Shaggy Dog Story is a three-minute promotional trailer forChildren in Need, put together by theBBC and Gorgeous Productions (directed by Chris Palmer) in 1999 as asequel to the previous year'sFuture Generations video (featuring children's programmes), and the great success of 1997's "Perfect Day" charity single. It was first shown on Christmas Day 1999. A slightly extended alternative version was created but never aired.
Shaggy Dog Story was dedicated to the BBC's comedy output under their "Serious about Comedy" banner. It featured various comedians and comic actors (some in character, others as themselves) telling a long-windedshaggy dog story, beginning off withRonnie Corbett in his trademark armchair, who is most famously known for telling such stories onThe Two Ronnies. The story featured a cricket captain who hired a horse as a batsman for his team, who ends up as a good player but can't run.
A second, slightly shorter story, entitled"Mammals vs. Insects," was also broadcast on Boxing Day 1999. This story revolved around a football match between the two teams of creatures and featured many of the participants from the other story.
The participants, in order of appearance, were:
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