Snug and Cozi

Snug and Cozi is a children's slapstick comedy series that aired on the United Kingdom station ITV from 1996 to 1997.[1] The series broadcast 13 episodes and was produced by Scottish Television Enterprises.

Snug and Cozi
Snug and Cozi title card
StarringRichard Vobes
Nigel Cooper
Sarah Montgomery
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16
Production
Running time8 minutes
Production companyScottish Television
Release
Original networkITV (CITV)
Original release1 November 1996 (1996-11-01) ā€“
1997 (1997)

Format and premise

The format of the show consists of ten-minute slapstick comedy style episodes for children's television. The principal characters are Snug and Cozi, aliens from the planet Squidge. While travelling in deep space, their pink rocket is hit by an asteroid and knocked off course. They crash land on Earth, where they are discovered by a girl named Emily, whom they befriend. She hides them in the garden shed at the bottom of her garden. Snug and Cozi speak a language called Squidge, which is gibberish to humans, but the occasional English word is recognisable.

Creation and pilot episode

The idea was dreamt up by actor and film maker, Richard Vobes in 1994, with fellow actor Nigel Cooper, when they produced a low budget pilot version of the show on 16mm film. The original concept explored the idea of aliens living in a potting shed on an allotment. When commissioned in 1996 by STV, the series was developed further to be included with a slight alteration in the name "cosy" to the spelling of Cozi in the title. The opening sequence was also altered, but incorporated some of the original animation footage of the rocket ship in the opening titles which depicted the scene of how aliens crashed on the surface of earth.

The characters never try to integrate into the environment and continue to wear their conspicuous spacesuits through the series.

Vobes was never entirely happy with the TV series as he was not allowed to direct it, and a lot of the slapstick stunts in the scripts were faked or never done. He said in an interview the only stunt they were allowed to do was riding a bed down a hill and into a car wash (In the episode 'A New Home').[2]

Characters

  • Snug, played by Richard Vobes, wears a yellow and silver spacesuit. Snug seems slightly modem-witted than Cozi, often getting things completely wrong and outed at and pushed over by Cozi.
  • Cozi, played by Nigel Cooper, wears a red and silver spacesuit and he looks very similar to snug except he has a moustache. Cozi seems slightly brighter than Snug but still occasionally gets things wrong.
  • Emily, played by Sarah Montgomery, is a 10-year-old girl who discovers Snug and Cozi after they had crashed on earth, she decided to look after them and keeping them away from other people by hiding them in her father's garden shed (series 1) or their summerhouse (series 2). Emily also takes Snug and Cozi on trips w, such as the seaside or her school sports day.

Popularity

The show received a 32% audience share on CITV when Britain had only four terrestrial channels. Though not widely remembered, it's available to watch on YouTube. Two series of 16 episodes aired before changes at ITV Network abruptly stopped the commission of a planned third series.

Live shows and tours

Snug and Cozi made appearances on many other CITV programmes such as Wow in 1996, Scratchy & Co. in 1997 and Timmy Towers in 1998.

In 1998, Snug and Cozi appeared in a pantomime of Cinderella at the Doncaster Civic Theatre. Their roles were as Brokers Men. No one in the audience could really understand Squidge so Snug and Cozi ate dictionaries and suddenly were able to speak English.

Snug and Cozi also did a Pink Caravan tour, where they did shows around Britain in their pink caravan. However, there were not many gigs, and on one of the shows, the Rocket Car they used set on fire, and the fire brigade had to come and put the fire out.

Merchandise

The show has never been released on VHS or DVD. A Snug and Cozi CD called 'Pink Heads' was released in 1997. To promote the CD Snug and Cozi travelled to London, England to give the Prime Minister a copy.

Richard Vobes is writing a series of Snug and Cozi children's books.

Snug and Cozi was included in a book called The Legends of Kids TV written by Garry Vaux, where Richard talked about his time on the show.

Episode guide

Unbroadcast pilot (1994)

#TitleOriginal Airdate# episode
Nā€“A"Snug and cosy"N/A (N/A)N/A
The Two aliens crash land on earth by accident after an asteroid hits their spaceship, they decide to adopt more Earth sounding names from a shop. 'Snug and cosy' (not realising how daft they sound) and taking over a man's potting shed, thinking it's a holiday home.

Series 1 (1996)

#TitleOriginal Airdate# episode
1"The yellow dragon"1 November 1996 (1 November 1996)1
Snug and Cozi unpack various items from their rocket ship. Snug discovers a remote control unit and manages to control Cozi. Unfortunately, Cozi stumbles into a yellow JCB in the garden next door and the two aliens think it is a horrible monster!
2"The haunted house"8 November 1996 (8 November 1996)2
When Snug and Cozi's football is accidentally kicked to an old derelict house they are forced to retrieve it. The house is no ordinary house and contains many ghosts and strange happenings!
3"Bike Ride"1996 (1996)3
Snug and Cozi run out of breakfast cereal and decide to buy some from the local supermarket. They set off on their bike - a tandem. The local bobby investigates their mischief-making!
4"Helping hand"1996 (1996)4
Snug and Cozi discover a burglar in their friend's house and try to stop his stealing. The house becomes an adventure playground and a dreadful mess ensues.
5"Educated aliens"1996 (1996)5
Snug and Cozi visit Emily's school for the day. They try their hand at maths and make paper aeroplanes. The sports playing field is another disaster and becomes the battlefield for a mud pie fight!
6"Splash"1996 (1996)6
Emily take Snug and Cozi to the local swimming baths. Exactly which changing rooms do aliens change in? A fire hose, a lifeguard and a large pool of water are ingredients for fun and mayhem where Snug and Cozi are concerned!

Series 2 (1997)

#TitleOriginal Airdate# episode
7"A new home"1997 (1997)1
Snug and Cozi hide in the removal van to Emily's new house. They too discover a garden summer house and move in there. Snug shows Cozi just how much you can pack into a small suitcase.
8"Feeling parky"1997 (1997)2
Cozi decides to mock illness and paints spots onto his face. Snug realises the only way to get him better is a stroll through the park. The Park Keeper disagrees!
9"Bath time"1997 (1997)3
Cozi thinks it is high time he had a bath and sends Snug out to fetch the water. Snug brings in tap and forces and manages to fill the room with bubbles. Cozi disappears down the plug hole and Snug wonders how best to rescue him!
10"Pink letter day"1997 (1997)4
Cozi is writing a letter home to his parents. Snug tells him that they cannot use the normal postal system, instead, they need to get the letter high into the air. More chaos!
11"Magic moments"1997 (1997)5
Snug and Cozi visit a magic show in the local village hall. The magician asks for a volunteer. Guess who goes up on stage to help!
12"Beside the sea"1997 (1997)6
Emily takes Snug and Cozi to the seaside. It is raining, but they make the best of it, watching a Punch and Judy show and taking over and building the biggest sand castle in the world!
13"A slight trim"1997 (1997)7
Cozi's moustache grows enormous one day and Snug has to take him to the barber's shop for a trim. The barber is soon put out of action and Snug takes over!
14"Sports day"1997 (1997)8
Snug and Cozi return to Emily's school for the sports day festivities. They take part in the three-legged race and egg and spoon race. The Head Teacher throws them out, but they return for their revenge!
15"Birthday party"1997 (1997)9
It is Emily's birthday and Snug and Cozi decide to bake her a superb cake. Trouble is, they mistake dynamite sticks for candles and the party explodes into a right mess!
16"Going home"1997 (1997)10
Cozi pines about his home planet. Snug builds Cozi a one-man space rocket. It launches okay, but doesn't hold together very well in the air! Cozi lands earthbound rather hard!

References

  1. Guide, British Comedy. "Snug And Cozi - Sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  2. "Snug and Cozi ā€“ Episode: "A new home"". Snug and Cozi. 1996.
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