what happened to hale and pace

Hale and Pace haven’t “disappeared” – they’re both still around, just mostly working separately and more low‑key than in their 80s/90s heyday.

Quick Scoop

• Gareth Hale moved largely into straight and comic acting on TV and stage after the sketch show era wound down.

• Norman Pace reinvented himself mainly as a theatre and musical‑theatre performer, with regular stage work and hosting gigs.

• The duo occasionally reunites for specials or nostalgia spots, but there’s no regular Hale and Pace TV series now.

After the TV glory days

Once their ITV sketch show ended in the late 90s, they stopped being weekly fixture comics and shifted into more “jobbing actor” and theatre careers.

• Hale took roles in shows like Family Affairs , The Royal , and Father Brown , keeping a steady but quieter TV presence.

• Pace focused on touring productions and West End/UK theatre, appearing in shows such as Chicago , Hairspray and One Man, Two Guvnors.

Any reunions or big returns?

They’ve popped back up together from time to time, usually as a nostalgic nod rather than a full comeback.

• They appeared as themselves in the 2007 Christmas special of Extras , leaning into their “blast from the past” status.

• In 2018 they reunited on ITV’s Benidorm as a pair of undercover detectives, which briefly put “Hale and Pace” back in the headlines.

What are they doing now?

There’s no sign of a new Hale and Pace sketch show, but both still work.

• Norman Pace continues to perform on stage and to front events and concerts; for example, he has hosted big‑band charity concerts in recent years.

• Gareth Hale still turns up in TV drama and light entertainment roles from time to time, though not with the same intensity as in the 80s/90s.

Why they’re less visible today

A mix of time, taste and how edgy 80s/90s TV looks now has pushed them into more niche, nostalgia territory.

• Modern sketch comedy trends and changing attitudes to some of their edgier material mean they’re remembered fondly by some, but not as prominently as a few of their contemporaries.

• Clips still circulate on social media and fan pages, keeping their name alive mainly as a retro comedy reference rather than a current “trending” act.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.