Made by Central television at the end of the 1980's, 'Grim Tales' was shown maybe once in the UK and was sporadically featured on 'Bravo' as space filler in the US. The twenty-two stories showcase Rik Mayall's uncanny and natural ability to break through the 'fourth wall' without the device seeming forced or insincere. (The 'fourth wall' is the imaginary barrier between performers and their audiences.)
The premise is good... famous, traditional fairy-tales are re-worked to appeal to 12 year-old boys - which means lots of rude noises, bogie flicking and farting, etc. There's probably nobody else that could have pulled this off with such hilarity and conviction as Rik Mayall. His gift is (was) to be able to directly connect to an audience as if he is sharing the joke rather than telling it. Everything is studiously performed to the level of the audience.
There's a lot to pay attention to, too. For example when he say's "three feathers" he holds up four fingers! It's his 'in joke' with the audience. The idea is that the kids will think it's funny and the grown-ups will think it's a mistake.
Added to the mix is the abstract artistry, bizarre music and stop-motion puppet-work which, when combined with Rik and his insane armchair, propel the storytelling into another dimension.
There aren't any good quality prints available. The YouTube copies are marginally worse than the actual DVD release... and that's a damn shame because the two series are as captivating and as imaginative as kids TV programming gets.