Clapham Common - References in Popular Culture

References in Popular Culture

It is mentioned in the 1970s television programme Are You Being Served? by the character Mrs Slocombe: "I haven't forgotten being flung flat on me back on Clapham Common by a land mine—and the German Air Force was responsible." to which Mr Lucas ripostes: "All the other times she was flat on her back the American Air Force was responsible."

It is cited in Morrissey's song "Mute Witness":

And her silent words

Describing the sight of last night

4 A.M. Northside, Clapham Common

Oh, god, what was she doing there ?

It is also referred to in Squeeze’s 1979 single “Up the Junction,” which opens:

I never thought it would happen,

With me and the girl from Clapham,

Out on the windy common,

That night I ain’t forgotten.

On the second season of the television comedy Peep Show, the character of Mark Corrigan makes a reference to Ron Davies, stating "This is my moment of madness, my Clapham Common."

It also features in Agatha Christie's story The Adventure of the Clapham Cook.

It is also mentioned in Alan Ayckbourn's play Season's Greetings. In Act I, Scene 1 the character Harvey is a watching a fictional action movie on television and refers to the movie's protagonist when saying, "We could do with this chap round Clapham Common. He'd sort the little bastards out."