Smack the Pony was a British sketch comedy show that ran from 1999 until 2003 on Channel 4. Its title was intended to sound like a euphemism for female masturbation; the working title was Spot the Pony. The main performers and writers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips. There were also regular appearances from Sarah Alexander and Darren Boyd.
Dusty Springfield's song In the Middle of Nowhere, sung by Jackie Clune, was played over the title credits.
Among the show's regular themes were unsuccessful relationships, competition in the workplace and latent lesbianism, but sketches would also dip into the surreal; such as two women jumping from their car as they neared a parking space and brushing in front of the path of their car to allow it move forward further à la curling. Two regular strands involved a series of different women making dating agency videos about their general likes and dislikes, and a musical parody that would close the show.
In 1999 and 2000, Smack the Pony won an Emmy Award for the Best Popular Arts Show.
The sketch Singing Match was number 22 in the 2005 Channel 4 programme, 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches, voted by members of the public. It was written by Marie Findley of the Mediæval Bæbes and based on them. The sketch, Saying Goodbye, was at number 39.
Alternative suggested names for 'Smack The Pony' were 'Dangerous Cows' and 'Planes Trains and Forks'.
