{{short description|British comedy duo}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2015}} '''Trevor Neal''' (born 1963, Dorchester, Dorset) and '''Simon Hickson''' (born 1962, Salford, Lancashire) are a British comedy duo (known as ''Trevor and Simon'' or ''Trev and Simon'') and are best known for a family-friendly version of anarchic alternative comedy on BBC1 Saturday-morning shows ''Going Live!'' (1987–1993), and ''Live and Kicking'' (1993–1997).<ref name=radiotimes>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-18/live-and-kickings-trevor-and-simon-looking-back-were-a-little-bit-surprised-at-some-of-the-things-we-got-away-with/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130075854/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-11-18/live-and-kickings-trevor-and-simon-looking-back-were-a-little-bit-surprised-at-some-of-the-things-we-got-away-with/|archive-date=30 November 2016|work=Radio Times|title=Live and Kicking's Trevor and Simon: "Looking back, we're a little bit surprised at some of the things we got away with"|first=Paul|last=Kirkley|date=18 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{imdb name|nm0800043|Simon Hickson}}</ref><ref>{{imdb name|nm1051121|Trevor Neal}}</ref>
==Education== Trevor and Simon met as drama students at Manchester University in 1981.<ref name=radiotimes/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://trevandsimon.com/about/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401054318/https://trevandsimon.com/about/|archive-date=1 April 2019|website=trevandsimon.com|title=About}}</ref> Hickson was a year older than Neal. They first encountered each other at the drama department's Christmas show, in which Neal played a squirrel on a skateboard.<ref name=theindependent>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-trevor-neal-and-simon-hickson-1504354.html|work=The Independent|title=How We Met: Trevor Neal and Simon Hickson|first=William|last=Leith|date=14 November 1993|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref>
In a podcast,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_lst_podcast/rhlstp_169_trev_and_simon/|work=British Comedy Guide|title=RHLSTP with Richard Herring: RHLSTP 169 - Trev and Simon|date=8 March 2018|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref> the pair recount how comedian Ben Elton taught Hickson Greek tragedy,<ref name=radiotimes/> and their Professor, David Mayer (father of Lise Mayer) introduced them to Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, who had been his students some years before. ''The Young Ones'' (written by Mayall, Lise Mayer and Ben Elton) was an early influence.<ref name=radiotimes/>
==Career== Neal and Hickson initially performed as a trio together with Phil Dennison. They later appeared as a double act on the Manchester comedy circuit as Devilfishhornclub, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1984,<ref name=theindependent/> and promising “non-racist, non-sexist humour”.<ref name=theguardian>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2015/oct/07/trevor-neal-and-simon-hickson-strangeness-in-space-audio-comedy|work=The Guardian|title=Interview {{!}} Swing your pants: Trev and Simon are back|first=Paul|last=Fleckney|date=7 October 2015|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref>
Following a suggestion by John Hegley, the duo were persuaded to relocate to London from Manchester.<ref name=radiotimes/> Later they were approached by a BBC producer for ''Saturday Superstore'' who "said they were looking for a double act to represent the new style of comedy, but for children”.<ref name=radiotimes/> Their appearances on ''Going Live!'' would result in the creation of some well loved sketches and catchphrases, such as "Swing Your Pants" (part of their segment ''The Singing Corner'') and the "We don't do duvets" sketch.<ref name=theguardian/>
Trevor and Simon created a crowdfunded comedy drama podcast, ''Strangeness in Space''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://strangenessinspace.com/episodes|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208094223/http://strangenessinspace.com/episodes/|archive-date=8 December 2021|work=Strangers in Space|title=Episodes}}</ref> The podcast stars Trevor, Simon, and Sophie Aldred.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/strangeness_in_space/|work=British Comedy Guide|title=Strangeness In Space|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref> ''Strangeness in Space''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://strangenessinspace.com/about/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208093703/http://strangenessinspace.com/about/|archive-date=8 December 2021|work=Strangeness in Space|title=What is Strangeness in Space?}}</ref> is reminiscent of ''Red Dwarf'', albeit with the pair's trademark absurd humour. The story concerns a fictional pop duo called Pink Custard (played by Trev and Simon) who are stuck in space orbiting the planet Mirth with Sophie (played by Sophie Aldred) and robot L.E.M.O.N as they encounter various bizarre creatures and situations.
==Post-comedy careers==
Since 2017, Hickson has been the manager of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital's MediCinema, an on-site cinema for inpatients.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/celebs/bbc-richard-osman-house-games-22334786|work=My London|title=BBC Richard Osman House of Games: Simon Hickson completely unrecognisable from Live & Kicking after huge career change|first=Beth|last=Gulliver|date=1 December 2021|access-date=16 February 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * The BBC Guide to Comedy – Simon Hickson {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041204184408/http://www.bbc.co.uk:80/comedy/guide/talent/h/hickson_simon.shtml}} * {{IMDb name|0800043|Simon Hickson}} * {{IMDb name|1051121|Trevor Neal}}
Category:British comedy duos Category:British podcasters Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester