{{Infobox television | image = Smack-the-Pony DVD.jpg | image_size = 200 | caption = The Best of Smack the Pony DVD cover, featuring (left to right) Doon Mackichan, Fiona Allen and Sally Phillips. | genre = Sketch comedy | runtime = 23-24 minutes approx.80 minutes approx.<small>(The Best of Smack the Pony)</small> | creator = Victoria Pile | starring = Doon MackichanFiona AllenSally PhillipsSarah AlexanderDarren BoydCavan ClerkinAmanda HoldenJames Lance | country = England | language = English | num_seasons = 3 + two specials | network = Channel 4 | first_aired = | last_aired = | num_episodes = 23 (including specials) | opentheme = "In the Middle of Nowhere" by Jackie Clune | distributor = Fremantle Media }}Smack the Pony is a British sketch comedy show that was originally broadcast between 1999 and 2003 on Channel 4. The main performers on the show were Fiona Allen, Doon Mackichan and Sally Phillips. There were also regular appearances from Sarah Alexander, Darren Boyd and Cavan Clerkin. The show's theme tune was a version of the Dusty Springfield song "In the Middle of Nowhere", sung by Jackie Clune. In addition to the three principal cast members, the show was written by many writers, the core of whom went on to write Green Wing and Campus. Among the show's regular themes were unsuccessful relationships, competition in the workplace and latent lesbianism, but sketches would also dip into the surreal. 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. History The show was created by Victoria Pile after being commissioned by Caroline Leddy of Channel 4 and Peter Fincham at Talkback, who believed that audiences would welcome a female orientated sketch show. The show's title was intended as a spoof of the kind of stories that would feature in annuals aimed at young girls. Originally "Spot the Pony", it was changed at Kevin Lygo's suggestion to "Smack the Pony" which some people mistakenly assumed was some kind of sexual euphemism. A pilot was filmed featuring Sally Phillips, Fiona Allen and Amanda Holden. When a full series was commissioned Holden dropped out and Doon Mackichan took her place. Holden still appeared in four episodes of the first series. Other contributors making regular appearances were Sarah Alexander, Darren Boyd and Cavan Clerkin, while Miranda Hart also appeared in a