Little Britain

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Little Britain was a BBC radio and television sketch show written by and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Its title is an amalgamation of the terms 'Little England' and 'Great Britain'. It made its debut on BBC Radio 4 in 2001, running for two short series of five and four half-hour episodes respectively. In 2003, it transferred to television, with an eight-episode series on the BBC's digital-only channel BBC Three, two more series followed, until the program ended in 2005.

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Background

Most of the TV material was adapted from the radio version, but some new sketches featured recurring characters. Due to its success, the first television series was repeated on the mainstream channel BBC Two. Although reactions to it were mixed, many critics were enthusiastic, and the show was commissioned for another run.

The second TV series, featuring several new characters, began on BBC Three October 19, 2004. Because of its popularity, the scheduled repeats were "promoted" to BBC One, starting December 3 2004, which guaranteed higher ratings. However, this showing did not feature material from the original run that was deemed too offensive for the BBC One audience.

A third series began on Thursday 17 November 2005 on BBC One, and ended six weeks later. It is unclear whether there will be another, as so many sketches were given dramatic twists and "wrapped up" — see individual character articles for examples. Lucas and Walliams are reportedly in talks for a fourth series with the BBC. Furthermore, they admitted in a recent interview they preferred to "kill off" certain characters in order to make way for new ones.

Radio 4 began a rerun of all nine episodes in February 2004. Unusually, this overlapped with a rerun on digital radio channel BBC 7 of the first five, which began in mid-March. In June–July 2004, BBC 7 broadcast the remaining four.

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Overseas

The show is aired in the United States by BBC America [1], in Canada by BBC Canada and Showcase Television, in Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, in Sweden by SVT, in Ireland by BBC and RTÉ, in The Netherlands on Nederland 3 by VPRO [2], in Finland by SubTV, in Norway by NRK, in the United Arab Emirates , India and Malaysia by Star World, in New Zealand by C4, in Belgium on België 2 by Canvas TV Station in Italy by Jimmy and in Austria on ORF1.

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Style and content

Superficially it appears to be vulgar, 'lowest denominator' comedy, but embedded within are societal truisms and intelligent humour. It plays heavily on memorable catchphrases that have become ingrained in playgrounds and offices around the UK.

The format of the show is a compilation of short sketches featuring familiar characters, linked by narration from Tom Baker (most famous as the Fourth Doctor on Doctor Who). The voiceovers take a wry look at Britain, with comically absurd statements on the nation's character, such as, "Britain ... We've had running water for over 10 years and we invented the cat" or, "Unlike other countries, Britain has people of two genders: male and female."

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Catchphrases

The characters' catchphrases such as, "I want that one", "Yeah, but no, but yeah, but...", "Eh eh eh", "I'm the only gay in the village", "Computer says 'No'", and "I'm a laydee" have entered the public consciousness throughout Britain and overseas.

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The cast

  • Matt Lucas: Marjorie Dawes, Daffyd Thomas, Andy Pipkin, Vicky Pollard, Dame Sally Markham, Mr Cleeves, Ian 1, Kenny Craig, Gary, Bubbles DeVere, Roy, Florence, Judy Pike, Ting Tong Macadandang, Minstrel 1, Lindsay De Paul, Joan, Clive, Sir Bernard Chumley, Neville, Eileen, PC Rawlingson, Mr T Lookalike, Viv Tudor, Newsagent, Doug, Nicola, Reverend Jesse King, Don, Orville, Dying Man, Horse Whisperer, Latymer Crown, Kim, Ruth, Jean, Ralph, French Tourist wife, Lady Fry
  • David Walliams: Emily Howard, Lou, Sebastian Love, Anne, Ray McCooney, Record Breaker 2, Dennis Waterman, Jason, Mr Mann, Harvey Pincher, Maggie Blackamoor, Carol Beer, Linda Flint, Desiree DeVere, Dudley Punt, Mrs Emery, Sir Norman Fry, Minstrel 2, Piano Player, Rod, Liz, Denver Mills, April May, Peter Andre, Des Kaye, Matthew Waterhouse, Sandra Patterson, Janet, Edward Grant, Whitelaw, Len Boothe, Boris the Babysitter, PC Bryce, Michael Dinner, Dr Lowe, Mrs B, Rachel, Sid Pegg, Leonard, Alan the Charity Worker, Letty Bell, Pat, Jill, Eugene, Roland, Alan, Benjy, Peter, Barry Edwards, French Tourist husband, Douglas Novel

Other cast:

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Guest appearances

Since its debut on television, Little Britain has featured guest appearances from celebrities and television personalities, the most prominent of these being Anthony Head as the Prime Minister.

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As themselves

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As characters

Simon Callow, Christian Coulson, Mark Gatiss, Nigel Havers, Jon Culshaw, Imelda Staunton, David Baddiel and Jamie Theakston.

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Major characters

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Image:Lou and Andy.jpg Image:Vicki Pollard1 copy.jpg Image:Marjorie Daws1 copy.jpg

  • Fred 'Florence' Rose: Emily's moustachioed companion, who can be similarly described. (Series 2–3)
  • Maggie Blackamoor: an upper-class Conservative, accompanied by her friend Judy Pike — she is very picky about what she eats, or more specifically, who prepares it (Series 2–3)
  • Sebastian Love: smitten aide of the Prime Minister — woe betide anyone who comes between them
  • Anne & Dr. Lawrence: part-time mental health patient and her carer who is oblivious to the fact that Anne isn't disabled in any way
  • Dame Sally Markham: an elderly romantic novelist who's short on ideas (Series 1)
  • Kenny Craig: a stage hypnotist, who tries to use his technique to personal advantage (Series 1–2, Series 3 deleted scene)
  • Dennis Waterman: a minuscule out-of-work actor (a caricature of his real-life namesake), who always wants to "write the theme tune, sing the theme tune" (Series 1–2)
  • Mr. Cleeves: a school teacher who instructs his students on eccentric and random subjects, and constantly makes life difficult for them (Series 1)
  • Sir Bernard Chumley: a sinister former actor who keeps his invalid sister, Kitty, locked away. He is noted for wearing a range of very obvious toupées (Series 1)
  • Gary and Jason: Jason is head-over-heels in love with Gary's grandmother — a fact to which Gary is completely oblivious, even though they are best mates (Series 1, Series 2 deleted scene)
  • Mr Mann, Roy, and Margaret: Mr Mann always visits Roy's shop to buy an impossibly exact item, for which Roy has to ask Margaret (who is never seen but apparently limbless)
  • Bubbles DeVere: overweight woman who has spent months at a spa without paying her bill, usually by dodging the management (Series 2–3)
  • Mr. Hutton: Hill Grange Health Spa owner who is constantly chasing Bubbles for debts owed (Series 2)
  • Roman and Desiree DeVere: Bubbles' ex-husband and his new lover (Series 3)
  • Carol Beer: disinterested bank worker (then travel agent) who processes customers' requests on her computer, usually responding flatly, "Computer says no..." (Series 2–3)
  • Harvey Pincher: a soon-to-be-married upper-class man, who shocks outsiders of his family by his unusual habit — he is still breast fed (Series 2)
  • Dudley Punt and Ting Tong Macadangdang: middle-aged man and his awkward, mail-order Thai wife (Series 3)
  • Linda Flint: a university counsellor who insults students on some aspect of their appearance (Series 2-3)
  • Mrs Emery: Severely incontinent, elderly woman (Series 3). The name is a reference to Dick Emery
  • Sir Norman Fry MP: always apologising to the media over being found in a compromising situation (Series 3)
  • Sid Pegg: zealous Neighbour Watch leader (Series 3)
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Trivia

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Doctor Who

There are many references to the popular science-fiction series:

  • In Jeremy Rent's Office in the pilot episode, you can see a picture of Tom Baker (the show's narrator) in his Fourth Doctor costume on the wall.
  • In an Andy and Lou sketch from Series 2, some yobs shout abuse at them in the park. Andy snaps and beats them up when they shout, "Oi, Davros!" — Davros is the (similarly wheelchair-bound) creator of the Daleks.
  • Matthew Waterhouse is named after the actor who played Adric, one of the companions of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors.
  • One of the Judy & Maggie (Women's Institute) sketches in Series 2 features actor Paul Darrow as a Conservative MP. He played Avon in Blake's 7, as well as roles in the Doctor Who stories "Doctor Who and the Silurians" and "Timelash".
  • In the pilot's Dennis Waterman sketches, his agent was named "Sir Michael Craze", an allusion to Michael Craze, who played Ben Jackson, a companion to William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton (the First and Second Doctor, respectively). The name reappeared in a sketch for the Matthew Waterhouse character, in which it was identity of the play producer to whom he pitched ideas for various musicals.
  • One of Tom Baker's narrations refers directly to Doctor Who (and Blackadder — another TV series in which he appeared) when discussing popular video rentals in season one.
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Other

  • Lou and Andy are the only characters to appear in every single episode of the show (including the Comic Relief special), Marjorie Dawes is in second place: she appears throughout the recurring series.
  • Several sketches were removed from Series 1. Two featured April and Neville, another pair included the Peter Andre character, while also excised were some in which Mr Cleeves and the Piano Player appeared.
  • Lou and Andy are named after Lou Reed and Andy Warhol.
  • Jamie Theakston appeared in Series 2 after he worked with Lucas and Walliams on Rock Profile.
  • On "Little Britain Night" on BBC Three, the duo announced that they will do a Christmas special of the programme in 2006.
  • In Series 3, there is an homage to One Foot in the Grave and its character Victor Meldrew when Bubbles De Vere says the popular catchphrase, "I don't believe it!", as her first line in the series.
  • On October 10, 2005, waxworks of Lou and Andy were unveiled at Madame Tussaud's in London, having been announced three months earlier, and cost in excess of £100,000 each. This event tied in with the DVD release of the second TV series.
  • In 2005, Heat magazine reported that a request by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, to appear in one of the sketches was turned down, with Walliams and Lucas stating that they did not want to be seen as supporting any particular political party in the run-up to the general election [3].
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CDs

  • The complete radio series (along with much supplemental material, including the pilot show), was released on 7 November 2005 as Little Britain... on Radio (ISBN 0563504145).
  • Subsequently issued were:
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DVDs

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Books

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Stage show

The 2005–06 Tour was a stage show of Little Britain sketches that played at venues throughout the UK. Tickets quickly sold out.

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See also

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External links

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Official sites

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Unofficial sites

pt:Little Britain fi:Little Britain sv:Little Britain

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