all star cast
Where the cast of The Fast Show are now – from tragic deaths to Hollywood stardom and epic career changes
The Sun takes a look back at what came to be of the breakout stars of the programme.
KICKING off in 1994, The Fast Show quickly rose up the ranks to become a staple of British comedy television.
It became prominent for pioneering the genre of fast-paced comedy shows utilising a slew of quick-fire sketches starring different characters within one singular episode.
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Known for churning out up to 27 individual sketches in one 30 minute broadcast, it paved the way for programmes such as Little Britain, The Catherine Tate Show and Come Fly With Me.
It brought a series of British comedy talent to the forefront of TV with many of them going on to enjoy different success rates across the country.
The Sun takes a look back at what came to be of the breakout stars of the programme.
Paul Whitehouse
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One of the co-creators of the sketch comedy series, Paul Whitehouse has emerged as one of the biggest names from the programme since it ended in 1997.
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Paul enjoyed a lengthy career in comedy television afterwards and partnered up with Harry Enfield for a variety of different series.
They appeared in both Harry & Paul and Harry Enfield & Chums.
Not one to be limited, his career has also seen him appear in big-budget movies including Corpse Bride, Alice in Wonderland and The Death of Stalin.
Some viewers may recognise him more from his current BBC factual entertainment show Gone Fishing.
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He and co-star Bob Mortimer let the cameras follow them as they head fishing around different locations in the UK as they reflect on life after both having faced major heart problems.
Charlie Higson
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Having started out as a career in music with the band, the Higsons, in the 1980s, Charlie met future co-star Paul at university and eventually they banded together to co-write The Fast Show with each other.
Despite enjoying a career on-screen in the 90s, Charlie not tends to favour being behind the camera with a variety of producing and directing credits to his name.
In 2010, he co-directed the series Bellamy's People before going on to work on a series of Agatha Christie adaptations for ITV.
He was also responsible for bringing the 2015 re-imagining of Jekell and Hyde to the ITV screen.
Charlie is also an accomplished author and has wrote the first five novels of the Young Bond series.
Mark Williams
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Although Mark rose to fame in The Fast Show, it is arguably not his biggest role to date.
Many film fans may recognise the actor for his work in the Harry Potter franchise.
He took on the role of Arthur Weasley in seven of the series' movies.
As well as this, he has played roles in the 1996 version of 101 Dalmations as well as playing Brian Williams in the BBC series Doctor Who.
Since 2013, he has worked on the BBC show Father Brown in which he plays the title character.
Simon Day
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Simon Day is a London based comedian who originally worked alongside Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.
Over the years, he has enjoyed roles in iconic shows such as Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek, Skins and Sensitive Skin.
In 2012, he presented his own short-lived self-titled radio show on BBC Radio 4.
Simon has been open throughout his life about his various addictions including to drugs, alcohol and gambling.
During the height of his fame on The Fast Show, he was regularly taking cocaine and crack cocaine.
John Thomson
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John has never left screens since his time on The Fast Show.
During the same decade, he played the iconic role of Pete Gifford in the comedy drama, Cold Feet as well as taking on roles in Solider Solider and Men Behaving Badly.
He hasn't just limited himself to acting roles either with the star taking part in the reality TV shows Comic Relief does Fame Academy, 71 Degrees North and The Masked Singer.
John has also held voice roles in Bill & Ben as well as Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
Between 2008 and 2010, he played Eileen Grimshaw's love interest, bumbling children's entertainer Jesse in Coronation Street.
Since 2016 he has also provided the narration to Channel 5 reality show Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun.
Caroline Aherne
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Acting great Caroline took on some of the UK's most-loved comedic roles.
Amongst roles as Denise in The Royle Family and the fictional chat show host Mrs Merton, Caroline cemented herself as a TV darling.
In later years, she also began providing the narration for Channel 4 show Gogglebox.
Tragedy struck in 2016 when the popular actress died aged just 52 following a battle with lung cancer.
Over Christmas, the BBC paid tribute to the star with a lookback of some of her biggest and best moments throughout her career in a show entitled the "Queen of Comedy".
Arabella Wier
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Scottish actress Arabella was actually born in sunnier climates in San Francisco, California.
Following on from her appearance in The Fast Show, she enjoyed roles in further comedy series including Posh Nosh and Two Doors Down.
In 1998, she published the bestselling book, Does My Bum Look Big In This?, which was inspired by one of the characters which she played in The Fast Show.
In 2006, she appeared on the very first series of the BBC's Celebrity MasterChef and the following year she held a role in iconic E4 show Skins.
Most recently, she enjoyed a guest stint in Coronation Street as a former neighbour of Aggie and Ed Bailey called Yvette.
Felix Dexter
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Felix was most known for his role as Nathaniel in the 90s show The Real McCoy.
Around this time, he also began to appear occasionally on the BBC news panel programme, Have I Got News For You.
Sadly, like Caroline, he passed away at the age of 52.
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Felix had been suffering from a rare form of bone marrow cancer.
A month after his death, BBC Two broadcast a special half-an-hour tribute programme to the acting star featuring memories from his many co-stars.
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