Dizzy Heights was a British children's comedy series made by CBBC and broadcast from 1990 until 1993. It starred comedy duo Heap and Wall (Alan Heap and Mark Wall) as themselves, managers of a Hell Hotel by the sea, at an undisclosed English location. They were aided and abetted in their daily dramas by a variety of strange puppet characters: the Gristle family of Mum (Vera), Dad (Victor) and Eustace, who appeared to be near-permanent residents; by a couple of mice, Morty and Myrtle, who lived beneath the stairs; and by Bear and Hog, two stuffed animal heads who lived on the wall above the fireplace and acted as a Greek Chorus, commenting on events as they unfolded.
The series had strong echoes of Fawlty Towers in the comic misadventures of hotel life, and the Gristles were Spitting Image-type puppets, using some of the same puppeteers, including Steve Nallon (formerly Mrs Thatcher's puppeteer) as Vera.
Three series of 25-minute episodes were made, written by Robin Kingsland and others from an original idea by Jonathan Meres. Martin Fisher and Martin Hughes produced and directed. The Gristles later spun off into their own sketch show, The House of Gristle (1994).
Dizzy Heights provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents: Dad/Victor used to shout at Eustace a lot.
- Ambition Is Evil: In 'A Star Is Bored', a famous opera singer visits the hotel and Heap is determined to use this opportunity to become a great performer. When she and her manager show more interest in Wall, Heap sets a trap with Eustace's skateboard designed to break Wall's leg.
- Animated Credits Opening: Animated opening titles, making the rain-lashed hotel strongly resemble a Haunted Castle.
- Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Morty and Myrtle argue all the time but will always come to one another's aid if in danger - and, as they are mice, this happens quite a lot.
- Beleaguered Assistant: Mark Wall.
- Big Eater: The Gristles spend a lot of time in the dining room.
- Black Comedy Cannibalism: When Heap and Wall forgot to order any food in one episode, Vera gave serious thought to eating other characters.
- Comically Missing the Point: Eustace was prone to this.
- When Heap is hit on the head in 'Parachute' and loses his identity, but has recovered at the end, Eustace is told "He's a new man" and responds: "Oh no! Who is he now?"
- When Darren tries to take over the hotel, Eustace is conned into helping him and is appointed General Dogsbody. He thinks this is a military role and turns out in a general's uniform.
- Critical Staffing Shortage: Apart from the unseen Chef, Heap and Wall run the entire hotel themselves.
- Expository Theme Tune: "Come to the best hotel in the world, there's room for everyone..." From the second series the lyrics were dispensed with and the theme was reworked as an Instrumental Theme Tune.
- The Ghost: 'Chef' was an unseen Violent Glaswegian who wreaked havoc and abuse offscreen on Heap and Wall whenever they entered the kitchen.
- Greek Chorus: Hog and Bear.
- Hands-Off Parenting: Victor and Vera Gristle pretty much leave Eustace to his own devices, meeting him only at mealtimes or when required.
- Hell Hotel: The venue for the series.
- Hotel Hellion: Eustace often met the trope, even though he was a resident.
- Mouthy Kid: Eustace alternated between this, Spoiled Brat and Cheerful Child, with elements of Curious as a Monkey.
- Pun: Lots. "Do you have a reservation?" / "I have many reservations..."
- Rude Hero, Nice Sidekick: Heap and Wall.
- Shout-Out:
- The hotel action took place around all the same locations as Fawlty Towers: reception, office, dining room, kitchen, lounge (only lacking a bar because this was a kids' show) and guest rooms. Some of the plots were reminiscent too - the episode 'Parachute' was based on Heap being hit on the head and losing his mind, and there were frequently two mice, if not a rat, on the loose.
- Morty and Myrtle's personalities bear a strong resemblance to George & Mildred as well.
- The unseen violent Scottish chef was reminiscent of Mc Blane in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.
- Spin-Off: The House of Gristle, with Dizzy Heights producer/director Martin Hughes.
- Three Cameras: Most of the action was shot in a BBC multi-camera studio.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: The scheming new manager Darren takes control of the hotel in one episode and plans to rename it Darren Heights.
- Unlimited Wardrobe: Eustace seemed to have an outfit for every occasion.
- Wise Beyond Their Years: Eustace sometimes showed surprising amounts of knowledge, as in 'Parachute' when he reels off reams of medical information about Heap's blow on the head.
