year.

Rich Fulcher penetrated the eardrums of America’s youth in a guest spot on Spongebob Squarepants. Noel and Dave returned to London for another book signing/painting in Soho’s Golden Square, accompanied by the music of velour-clad Antony Elvin and his Tudor wingman William Summers. Our photos of the various Scribblings events breathed life into the newly created TVO Flickr, but we couldn’t end November with just that. With the countdown to Christmas quickly approaching, we announced our TVO Advent Calendar just a day shy of December.

December

The Christmas season was finally upon us!

December started with a deluge of live shows from the likes of Colin Hoult to James Cook, and even Antony Elvin. The spirit of the season became apparent: news of Christmas specials and Boosh-related Holiday shopping deals excited peelers, just as Matt Berry’s charity Christmas song was released online for download. Berry also first spoke of his I, Regress six-part radio series.

We reviewed Joey Page in London and the comedian, soon to be seen in Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks as part of Team Fieldmouse.

We brought you video coverage of the Shambletons in London, of course, by way of our shiny new Advent Calendar.  Noel and Dave went to Oxford, and Noel started an unsuccessful bid for mayor-dom. Rich Fulcher and Paul Foot both proved their slyness with Rich giving a secret talk in London and Foot adding more dates to his sold-out, secretly located Christmas shows.

DeadDoginBlackBag released demo tracks with collaborations from stars in the musical Booshniverse. Conversely, the Bunny and the Bull soundtrack by the Ralfe Band was released on vinyl for the old record lover in all of us.

‘Tis the season to be…Booshy?’ Our Boosh Christmas Carol Lyric competition inspired peelers internationally to rework their favourite holiday tunes. Hope you lot out there had as much fun writing them as we did at TVO Towers reading them! Noel Fielding and Thandie Newton told us all, ‘go the f**k to sleep!’ while his art began to once again adorn the walls of Gallery Maison Bertaux and his mug the pages of NME.

The first part of our exclusive interview with Dave Brown gave us all greater insight to the Man Who Wears All The Hats. Part 2 is still coming soon! It wouldn’t be Christmas without Fulchfest, and Rich reminded us why. Hot Brew generously offered peelers an exclusive download of their newest track for FREE! This is the last Christmas, after all. Sue Denim soon thereafter followed suit. These, and many other goodies kept the clock ticking as part of our Advent Calendar.

The Booshniverse was well represented at the British Comedy Awards. Congratulations to the winners! Noel Fielding sat down with Catherine Tate, and made an appearance on Rob Brydon’s Christmas Special as 2012 drew to a close.

December’s days dwindling gave rise to a sad event: saying goodbye to Don Danbury. How Not to Live Your Life finished its run with a final Christmas special. The Steve Oram and Simon Farnaby three-part trilogy film The Ditch was released online in full. Then, finally, it had arrived: the moment we’d been waiting for all year…The Velvet Onion 2012 Calendar was finally posted and is available for download now!

The year’s last week saw Fielding and Fulcher on XFM, Luxury Comedy promotions, and IAMX in LA.

With 2011 now behind us, we at TVO want to extend our greatest thank yous to all who have made the year as grand as it’s been, and to say we’re looking forwards to an exciting 2012! Happy New Year to all!