But Charlie Higson doubts it'll be back on TV

The Fast Show co-creator Charlie Higson has poured cold water on the hopes of a revival of the sketch show – at least on TV.

Paul Whitehouse has suggested that the classic sketch show could return, but Higson said he'd rather move forward with new projects.

But he didn't rule out a return as a a stage show.

When asked if he would return to the Fast Show, the actor and writer said: 'I kind of would and I kind of wouldn't.

'I wouldn't mind doing some live stuff again, like doing a residency in a West End Theatre. I'm just not sure about going TV stuff again. People are only really ever going to say, "It's not as good as it used to be".

'You're stuck in quandary really. Do you think, "We're doing it again so we need all new characters" or do people just want to see old characters?

'Whichever way you go you're stuffed. If you just do all the old character people will say "They haven't got any new characters, have they?' And if you do all new characters they say 'They're not as good as the old ones.

'So I don't quite know what we would get out of it and I don;t quite know what the viewers would get out of it. I always prefer going on and try to do new stuff. But maybe one day…'

The original ran for three series from 1994 to 1997 and has been revived twice before: In 2011, backed by Fosters, and a special last year to mark its 20th anniversary

Higson, who also wrote ITV's Jekyll and Hyde, was speaking on the set of Professor Branestawm Returns, which he also scripted.

The BBC One Christmas special also stars Simon Day, who was more upbeat about the prospect of doing more Fast Shows.

'Of course, I'd love to,' he said. 'Why not?'

'We did some for Fosters.It's odd because you wear the same costumes but now you're old.'

Higson agreed: 'It was 21 years ago that first series and it was scary looking at how young we are. Now we're a grotesque bunch of old people.

Published: 5 Dec 2015