It might be quite a whimsical sketch but there's some top-notch acting. You can see when she says "Yes that's silly isn't it" that she doesn't really know why she's wrong, she's only guessing based on his reaction and the fact that she's made three mistakes already.
"Instead of fixing the shambles that are British railways, let's build a completely unnecessary new line so we can profiteer off of the fat construction contract!"
@@johnmartinez7440it was all about capacity, there physically is no more space on the rails so new track is needed, and then you might as well make it fast
The way it silently cuts to a close up of the map as her hand slowly comes down to touch the train at "a giant hand" is hysterical. Genius comedic editing.
@@DarkZide8 And Kim Jong-Un is the leader of the "Workers' Party of Korea" The ruling party of the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Treasoner was, in reality, about as conservative as Kim is a democratic worker.
@@DarkZide8 no she is not She is a despicable Treasonous woman who should never have been the leader of the UK 🇬🇧 She only got there through the home office where she collected all the dirt to move up Her starting point should have been No deal we are leaving and that's that, The eu definitely do not want that.
I agree, its not so much subtle general humour, however the subtlties of the mannerisms is what I find most funny, rather than the actual joke itself. Spaced, Big Train, Hippies era Pegg was out of this world with his ability to make any scene funny purely by subtle expression, particularly with his eyes. Graham Linehan really landed on his feet casting Pegg in Big Train, the show would've been a lot more generic without the magic dust Pegg springled over every scene he was in. I selfishly wish Pegg didn't explode and join the Hollywood scene, British comedy took a huge hit when he left our shores, I was sure when I was growing up he'd eventually be a stalwart of British tv akin to Rik Mayall.
Don't forget there was a government minister, not that long ago, who didn't realise Britain is an island surrounded by water and that ports are important.
Against stiff competition, might be my favourite Bg Train sketch. The initial pause at the close up of the 'giant' hand coming in has a disconcerting Jam-like feel. Love it.
Back in the mid 2000s, my sister's boyfriend went on webcam with his cousin so he could introduce him to us. The cousin thought we were inside the computer.
Many, many years ago, I was on the phone to someone high up who worked in the local council offices and she couldn't understand why, when she'd faxed over a document to me, the document came out of the other end of the fax machine. She just assumed it hasn't sent. Literally and physically.
Back in the 80's, my girlfriend had me make a photocopy of her Master's thesis. When I asked her why she needed it, she told me she had to fax a copy to her adviser. :-/
The acting is top notch. How much is communicated to us without uttering words. How he smile like she made a joke but then gives a look like "oh shit she is actually serious" So funny.
'Big Train' had some absolutely fantastic sketches. A bit hit and miss, but when it was good it was really, really good. At the time, this sketch reminded me a little of Linehan's earlier 'Father Dougal and the toy cows' scene from Father Ted.
@@markheywood8236 LOL that's superb - I didn't think of that. I'd always thought it was a weak ending to an incredibly brilliant and original sketch - now I don't!
@@james79310 could of sworn I saw the chancellor of the exchequer saying little England will be poor and that was a good thing today? I left the UK years ago, I some time check in and have a little chuckle, today was one of those days. So, apparently, it is run like that.
Don't think he ever said it was a good thing? Should he have lied and said all would be fine? I think that'd be a hallmark of an incompetent or corrupt government
I only vaguely remember this sketch show, and after watching for a moment I second-guessed myself on the title of the show because I thought it was part of the title of the sketch 😂
@Brett Mitchell Why ? Because it blows the big bang THEORY and therefore the THEORY of evolution out of the water. This leaves us with what ? The Bible describes a flat, fixed earth as created by God.
Such a good show and SO MANY great sketches, but 3 of my favourites were the very first of the lost English Woman asking for directions, Simon Pegg teaching his kid to ride a Bike, and Hitchcock’s long-lost classic “The Working Class”. 😂 Also, who can forget what Ming the Merciless gets up to on his days off or the new owner of The Ritz insisting he wants to change the name to “The Titz” 🤣 If you like this, and never got to see it when it aired, grab yourself a copy of the 2-season DVD set. Best few quid you’ll ever spend (even the menu screens are brilliant!) Pure gold Comedy genius.
You see, you are watching this on a phone or tablet. If you watched this on one of these enormous screens they have to show football in pubs then Simon Pegg would be bigger. Have a word with your local Slug and Lettuce...
What really makes this sketch work is the fake canned laughter added afterwards. It’s good because it allows me to know when the jokes are so I can laugh along with them. Because I’m an idiot you see
the true joke about this sketch is that is is not a joke, it is real .. the more official and important the meeting is, the more closer to this sketch it gets
Yes most government announcements are built on MPs being totally taken in by glossy PR claptrap of private companies and then try to sell to us on the same basis b
No, it's not. I think big train was the name of a song. It's somewhere on wikipedia where the name came from. I think this sketch came from the name, perhaps.
I did like this series ...and enjoy re-watching on UA-cam....but I do now find the "studio" laughter distracting and wonder if the sketches would be funnier without it .
I can only say no, i doubt it,. Did you ever see that 'one-off' special of Red Dwarf (i think it was) where they were on Earth. It was almost sad to watch because it was just not funny without the added laughter
It was bugging me who that lady was (I couldn't tell how old this show might be because Simon never ages)... finally realized it was Amelia Bullmore from Gentleman Jack and Scott & Bailey (and I'm sure a hundred more shows that I just haven't seen over here in the US).
I think I'm starting to understand where HS2 went wrong.
Simon Pegg is so brilliant. He absolutely nails those little mannerisms and reactions
He absolutely does.
I'd like to know how his hair has grown back over the years, it's a miracle! 🤔
It might be quite a whimsical sketch but there's some top-notch acting. You can see when she says "Yes that's silly isn't it" that she doesn't really know why she's wrong, she's only guessing based on his reaction and the fact that she's made three mistakes already.
John R I think the ultra-naturalistic acting in Big Train is some of the best I’ve ever seen
The way the camera pans in to her hand when she says 'Won't we need a giant to.....' sublime.
I always used to think that about Mark Heap's acting. It is such a joy to watch his scenes.
@Qwfwq66 This is a comedy video. P*ss off elsewhere will you. Ta.
@Qwfwq66 Wow. Comeback of the century 🤦♂️
14 years later, this actually feels like a fly on the wall documentary.
I remember this clip from back in the day, still makes me laugh.
it's a young Theresa May.
It reminds me of The Thick Of It
@@musicjunk8266 More like Liz Truss but....same difference I guess 😄
@@pseudonayme7717 yea one of them
I imagine there was a conversation within the British government about HS2 that was very similar to this..
"It can go from London to Birmingham _very fast_ "
"Yes, but why do we need a high-speed line for this journey?"
"Well...it will be *very fast* "
"Instead of fixing the shambles that are British railways, let's build a completely unnecessary new line so we can profiteer off of the fat construction contract!"
Over £100bn spent before a single track was laid.
@@johnmartinez7440it was all about capacity, there physically is no more space on the rails so new track is needed, and then you might as well make it fast
And never to be going anywhere near Edinburgh 👀
The way it silently cuts to a close up of the map as her hand slowly comes down to touch the train at "a giant hand" is hysterical. Genius comedic editing.
yes 100%! This scene stuck in my head for 20 years!
Simon Pegg's reactions are what make this sketch for me.
Yeah, I love how he just runs to the door when she screams!
Lesson 58.Sometimes acting is Re-acting. 😂
Which ones? ('reactions')
*This is the best acting Pegg has ever done, ever.*
It's both of them. Her acting is marvellous as well.
"These are small. But the ones out there are *far away*"
Same writer I believe
Yawn!
@@Simon_PieManCareful you don't swallow a fly!
Theresa May in Brexit negotiations with the EU.
I almost laughed but I didnt because that wasnt funny
@@challenger_9624 Isn't that a triggered rightwinger though? Theresa May was a conservative
Actually every single politician in the world.
@@DarkZide8
And Kim Jong-Un is the leader of the "Workers' Party of Korea" The ruling party of the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea". Treasoner was, in reality, about as conservative as Kim is a democratic worker.
@@DarkZide8 no she is not
She is a despicable Treasonous woman who should never have been the leader of the UK 🇬🇧
She only got there through the home office where she collected all the dirt to move up
Her starting point should have been
No deal we are leaving and that's that,
The eu definitely do not want that.
She's one of the most underrated comedy actors. Her performances in 'Jam' 👍
The boiler repair man sketch 😱 truly chilling
@@alfredotebasco it's always the first thing that comes to mind when I think of her!
JAM is so sick. It was both hilarious and depressing. 😂
I haven't watched/listened to jam in years but her pensive delivery here brought some of those terrifying sketches right back
The entire Jam crew are absolutely awesome!
lol when Pegg smiles then double checks if she's being serious
Amelia Bulmore not getting enough love in these comments. Pegg is great, yes, but Bulmore really sells the idea of someone who is seriously quite mad.
"Peter Newsgarden" is a hilarious name as well
Hilarious as Alan Partridges nutty g/f , great actress
She's mildly cretinous.....
"Then won't we need a .......... *a giant* ... to push the train" 😂
Punch line where her brain just overloads at the end is masterful. Utter genius 😂
This kind of humor has so much subtlety and word play it always leaves me smiling
I agree, its not so much subtle general humour, however the subtlties of the mannerisms is what I find most funny, rather than the actual joke itself. Spaced, Big Train, Hippies era Pegg was out of this world with his ability to make any scene funny purely by subtle expression, particularly with his eyes. Graham Linehan really landed on his feet casting Pegg in Big Train, the show would've been a lot more generic without the magic dust Pegg springled over every scene he was in.
I selfishly wish Pegg didn't explode and join the Hollywood scene, British comedy took a huge hit when he left our shores, I was sure when I was growing up he'd eventually be a stalwart of British tv akin to Rik Mayall.
This isn't a sketch, this is actually what the UK government is like...
Especially when Labour was in power.
@@kalekoldagreed
@@kalekold They're all the same (size). Wake up...
@@kalekold Ah yes, because it's Labour that have sunk over a hundred billion into a rail project that still doesn't go anywhere or do anything?
Oh SNAPPP!)))
The Minister is like a composite of Liz Truss and Nadine Dorries
With a fair dose of Helen Whately
Don't forget there was a government minister, not that long ago, who didn't realise Britain is an island surrounded by water and that ports are important.
When she drops the train there's an excellent camera shake. Nice extra touch in this excellent sketch.
Against stiff competition, might be my favourite Bg Train sketch. The initial pause at the close up of the 'giant' hand coming in has a disconcerting Jam-like feel. Love it.
It's amazing how two people can fit into the small window of my phone. I didn't realise such tiny people existed
Ooooh boy. I think you may wanna sit down for this Samuel… 🥴
Back in the mid 2000s, my sister's boyfriend went on webcam with his cousin so he could introduce him to us. The cousin thought we were inside the computer.
The answer to the HS2 conundrum is simply a train that's 400 miles long. Edinburgh then becomes a quick 2 mile run from London.
I performed this sketch with my sister at Christmas as a young adult. Our extended family loved it, very fond memory.
This is every meeting I've ever had in my professional life.
Really?
@@starkeyworksit Really. I just can't get people to understand the concept of a high-speed railway.
@@rollerfox88 haha. OK. I am arguing with my colleagues about this all the time. Everyone is against HS2 and I basically think its long overdue.
Many, many years ago, I was on the phone to someone high up who worked in the local council offices and she couldn't understand why, when she'd faxed over a document to me, the document came out of the other end of the fax machine. She just assumed it hasn't sent. Literally and physically.
Thats radio rental!! LOL
Back in the 80's, my girlfriend had me make a photocopy of her Master's thesis. When I asked her why she needed it, she told me she had to fax a copy to her adviser. :-/
@@amazingbollweevil please Please PLEASE enlarge👉👜👈
A uni friend of mine would avoid phone calls with me if he had a cold because he didn't want to pass the virus on to me through his voice.
I also wondered why the paper was still there once 😬
The acting is top notch. How much is communicated to us without uttering words. How he smile like she made a joke but then gives a look like "oh shit she is actually serious"
So funny.
I love that the cameraman got a shock when she screamed
This sums up every meeting I've ever been in with marketing professionals
That final scene. Nothing said, yet so much communicated. Perfect.
'Big Train' had some absolutely fantastic sketches. A bit hit and miss, but when it was good it was really, really good.
At the time, this sketch reminded me a little of Linehan's earlier 'Father Dougal and the toy cows' scene from Father Ted.
Gotta love Amelia Bullmore.
Much better actress than Julia Davis.
@@MagicTammi She had formal training. And Julia Davis is the more successful writer.
@@nkt1 I just dont like Julis Davis though. I don't think her acting or her writing is very good.
I had no idea Julia Davis and Amelia Bullmore had rival fanbases
And she's such a terribly, terribly good nurse!
WAIT is the show actually named after this sketch?!
OR did the show name inspire this sketch?
The only giants I know live in NYC..
Chris Laws and Tokyo
@@mandarian87 and Busan
@@colinyoung3685 Nope, the show was named after the song "Big Train" which appears at the beginning of the show as background to the title credits.
omg did she faint at the end because she thought she was a giant lol
Que Dableyou - yes, and she got confused when the giant cheque appeared. 😆
Perhaps she thought she was very small?
The little man is telling me I'm a giant, but the giant cheque is telling me I'm very small. System shutdown imminent.
@@markheywood8236 think that's the closest explanation yet 🤣
@@markheywood8236 LOL that's superb - I didn't think of that.
I'd always thought it was a weak ending to an incredibly brilliant and original sketch - now I don't!
Is this the sketch the show was named after? 🤭
i love when he says "this isn't britain, this is a map of britain" and he pronounces it two different ways hehhehehhehehe 😊
Didn't realise we had inside footage of Liz Truss talking about HS2
These guys were and are still are amazing comedians. It still stands the test of time contrary to other shows which need a disclaimer
Some of the best sketches ever in this show, with both seasons being both out there and fantastic.
Big train is still one of the best sketch shows ever made.
The ming the merciless sketches were always my favourite.
Still a fave clip of mine, missed the boat when big train was on, if you pardon the expression! Watched it a year back. Very funny
Simon’s and the camera operator’s reaction at 2:06 is class!
I cannot believe simon pegg still has his hair! 25 years ago and such a high hair line. Congratulations my man
crazy what money can buy you.
Chris Grayling?
Big Train is/was my favourite sketch show. I have no idea why nobody i know seems to have heard of it
See also : Bruiser.
I'm just here to see Simon making a run for the door.
It's Angela Rayner. 😂
Dianne Abbott springs to mind..bless her
I feel like I've just sat in a planning meeting for HS2
Actual footage of Nadine Dorries thought process. Good find ☺️
"Channel 104? So there are 100 more Channel Fours?"
I imagine this is exactly how the HS2 planning meetings went, given the results?
Nadine Dorries springs to mind
and liz truss
" Won't we need a giant...?" LOL I have met people in high positions of power that are that daft...
@KlunkerRider " LOL I have met people in high positions of power that are that daft..." - I believe it's a prerequisite...
Less funny now england is run like this.
James Foster it’s obviously not though is it.
@@james79310 could of sworn I saw the chancellor of the exchequer saying little England will be poor and that was a good thing today? I left the UK years ago, I some time check in and have a little chuckle, today was one of those days. So, apparently, it is run like that.
Don't think he ever said it was a good thing? Should he have lied and said all would be fine? I think that'd be a hallmark of an incompetent or corrupt government
UK, england doesn't have a devolved government.
@@leonhardeuler675 Lets not turn this in to the guardian comment section, also lets check back in a couple of years and see :)
This is so utterly brilliant it actually hurts!!! Even still. They were all pretty brilliant 🤣💘
Funniest part of the sketch is Pegg running to the door when she screams.
0:10 I love it when you hear a few laughs before the punchline from people who can already tell where the joke's going
I’d forgotten how good BT was. How fresh it still is. I saw the jockey sketch recently.
I only vaguely remember this sketch show, and after watching for a moment I second-guessed myself on the title of the show because I thought it was part of the title of the sketch 😂
I loved Big Train, it was distinctly different from other sketch shows, had its own brand of surreal humour.
The sketch the show's name comes from :) Big Train/Small Train. Love it. "There are no giants..."
I've never heard of this show but this clip alone has convinced me to watch it🤣
I love the way Simon Pegg says :"the trains aren't pushed by people.'
"what is this, a train for ants?"
Tants.
Simon Pegg's timing and mannerisms in that are exceptional!
Why did this 14 year old video appear on my recommendations? I love it.
hello friend
When are you going to get cellular reception in the UK?
Anyone reminded of Liz Truss?
Mouse that Roared yes I can imagine her saying that 😂
is this where the title 'the big train' comes from??
Asking the real question.
kmanc
no because in real life "big" would be HUGE
@@rainblaze. 'Big Train' was named after the song that plays at the beginning of the programme
Sounds like the team who came up with hs2
Is this the sketch the show was named after?
The minister is like me when one of my colleagues is trying to explain the code they've just written ;-)
Brilliantly acted faint! 👍💯👏
Amazing how Simons hair has amazing grown back
Someone tell KingCobraJFS.
Robert Anton Wilson: "the map is not the territory.'' -quote keeps coming to mind. ahahahaha!
This isn't a comedy sketch it's an actual recording from inside the government.
I think this is actual footage of Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng preparing their mini budget.
It's like talking to a flat earther.
@Brian Prior haha
@Brett Mitchell
Oh dear.
@Brian Prior Yes, at least she is trying to understand lol.
@Brett Mitchell Why ? Because it blows the big bang THEORY and therefore the THEORY of evolution out of the water.
This leaves us with what ? The Bible describes a flat, fixed earth as created by God.
@@kirkhamandy Your comment is laughable.
Your arrogance is only outweighed by your ignorance.
Which came first, this train or the School for Ants?
Such a good show and SO MANY great sketches, but 3 of my favourites were the very first of the lost English Woman asking for directions, Simon Pegg teaching his kid to ride a Bike, and Hitchcock’s long-lost classic “The Working Class”. 😂 Also, who can forget what Ming the Merciless gets up to on his days off or the new owner of The Ritz insisting he wants to change the name to “The Titz” 🤣
If you like this, and never got to see it when it aired, grab yourself a copy of the 2-season DVD set. Best few quid you’ll ever spend (even the menu screens are brilliant!)
Pure gold Comedy genius.
Always liked the Police sketch artist, gradually losing his temper.
Peace. ❤
But if it was a wind up train it would make the train cover that area faster and no need for a giant hand right?
God, I've been in meeting that feel like this; the target of the presentation not getting the differences between the demo and the reality.
Every presentation to Liz Truss right here.
Such a brilliant sketch.
She still has more intelligence than most MPs of today!
What I don't get is, how come all the people in this clip are so small ? Simon Pegg looks barely four inches tall.
N-- um, no you see, what is in front of you is a video on the internet, on your small screen. The actual Simon Pegg would be normal sized.
You see, you are watching this on a phone or tablet. If you watched this on one of these enormous screens they have to show football in pubs then Simon Pegg would be bigger. Have a word with your local Slug and Lettuce...
It's like they could see into the future, with Louise Haigh making decisions on HS2.
Good to see his hair grew back
Yes, but he doesn’t like to plug it.
Nothing beats British comedy!
We've all worked with people like that 🤔🤣
What really makes this sketch work is the fake canned laughter added afterwards. It’s good because it allows me to know when the jokes are so I can laugh along with them. Because I’m an idiot you see
Are things at home okay love?
Love a bit of canned laughter, has that nostalgic feel
It's not canned.
Big Train was recorded on location and in studio and then shown to a live audience so it's not canned laughter in the traditional sense.
the true joke about this sketch is that is is not a joke, it is real .. the more official and important the meeting is, the more closer to this sketch it gets
Yes most government announcements are built on MPs being totally taken in by glossy PR claptrap of private companies and then try to sell to us on the same basis b
Oh dear.
"...the more closer..."
Facepalm...
That was Liz Truss wasn't it? That was the first thing I thought when I saw this sketch. I know its an old show - long before Truss's time.
Does she faint because she thinks she's a giant?
This could literally be a Tory minister today.
😂
Pork markets!!
Is this where they got their name from?
Oh yes! Good point
No, it's not. I think big train was the name of a song. It's somewhere on wikipedia where the name came from. I think this sketch came from the name, perhaps.
@@leonhardeuler675 Yeah, Big Train is the name of the song they used.
Ahh, Simon Pegg looks so young in this! Even with the moustache I'd ID him (and he's 28 here).
I did like this series ...and enjoy re-watching on UA-cam....but I do now find the "studio" laughter distracting and wonder if the sketches would be funnier without it .
I can only say no, i doubt it,. Did you ever see that 'one-off' special of Red Dwarf (i think it was) where they were on Earth. It was almost sad to watch because it was just not funny without the added laughter
It was bugging me who that lady was (I couldn't tell how old this show might be because Simon never ages)... finally realized it was Amelia Bullmore from Gentleman Jack and Scott & Bailey (and I'm sure a hundred more shows that I just haven't seen over here in the US).
Also Alan partridge's girlfriend Sonja in series 2 of I'm Alan partridge
Got a real "Yes, Minister" vibe out of this skit.
As someone who works in the rail industry, I can assure you that conversations, not dissimilar to this, have taken place with government officials
ARGH god this whole sketch is baked into my head