Emerging from the 1980s' alternative comedy circuit, comedy duo Gareth Hale and Norman Pace became an established sketch and spoof act, best known for their menacing but dim bouncers the Two Rons, otherwise known as 'the Management'. Edgier than previous comedy duos, their humour occasionally pushed the bounds of good taste. They met at teacher training college in Eltham and initially learned their trade in comedy clubs. They then turned to writing, with credits including cult series Pushing Up Daisies (Channel 4, 1984), in which they also appeared. Further credibility, and association with the alternative comedy scene, came with the anarchic sitcom The Young Ones (BBC, 1982/84) and Channel 4's Saturday Live/Friday Night Live (1985-88), and their profile was raised further through regular advertising work. Their Two Ron characters were given an LWT series, The Management (1988) shortly before their wider-ranging sketch show Hale and Pace (1988-1998), which included recurring characters such as giggling children's TV presenters Billy and Johnny. The first series won the Silver Rose of Montreux. In 1994 they played straight roles in Yorkshire TV's police drama A Pinch of Snuff. They followed this with another change of tack, presenting celebrity documentary series Jobs for the Boys (BBC, 1997). Their charity record for Comic Relief, 'The Stonk', reached number one in 1991. Extra-curricular activities also included a children's firework safety campaign (also 1991). Separately, Hale has appeared in the head porter in period hospital drama The Royal (ITV1, 2003-6) while Pace is a poker pundit on Sky. Eddie Dyja
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