Giant Dog

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  Postman/Friend

  Kevin Eldon • Cast

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  Dog Owner

  Mark Heap • Cast

A postman visits his friend's house and encounters Rudy, the friend's pet dog—except Rudy is human-sized and utterly terrifying. The sketch plays on the classic comedy trope of dog owners being completely oblivious to how frightening their pets can be to visitors. The postman's increasing terror is met with the owner's cheerful reassurances that "he's friendly" and "he just wants to play." The humor comes from the extreme contrast between the owner's casual attitude and the visitor's justified horror at the massive creature. The sketch never shows the dog's face clearly, adding to the unsettling comedy, and features memorable details like enormous slobber marks on the car window.

The sketch became one of Big Train's most memorable and frequently referenced moments. The choice to make the main character a postman adds an extra layer of irony, as postmen stereotypically fear dogs. The camera work deliberately avoids showing the dog's face clearly, which enhances the unsettling comedy. Features prominent slobber marks on a car window as a visual gag. Big Train was created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, who also created Father Ted. The show aired on BBC Two and is known for its surreal, absurdist humor.