Shaggy Dog Story is a three-minute promotional trailer for Children in Need, put together by the BBC and Gorgeous Productions (directed by Chris Palmer) in 1999 as a sequel to the previous year's Future Generations video (featuring children's programmes), and the great success of 1997's "Perfect Day" charity single. It was first shown on Christmas Day 1999. A slightly extended alternative version was created but never aired.
Shaggy Dog Story was dedicated to the BBC's comedy output under their "Serious about Comedy" banner. It featured various comedians and comic actors (some in character, others as themselves) telling a long-winded shaggy dog story, beginning off with Ronnie Corbett in his trademark armchair, who is most famously known for telling such stories on The Two Ronnies. The story featured a cricket captain who hired a horse as a batsman for his team, who ends up as a good player but can't run.
A second, slightly shorter story, entitled "Mammals vs. Insects," was also broadcast on Boxing Day 1999. This story revolved around a football match between the two teams of creatures and featured many of the participants from the other story.
