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Little Britain

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Little Britain
Image:Lbinlay2.PNG
Characters on Little Britain: The Complete Second Series DVD cover

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Genre Sketch comedy
Running time 30 mins
Creator(s) David Walliams and Matt Lucas
Starring David Walliams
Matt Lucas
Tom Baker
Anthony Head
Paul Putner
Steve Furst
Charu Bala Chokshi
Joann Condon
Ruth Jones
Country of origin UK
Original channel BBC Three
(Series 1 & 2)
BBC One
(Series 3)
Original run September 16, 2003–2005
No. of episodes 22 (including Pilot and Comic Relief special) (List of episodes)
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Little Britain is a highly successful character-based 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, of six episodes each, have followed since. The programme will return for a 2006 Christmas special <ref> 'Visit Little Britain Off've the Telly' BBC Radio 1. URL accessed 3 July, 2006</ref> and Lucas and Walliams continue to deny press speculation that the third series would be the last.<ref>Little Britain TV Series Four DavidWalliamsFans.com. URL accessed 3 July, 2006</ref> The BBC regards the series so far as a success.<ref>'BBC Statements of Programme Policy 2006/2007' BBC, URL Accessed 3 July, 2006</ref> There is also a Little Britian live tour of the show. An American version is due in 2007 for HBO. There is also the possibility of a film version in the US.

Many of the show's catchphrases have become common in the U.K., and it has gained a cult following.

Contents

[edit] Background

Most of the TV material was adapted from the radio version, but some new sketches featured recurring characters. As a result of 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. After its transmission, it was unclear whether there would be another, as so many sketches were given dramatic twists and "wrapped up" — see individual character articles for examples. Lucas and Walliams were reportedly in talks for a fourth series with the BBC. Furthermore, they admitted in an 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.

[edit] Style and content

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: women and men."

The style of Little Britain has evolved over the years. The radio series and first season on TV tended to consist of surreal concepts taken to logical extremes (such as the witch employing contractors to build her gingerbread house or the man leaving increasingly bizarre messages on his answering machine.) The sketches that really caught the public's imagination, however, tended to be those which gave rise to memorable catchphrases. As the TV series went on, the humour began to rely on these as well as stereotypes of increasing vulgarity.

[edit] Criticism

However, the second and third series have not been without their critics, who have been particularly vociferous at the perceived treatment of minority groups. For example, Johann Hari, writing in The Independent, stated:

"Little Britain has been a vehicle for two rich kids to make themselves into multi-millionaires by mocking the weakest people in Britain. Their targets are almost invariably the easiest, cheapest groups to mock: the disabled, poor, elderly, gay or fat. In one fell swoop, they have demolished protections against mocking the weak that took decades to build up." <ref>Independent Online Edition: Why I Hate Little Britain URL accessed 3 July, 2006</ref>

Similarly, Fergus Sheppard, writing in The Scotsman, had this to say:

"The latest series of the hit BBC comedy Little Britain may be hauling in record viewing figures, but it has also sparked a previously unthinkable chorus of criticism, with claims that the show has lost its way, trading early ingenuity for swelling amounts of toilet humour in the search for cheap laughs, and becoming increasingly offensive." <ref>Scotsman.com: Little Britain's in trouble... no buts about it URL accessed 3 July, 2006</ref>

Although the series' supporters have dismissed these attacks, the suggestions of unhelpful attitudes towards race are hard to shake off, since regular characters in series 3 included an obese black woman (played by Walliams, albeit that she is the enemy of an obese white woman) and an unattractive Thai bride (played by Lucas, though she is married to an equally unattractive white man). This is in contrast to the first TV series, which contained a sketch apparently aimed at racist attitudes: two men in blackface (as once seen in The Black and White Minstrel Show) are shown unable to find a room in a bed and breakfast.

[edit] The cast

  • Matt Lucas and David Walliams play all the main characters in the show.

Other cast:

[edit] 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.

[edit] As themselves

[edit] As characters

Ruth Madoc, Simon Callow, Christian Coulson, Mark Gatiss, Nigel Havers, Jon Culshaw, Imelda Staunton, David Baddiel, Indira Varma , Jamie Theakston and Siobhan Hayes.

[edit] Major characters

This is only a list of the most popular or well-known characters. A full list can be found here:

Main article: Little Britain characters

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

Image:Carolbeer.jpg
  • Vicky Pollard: teenage chav with serious attitude problems, and sixteen children
  • Daffyd Thomas: out homosexual who believes he is the "only gay in the village". However, he is very obviously not, despite his attempts to deceive himself.
  • Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin: Andy is in a wheelchair (of which he has no need) and Lou is his kindly yet oblivious caregiver.
  • Marjorie Dawes: merciless leader of the Fat Fighters weight loss group who believes that a diet of dust is a good way to lose weight, and enjoys taunting her group, despite being overweight herself.
  • Edward 'Emily' Howard: "rubbish transvestite" who tries to convince everyone that he is a "laydee"
  • 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 caregiver. Anne frequently has deranged outbursts, though she has occasional moments of lucidity.
  • Dennis Waterman: a minuscule out-of-work actor (a caricature of his real-life namesake), who always wants to "write the feem tune, sing the feem tune" (Series 1–2)
  • 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)
  • Carol Beer: listless 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)

[edit] Catchphrases

Here are some of the most popular catchphrases to appear in the show:

  • "Yeah I know," as well as "Don't like it" and "I want that one." ~ Andy Pipkin
  • "Yeah but no but yeah but...", "Oh my god I so can't believe you just said that!" and "Don't go giving me evils!" ~ Vicky Pollard
  • "Dust? Anyone? No? Dust?", "Oooh man I love the cake!", and "Do it again!" ~ Marjorie Dawes
  • "Hello Darling!" and "Call me Bubbles, everyone does." ~ Bubbles DeVere
  • "I am the only gay in the village.", "Yeah I'm gay, get over it!" and "Another Bacardi and Coke please, Myfanwy." ~ Daffyd
  • "Computer says no." ~ Carol Beer
  • "I am a lady!" ~ Emily Howard
  • "Margaret! Margaret!" *long pause* "...Yes?" ~ Roy and Margaret
  • "So they want me to star in it, write the feeme toon, sing the feeme toon..." ~ Dennis Waterman
  • "Wicky woo!" and "Top of the morning, where's me breakfast?" ~ Des Kaye
  • "Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes, 3-2-1, you're under!" and "3-2-1, you're back in the room!" ~ Kenny Craig
  • "Bitty..." ~ Harvey Pincher
  • "EH EH EHHHH!" ~ Anne
  • "Yeeeeeesss." and "Maybe I am and maybe I'm not." ~ Ray McCooney
  • "Pwease Mr Dudwey!" ~ Ting Tong Macadangdang
  • "Hello Martin, it's Linda" and "That's right, *insulting objective* " ~ Linda Flint


[edit] Charity sketches

In 2005, to raise money for Comic Relief, David Walliams and Matt Lucas made a special edition of the show, dubbed Little, Little Britain. The episode included a variety of sketches with celebrities. These included George Michael, Robbie Williams and Elton John. This was released on a limited edition DVD.

In Christmas 2005, a Christmas Comic Relief Special was made, presented by Lou and Andy. This has never been released on DVD.

A live Little Britain show was made for Comic Relief at the Hammersmith Apollo on November 22, 2006 and featured many guest artists and celebrities.

[edit] Further series

Matt Lucas and David Walliams have recently signed a three-year deal with the BBC. The duo are currently planning a new show — one in which some of their best-known characters return, but it will be a "totally new and different series". <ref>BBC News: Lucas and Walliams reign set to last URL accessed 20 July 2006</ref>

It is due to be broadcast in the autumn of 2007, and two new Little Britain Christmas specials will air Boxing Day 2006. The special, Little Britain Abroad will take the characters and put them into locations other than Britain.<ref>"Little Britain Christmas special lineup revealed". Retrieved September 5, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Overseas

The show is aired in Continental Europe, Scandinavia and southern Africa on BBC Prime, in the United States by BBC America [2], in Canada by BBC Canada and Showcase Television, in Australia by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and pay-tv channel UK.TV, in New Zealand by C4 (previously by TV One, in Sweden by SVT, in Iceland on Sjónvarpið, in Ireland by RTÉ, in The Netherlands on Nederland 3 by VPRO, in Finland by SubTV, in Norway by NRK, in the United Arab Emirates, in India, Pakistan and Malaysia by Star World, in Belgium on Canvas, in Italy by Jimmy, in Portugal on RTP, in Austria on ORF1, in Israel by Yes, in Switzerland by SF, in Hungary by COOL TV, in Singapore by Arts Central, Spain by Canal+, in Germany by Sat1 Comedy, in Japan on WOWOW.

[edit] CDs

[edit] DVDs

[edit] Past releases

[edit] Books

  • Little Britain: The Complete Scripts and Stuff: Series One (2004): London: HarperCollins: ISBN 0-00-719302-5
  • Little Britain: The Complete Scripts and Stuff: Series Two (2005): London: HarperCollins: ISBN 0-00-719872-8
  • Little Britain: The Complete Scripts and Stuff: Series Three: (2006): London: HarperCollins: ISBN 0-00-721365-4
  • Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Boyd Hilton: Inside Little Britain: London: Ebury: 2006: ISBN 0-09-191231-8
  • Neil Simpson: Yeah But No But: The Biography of Matt Lucas and David WalliamsLondon: John Blake: 2006 ISBN 1-84454-258-0

[edit] Video game

Little Britain is being made into a video game for the Playstation 2 due January 2007 (with a Playstation Portable version due for release at a later date [citation needed]) ; recently, David and Matt has just recorded the voice-overs for the game. The popular characters are included and are being 3D modelled.

[edit] Stage show

Image:Little Britain Live Logo.jpg

See Little Britain Live

The 2005–06 Tour is a stage show of Little Britain sketches that played at venues throughout the UK. Tickets quickly sold out. In 2007 Little Britain Live will be touring around Australia, after most dates sold out within days of tickets going on sale.[3].

[edit] Little Britain: The Movie

Walliams and Lucas have revealed that they are developing a film version of the series for the US. "We've got a sort of film development deal and we might also do something for TV out in the US."[4] This would be similar to what occured with another British comedy sketch show, Da Ali G Show, which released two spin off films.

[edit] American version

Walliams and Lucas are due to create an American version of Little Britain for HBO. Little Britain will follow the model of Da Ali G Show, a series and character created by the British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, which was later also created for American audiences for the network. Simon Fuller has been recruited to co-write the series with the duo, along with a team of American writers.<ref>Times Online. "Little Britain aiming for huge remake in America". Retrieved August 25 2006.</ref>

[edit] Trivia

In order to meet Wikipedia's quality standards, this article's trivia section requires cleanup.
Content in the trivia section should be integrated into other appropriate areas of the article.

[edit] 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.
  • At least three characters are named after actors who have portrayed Doctor Who companions: Matthew Waterhouse played Adric, a companion of the Fourth and Fifth Doctors; Michael Craze played the First and Second Doctor's companion Ben Jackson; and Mark Strickson portrayed Vislor Turlough, a Fifth Doctor companion.
  • 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.
  • In an episode of Season Two, Dennis Waterman's agent is discussing an upcoming appearance of Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and also offers Bonnie Langford.

[edit] Other

  • 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, following a sketch for The Ralf Little Show.
  • Matt Lucas starred the comedy game show Shooting Stars as a drum-playing baby called George Dawes. One act featured George singling a song about peanuts whilst he wore a long-haired wig, which host Bob Mortimer recommended that he should keep the wig as it suited him so much. Matt later used the wig for Andy.
  • Jamie Theakston appeared in Series 2, having previously 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 biased towards Labour in the run-up to the general election [5].
  • Gary and Jason did not appear in Series 2. However, Lucas and Walliams did film a sketch, which was planned to be shown at the end of the last episode. The sketch wasn't broadcast, although it appears as a deleted scene on the Series 2 DVD, involving Gary, his sister and his mother visiting Nan's, when they discover Nan and Jason having sexual intercourse.
  • Lou and Andy were parodied in a Dead Ringers sketch in which they were replaced with caricatures of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
  • In the series the village of Llandewi Breffi is spelt slightly differently from the real village of Llanddewi Brefi (which has only one 'f' and a double 'd'). Furthermore, Daffyd 's name in the series is also spelt slightly differently from the real Welsh name Dafydd.
  • In an episode of the Australian soap opera Neighbours aired in the UK on 25th October 2006, barman Max Hoyland uses the phrase "Computer says no" when Paul Robinson's credit card is declined - an obvious reference to the Little Britain sketch featuring Carol Beer.
  • In another episode of Neighbours, the character Susan wanted to have a word with her stepchildren Rachel and Zeke after they had been mucking about with her partner Karl's guitar and recording equipment. Rachel's response was "Yeah but no but yeah but..", clealy a reference to Vicky Pollard.
  • In the Channel 4 Courtney Love documentary, The Return of Courtney Love, in 2006, directed by Will Yapp, Courtney and her daughter Francis can be seen watching Little Britain during the filming of the documentary. Courtney has always expressed her love of British comedy.
  • The spa that Bubbles inhabits is called Hill Grange, a play on words with the childrens TV show Grange Hill.

[edit] References

<references/>

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links

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edit
Little Britain
Primary Cast
Matt Lucas | David Walliams
Secondary Cast
Tom Baker | Anthony Stewart Head | Paul Putner | Steve Furst | Charu Bala Chokshi | Joann Condon | Ruth Jones
Major Characters
First Appeared in Series 1: Marjorie Dawes | Daffyd Thomas | Emily Howard | Lou and Andy | Vicky Pollard | Sebastian Love | Prime Minister Michael Stevens | Anne | Ray McCooney | Dame Sally Markham | Mr Cleeves | The Record Breakers | Kenny Craig | Dennis Waterman | Gary and Jason | Mr Mann
First Appeared in Series 2: Harvey Pincher | Bubbles DeVere | Florence Rose | Maggie Blackamoor | Carol Beer | Linda Flint
First Appeared in Series 3: Desiree and Roman DeVere | Ting Tong Macadangdang | Mrs Emery | Sir Norman Fry
Minor Characters
First Appeared in Series 1: The Minstrels | Piano Player | Sam Bailey and Lindsay De Paul | Rod, Joan and Katy | Liz and Clive | Denver Mills | Sir Bernard Chumley | April and Neville | Peter Andre | Des Kaye | Matthew Waterhouse | Sandra and Ralph Patterson | Janet and Eileen | Edward and Samantha Grant | Whitelaw | Len Boothe | Boris | Mimo
First Appeared in Series 2: PCs Bryce and Rawlinson | Mr T Lookalike | Viv Tudor | Newsagent | Michael Dinner | Doug Ramsay | Dr Lowe | Mrs B | Rachel and Nicola | Reverend Jesse King
First Appeared in Series 3: Sid Pegg | Leonard | Alan | Letty Bell | Pat and Don | Orville | Dying Man | Horse Whisperer
Pilot/Deleted Scenes Characters: Chef | Latymer Crown | Barry Edwards | French Tourist Couple | Douglas Sterling | Jill and Kim | Eugene | Roland | Ruth | Alan and Jean | Benjy | Liam Buckley | Dinner Guests | Stewie And Dale | Man on Bus
DVDs
The Complete First Series | The Complete Second Series | Series One & Two | Comic Relief Charity DVD | The Complete Third Series | Series One, Two & Three | Live
Episodes
Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3 | Pilots and Specials
Other
Little Britain Live | BBC Three | Cross-dressing in Film

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