Collections: The World Cup Comedy Collection

Sound the vuvuzelas, get the beers on ice, paint your face in the national team colours and purchase a replica shirt that's just a touch too tight – it's World Cup time! And we'd be remiss if we didn't join in the party with a selection of the best footie-related clips from the BBC's archives. So when you're not enjoying all the action from South Africa, get the right result with our own 'match of the day'...

Alistair McGowan's Big Impression, later re-titled simply Big Impression to accommodate comedy partner Ronni Ancona, ran on BBC Two for three years from 1999. McGowan's spot-on impressions saw his shows outstrip the likes of Rory Bremner as the most popular mainstream comedy impression show. Here McGowan's Sven Goran Eriksson has trouble naming England's opponents in a Euro 2004 special. Is that Nancy Dell'Olio in the background?.

Although Alistair McGowan featured in the first series of Dead Ringers, it became better known for the talents of other cast members John Culshaw, Jan Ravens and Phil Cornwell. Dead Ringers broadcast for five years on BBC television and seven on BBC radio. Here Steve McClaren discusses his appointment as England manager. Apparently, he was 23rd choice.

After getting its first airing on BBC Radio 5, Frank Skinner and David Baddiel's Fantasy Football League transferred to BBC Two for three series beginning in 1994. Baddiel and Skinner's shows featured a wealth of guests including Basil Brush, Noel Gallagher and David Seaman, who appears in this sketch. Since the ended of the series the comedians have returned for a number of specials coinciding with World and European Championships.

The Fast Show team take the nonsensical sideline gestures of football coaches to a new level in this moment from series one. The BBC show's three year run featured some of the best-known characters and catch phrases in sketch comedy, including Paul Whitehouse's wistful, ageing Ron Manager who features in our second Fast Show clip. Isn't it?

Paul Whitehouse also popped up in Harry Enfield's Television Programme alongside the eponymous star. The '90s BBC staple also starred Kathy Burke, who along with Harry Enfield gave the world the slobbish, hygiene allergic Wayne and Waynetta. Here, Wayne gently discusses football with his loving wife.

Bob and Terry returned to our screens in 1973's Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? but the aspirational divide between the boys was beginning to grow. With an important football match looming, a visit the barber's teaches Terry a thing or two about first impressions.

Neither footballer nor presenter were safe from Alistair McGowan's spot-on impressions in 2002's one-off BBC show, Alistair McGowan's Big World Cup. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and pundit Mark Lawrenson are given the treatment in our first clip. Elsewhere Rio Ferdinand takes a reporter into the inner sanctum of the international footballer's monk-like existence.

Running for an incredible 19 series, BBC One's They Think It's All Over eventually went off the air in 2006 following two World Cup specials. Featuring hundreds of celebrity guests and several regular panellists, the format mixed comedy and sport to great effect over its eleven years on air. This clip, from series 11 asks who really wanted the credit for winning England the 1966 World Cup. You'll never guess.