It started as a radio show in 1989, devised by Bill Dare. The two pairings of Newman and Baddiel and Punt and Dennis were central to the show - they would later have spin-off television series of their own. Guest performers included Nick Hancock, Jo Brand, Jack Dee, and Mark Thomas.
It had four radio series, building up an audience and moving to better time slots. After the fourth series, it was decided to move the show to television. The television run started in 1991. It lasted two series, and obtained the honour of being the first program to use the word 'wanker' on broadcast television in the UK.
The show was named after Mary Whitehouse, a prominent campaigner against what she saw as a decline in television standards and public morality. She threatened legal action against the show for its name.