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1
Little Britain

BBC

"Britain, Britain, Britain! Population: One millions, Number of towns, Nine. Average height, Thirty. Shoe size... But just who are Britain? Over the next eleventeen weeks we aim to find out by following the lives of ordinary British folk. What do they, who is they and why?" Emerging from the depths of BBC Radio 4, the BAFTA award winning Little Britain is fast becoming a comedic hit all over the world. For the majority of Britain's population, the real Britain that is, it's unusual to make it through a day without someone quoting one of the vast amount of catch phrases spawned from the minds of creator/writer/performers Matt Lucas and David Walliams. It's been commended by BBC chiefs as "a shining example of what happens when the BBC gets comedy right." It has already achieved cult status amongst the viewing public of the UK and USA and big name celebrities such as Nicholas Cage, Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Kylie Minogue openly admit their fondness of the show. So sit back and take a journey around Britain and the lives of the 'normal', everyday people who inhabit that sceptered isle.

WARNING: Due to the adult nature of this show some details contained in this episode guide may be unsuitable for people under the age of 12. All quotes have been censored.

Characters (in alphabetical order of first letter of character name) Anne and Dr. Lawrance • David Walliams & Matt Lucas Anne is a mental patient that Dr Lawrance is trying to introduce back into society. Strangely enough Anne seems to be able to fit in anywhere even though her communication skills are slightly limited and her behaviour is a little on the bizarre side. April and Neville • David Walliams & Matt Lucas Volunteers from St Tom's Ambulance Brigade who are always on hand for anyone who needs medical assistance... which is a shame because April is constantly under the delusion that she can cure anything with a mint (we're talking Polo Mints and Tic-Tacs here) and Neville is just about gullible enough to believe her. Bubbles DeVere • Matt Lucas Bubbles lives the life of luxury on a health farm. The only way she benefits health-wise however is when running away from the person asking her to pay her bill. Carol Beer • David Walliams A bank clerk, and later travel agent, who seems incapable of independent thought and relies on her trusty computer to give answers to everything, unfortunately the computer always says no. Daffyd Thomas and Myfanwy • Matt Lucas & Ruth Jones Daffyd strives to be unique so titles himself as the only gay in his village of Llandewi Breffi assuming everyone he meets will be homophobic and oppressive about the fact he's openly gay. Instead, the villagers happily accept his alleged homosexuality and some even start coming 'out of the closet' themselves resulting in Daffyd, proud of his title, being homophobic towards them. His barmaid friend Myfanwy tries her best to keep him in check. Dame Sally Markham and Miss Grace • Matt Lucas & David Walliams Dame Sally is a romantic novelist who's run out of ideas, so dictates senseless drivel to her poor assistant typist Miss Grace hoping that the readers wont notice. Dennis Waterman and Jeremy Rent • David Walliams & Matt Lucas A pint sized parody of the real person, Dennis visits his agent Jeremy regularly for new parts in TV and Theater shows, yet refuses to accept the part unless they'll allow him to write and sing the musical score for that show. Denver Mills • David Walliams Olympic Gold Medalist no one's heard of. Denver is always asked to stand in for more well known sports celebrities at events. One way or another something happens to make Denver feel unwelcome and he gets on the phone to see if he can pull out at the last second. Des Kaye • David Walliams After making sexual innuendos on a children's TV programme, Des was reduced to working in a DIY store. Des never really got over being sacked and continues to portray his former TV role (hand puppets included) in his new job which has some annoying consequences for his fellow work mates and store costumers. Doug • Matt Lucas Drugs counsellor with a passion for drug rehab, having been there, done that, woken up late and missed several daytime TV shows and got the T-Shirt. Dudley and Ting Tong • David Walliams & Matt Lucas The trials and tribulations of a man forced to live with a mix-up at the mail-order Thai bride agency. Edward and Samantha Grant • David Walliams & Helen Coker An example of what happens when a pupil marries her teacher - the lecture never ends, even in the bedroom which comes complete with overhead projector and a chalk board. Detentions are more fun though. Emily Howard and Florance • David Walliams & Matt Lucas Emily and Florance are over the top rubbish transvestites. They go about their daily tasks trying to convince everyone, unsuccessfully, that they're ladies. Yet their clothing and hairstyles are ridiculous and Florance seems to be unaware he's still got mustache. Gary Lee and Jason • Matt Lucas & David Walliams Gary is a young lad who is completely oblivious to the fact that his friend Jason is completely, helplessly, head over heals, in love... with his nan. Harvey Pincher • David Walliams A grown man, who for some strange reason never got weened off breast feeding and no one in his family seems to care. However, things do get a bit embarrassing when Harvey decides to ask his Mum for what he calls 'Bitty' when his girlfriend Jane and her parents are visiting. Judy and Maggie • Matt Lucas & David Walliams Members of the Women's Institute who are very picky about who makes the cakes and biscuits they're asked to sample. Kenny Craig • Matt Lucas A stage hypnotist who, whilst going about his daily life, abuses his abilities to profit himself, or to get himself out of sticky situations. Usually however, it's his victim that has the last laugh. Linda • David Walliams Linda is a counsellor at the University of the North West Midlands who, whilst on the phone arranging help for students, will use the most insulting description possible to inform the person on the other end whom she is talking about. Lou Todd and Andy Pipkin • David Walliams & Matt Lucas Lou will gladly go to extreme lengths to help his mentally disabled and wheel chair bound friend Andy. Yet unknown to him, Andy is probably a lot smarter and more physically abled than he is himself. Marjorie Dawes • Matt Lucas Spin off character from Shooting Stars, Marjorie runs the Fat Fighters club and couldn't be less suited to do so. Apart from being overweight herself (although she insists she's her 'target weight'), she treats her pupils with the sensitivity of a bulldozer and her best dietary advice is to eat dust. Matthew Waterhouse • David Walliams Matthew constantly thinks up new ideas for important companies and people. Unfortunately most of his ideas are so ludicrous he never gets taken seriously. Mr. Mann and Roy the Shopkeeper • David Walliams & Matt Lucas A man who knows what he wants - exactly what he wants. He's precise down the last detail. Unfortunately for him, he never actually gets exactly what he wants. Roy and his unseen wife Margaret are the poor long suffering shopkeepers who seem to be cursed with Mr. Mann regardless of how many times they change their shop. Narrator • Tom Baker The best way to keep a show featuring a bunch of nut-cases together, is to have a complete nut-case presenting it. Behold the Little Britain narrator! Examples of bizarreness include spurious information about Britain, ambiguous information about himself, a time system based on names instead of numbers and a strange tendency to mispronounce the word 'meanwhile'. Peter Andre • David Walliams Ex-royal correspondent who wont give up his job as he is obsessed about Princess Anne. He's never allowed to get near her though as, apart from a string of pathetic excuses as to why he hasn't got a security pass, he's usually naked from the waist down. Pianist • David Walliams A concert pianist who has an annoying habit of stopping his recitals in the middle when he thinks he's forgotten something trivial. Prime Minister and Sebastian Love • Anthony Stewart Head & David Walliams The British leader goes about his daily tasks helplessly unaware that his assistant Sebastian has a crush on him and is jealous of everyone who comes into contact with him - which of course, being the Prime Minister, is quite often. Ray McCooney • David Walliams Ray runs a hotel, is almost as mad as Anne, and has an annoying habit of answering questions with a riddle. If you ask him a question, he'll usually go through his calendar telling you what his answer would have been had it been another day. Sir Bernard Chumley • Matt Lucas Sir Bernard is a retired actor, with a sinister lifestyle. He claims to look after his invalid sister Kitty, but eats the meals delivered to her and drama students claim they've never seen Bernard act but they have seen Kitty. Whatever happens, we're always left to dream up multiple excuses for Bernard's odd behaviour. Vicky Pollard • Matt Lucas A stereotype of all teenage girls personified. Vicky has the answer to everything. If she does something wrong (or even if she doesn't) her explanations are extremely rapid and long winded. She'll successfully shift the blame to everyone else, tell you to shut up and threaten you with a 'beatins' all without taking a breath. She's also under the delusion that all the males in her class secretly fancy her. Viv Tudor • Matt Lucas If Viv were a bloke, she'd be described as a womaniser of the shallowest type. Viv will incessantly describe any man she sees as 'Gaaawgeous!' which comes in less than useful when asked to describe suspects in a robbery.

Awards and Nominations BAFTA (2006) Nominated - Best Comedy Programme or Series (Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Geoff Posner, Declan Lowney) International Emmy Awards (2006) Won - Best Comedy UK (Little Britain) British Comedy Awards (2005) Won - Best TV Comedy (Little Britain) Won - Ronnie Barker Writers' award (David Walliams and Matt Lucas) Nominated - Best Actor (David Walliams and Matt Lucas) BAFTA (2005) Won - Best Comedy Performance (Matt Lucas, David Walliams), Comedy Programme or Series Award (Geoff Posner, Matt Lipsey, Matt Lucas, David Walliams) Nominated - Best Costume Design (Annie Hardinge) Best Make Up & Hair Design (Lisa Cavalli-Green) International Emmy Awards (2005) Nominated - Best Performance by an Actor (David Walliams) National Television Awards, UK (2005) Won - Most Popular Comedy. Royal Television Society, UK (2004) Won - Best Costume Design - Entertainment and Non Drama Productions (Annie Hardinge) Won - Best Make Up Design - Entertainment and Non Drama Productions (Lisa Cavalli-Green) BAFTA (2004) Nominated - Best Comedy Performance (Matt Lucas, David Walliams), Best Costume Design (Annie Hardinge), Comedy Programme or Series Award (Matt Lucas, David Walliams, Myfanwy Moore). Won - Best Make Up & Hair Design (Lisa Cavalli-Green) British Comedy Awards (2004) Won - Best TV Comedy, Best TV Comedy Actor (Matt Lucas, David Walliams), People's Choice Award. Broadcasting Press Guild Awards (2004) Won - Best Entertainment. National Television Awards, UK (2004) Won - Most Popular Comedy. Royal Television Society, UK (2004) Won - Best Comedy Performance (Matt Lucas & David Walliams), Best Entertainment. British Comedy Awards (2003) Won - Best Comedy Newcomer (David Walliams). Royal Television Society, UK (2003) Won - Best Make Up Design in Entertainment and Non-Drama Productions (Lisa Cavalli-Green).moreless
2
Shaun the Sheep

BBC

Aardman Animations creates a series focusing on the breakout star of Wallace & Gromit: A Close Shave: Shaun the Sheep. In this series, Shaun has many adventures the rest of his flock, the farm dog and other barnyard animals.moreless
3
Absolutely Fabulous

BBC

Sin Is In! This hit British comedy series began 1992 and remains one of the BBC's highest rated and most popular shows. Absolutely Fabulous follows the lives of three (and later four) generations of the Monsoon family and the people around them. It began as a short French & Saunders sketch with Jennifer Saunders in her familiar role as Edina and Dawn French playing her daughter. A pilot for the series was filmed with the comediennes in those respective roles but Julia Sawalha was cast to replace French. Add a dash of actress Joanna Lumley and the immensly popular and entertaining series was born. Wheel's on fire, Rolling down the road! Best notify my next of kin, This wheel shall explode!moreless
4
The Vicar of Dibley

BBC (ended 2007)

The Vicar of Dibley begins after the old Vicar Pottle dies, Dibley needs a suitable replacement for him. It would be assumed that they'd find a young interesting man but instead they get Geraldine Granger (Dawn French). She's not exactly the kind of person you'd expect for that sort of position, with her jokes and honest, yet sweet attitude. She quickly became popular with the people in Dibley, because of her enthusiasm and caring personality. Each episode uses the clashing of personalities, to bring great comedy. A lot of plots revolve around Geraldine and Alice Tinker (Emma Chambers) who is the Verger, and a good friend to Geraldine despite her complete lack of common sense. Other important characters include David Horton (Gary Waldhorn) the local councillor, who is amazingly full of himself, Hugo Horton (James Fleet) David's withdrawn son who is later married to Alice, Jim Trott (Trevor Peacock) who struggles to get out a full sentence, Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd Pack) a farmer who likes his animals alot, Letitia Cropley (Liz Smith) was an important character who's recipes would never be forgotten, however the character passed away in the Easter Special in 1996.moreless
5
As Time Goes By

BBC (ended 2002)

Army officer Lionel Hardcastle and nurse Jean Pargetter had a three-month affair in 1953. After Lionel is posted to Korea, the two lose touch when Lionel's letter to Jean fails to get delivered. Thirty-eight years later, they meet again. A sweetly charming situation comedy that ran for nine seasons. Best enjoyed with your feet up and with a cup of tea and some custard tarts at your side.moreless
6
The Graham Norton Show

BBC

Each week celebrity guests' join camp comedian, Graham Norton to discuss there latest projects and the celebrity gossip hitting the newstands during the week. Graham is often joined by a band or artist to play the show out with. The shows seventh series is currently airing on Monday nights at 10.35pm on BBC1.

Throughout series one the show was recorded on the Wednesday at 7pm before it's transmission at 10pm on the Thursday in Studio 2 at the London Studios. The show remained in the same timeslot throughout series 2, 10pm on Thursdays, however began to be recorded in it's current home the larger, studio 1 at the London Studios. Since series 6 the show has been recorded on Thursday nights.

Throughout the first three series Graham Norton Uncut aired late night on Sundays, which included fifteen minutes of extra footage. The show returned for a third series, changing to a earlier air time of 45 minutes at 9pm on Thursday 17th of April, the Uncut edition did not air the following Sunday. The week afterwards returned to the 10pm slot, with Uncut airing the Sunday afterwards. This changed again from May 22nd, with the full Uncut show airing from 9.45pm as well as the weekend repeat.

The fourth series of the show began airing at 10pm on the 2nd of October 2008, with the Uncut show airing late Sunday night, often early Monday mornings. The show changed timeslot from the 7th episode, moving from the original 10pm slot to 9.30pm.

The fifth series of the show began airing at 10pm on the 9th of March 2009, it ended it's run on May 29th 2009. The sixth series of the show began airing on October 5th 2009, it moved from BBC2 to BBC1, at 10.35pm on Monday nights, with a repeat late night on BBC Two at some point during the week. This series ended it's run on December 31st with a festive special. The seventh series of the show began airing on April 12th 2010, the BBC Two repeat airs on Tuesday nights. The series ended on June 28th 2010. The eighth series of the show shall see it move to Friday nights, into the slot previously occupied by Friday Night with Jonathan Ross. It is due to start airing on October 22nd 2010.moreless
7
New Tricks

BBC

New Tricks is a BBC television drama series which follows the work of the Metropolitan Police Service's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS). Led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman, it is made up of retired police officers who have been recruited to reinvestigate unsolved crimes.moreless
8
Outnumbered

BBC

BBC's family comedy following a beleaguered mother and father of three.
9
Last of the Summer Wine

BBC (ended 2010)

The longest running comedy series in the world started out, as many British comedy successes did, with a 1973 episode of the BBC series "Comedy Playhouse". The basis was simple but complex at the same time, telling the stories of three old men, who in all essence couldn't be more young at heart. The original trio consisted of Bill Owen, as Compo Simmonite, the scruffiest man in Yorkshire, with only two passions in life: his ferrets and Nora Batty (Kathy Staff). The second man of the group, Norman Clegg, played by Peter Sallis, was from the beginning shown as the most timid of the group, and also the one who gets carried away by the crazy ideas and schemes of his companions, which always seem to get him in trouble. Initially the third man of the group was Blamire, played by Michael Bates, but he was soon replaced by Foggy Dewhurst (Brian Wilde) who always seems to have a scheme or a story that somehow leads to his old days as a war hero... or so he says. In 1986 Brian Wilde left the series, to start filming his new sitcom, which proved to be a wrong move, as the show hadn't the success needed to sustain even a second series. during his 4 year absence from last of the summer wine Michael Aldridge played Seymour, the new third man of the trio, until 1990. Brian Wilde returned to do the next seven years of the show. When Brian Wilde left the series for the second time in 1997 Frank Thornton replaced him as the new third man on the trio as Truly Truelove of the Yard, an ex-police officer who's always remembering his past, both in the police force and in his former marriage to the former Mrs Truelove. When Bill Owen passed away, his son Tom joined the series, replacing him for the rest of the season as Compo's long lost son, Tom. Compo's permanent replacement would come the next year when Keith Clifford joined the cast as Billy Hardcastle, a man who fancies himself the descendant of Robin Hood. In 2003, the traditional trio became a quartet with the addition of Brian Murphy as Alvin Smedley, Nora Batty's new next door neigbour. With the addition of Alvin, an element of physical humour missing since Compo's death returned to the series. The quartet once again became a trio when Keith Clifford left the series in 2006. In 2009, the series was once again redesigned to allow Sallis and Thornton a reduced role on the series. A new third man was introduced in the form of Hobbo Hobdyke (Russ Abbott), a former milkman who fancies himself a former MI-5 agent. By combining Hobbo with Alvin and the electrical repairman, Entwistle (Burt Kwouk), a new trio was formed, proving once again the ability of the show to redesign itself over time. The main cast has always been surrounded by some amazing supporting cast throughout the run of the series, who helped to mantain the series as fresh today as it was when it premiered on the BBC.moreless
10
The Worst Week of My Life

BBC

Welcome to The Worst Week of My Life guide. Getting married should be the best experience of your life, but for Howard Steel it turns into the week from hell. There are just seven days to go before he marries Mel Cook in the beautiful grounds of her parent's house. The couple have a few last minute preparations to complete, like choosing up the ring, co-ordinating the stag and hen do and finalising the seating plan - what could possible go wrong? In September 2008 an American version of the show will premire on CBS.moreless
11
Jam and Jerusalem

BBC (ended 2009)

Comedy double act French & Saunders produced Jam and Jerusalem for the BBC. It was known under the name Clatterford in some international airings. When the show originally aired in the UK on BBC One, it aired in the 9.30pm Friday slot, however for series two, it moved to 8.30pm. The two Christmas specials have aired for 40 minutes, as part of the festive season and airtimes are listed at episode level. The third series of three episodes aired for a hour on Sundays at 8pm. The show was set in the small West Country town of Clatterford, St. Mary. The character-driven series took a look at the lives of the members of a neighbourhoods' Women's Guild. The title music which opened each episode was 'The Village Green Preservation Society', performed by folk singer Kate Rushby, who also provided alot of the incidental music throughout the series. Throughout her blog in November 2009, star of the show Pauline McLynn announced that the show would not be returning, although both French & Saunders were willing to continue with a new series.moreless
12
George Gently

BBC

George Gently is a BBC detective series starring Martin Shaw (Judge John Deed, The Professionals) and Lee Ingleby (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban) and based on the Inspector Gently novels by author Alan Hunter. The series takers place in 1960s-era Northumberland, and follows George Gently (Shaw) and his headstrong new partner John Bacchus (Ingleby) as they track down the culprits behind North England's unsolved mysteries. Inspector Gently is a legend of the police force, known for his relentless pursuit of the truth and undying passion for justice. When his wife is murdered by an infamous gangster named Joe Webster, Gently considers retiring from law enforcement. However, when Gently hears about a fresh case in Northumberland that might involve Webster, the old bloodhound can't help but take the case. Teamed with a young local sergeant who doesn't care about the rules, George Gently gets to the bottom of England's most challenging mysteries.moreless
13
My Family

BBC (ended 2011)

Meet the Harper family, who, on the face of it, seem quite normal; a married couple with 3 children. However, this family is far from normal. Ben is a Dentist who wishes he'd become a doctor. He frequently tries to understand his wife and kids, often with little success. He just cannot wait until his children have left home, something that unfortunately for Ben, never seems to happen. Played by Robert Lindsay. Susan is a tour guide in a museum, with her second failed passion being cooking. She knows how to get what she wants...even if Ben doesn't want it! Emotional blackmail is one of her strong points. Played by Zoe Wanamaker. Nick is definitely the joker of the family, who's main determination in life is to get a job and keep it for more than a few hours. He's been through several jobs, each one more surreal than the last, but ultimately he gets sacked anyway. He never loses his determination and seems happy with his lack of success, even though his father isn't. Played by Kris Marshall. Janey is your typical teenage girl with a selfish streak as big as her shopping list. Like Susan, she loves to get her own way. She made Ben and Susan Grandparents by a one-night stand at University, which lead to the birth of Kenzo and consequently her being expelled. Played by Daniela Denby-Ashe . Michael is the most intelligent and, he thinks, the most sane member of the family. He thinks of his family mostly as an oppression, permanently scaring him psychologically with their mad behaviour which he also blames for his lack of success with girlfriend relationships. It's unwise for another Harper to attempt to trick Michael, as he will always have the last laugh. Played by Gabriel Thomson. Abi is the daughter of a one of Ben's cousins. She's naive and about as bright as spent light bulb. She can never seem to do anything right but this isn't helped by the fact that most of the time she's completely oblivious she's doing anything wrong.Played by Siobhan Hayes from Series 3 onwards. Roger works in the dentist practice above Ben's and in many ways, without realising it, is Ben's arch nemesis. This is mainly because, like his love interest Abi, he's not very bright although unlike Abi, is quite irritating with it. Regardless of how often Ben makes it blatantly obvious he doesn't like Roger, it doesn't seem to faze him continuing to believe all is perfect with the world. Abi and Roger make the perfect couple if only either one of them would be honest about their feelings. (Played by Keiron Self from Series 4 onwards).moreless
14
Only Fools and Horses

BBC (ended 2003)

For 15 years, Brothers Derek 'Del boy' and Rodney Trotter of 'Trotters Independant Traders PLC' have entertained us both with Del's extreme optimism and scams and, quite simply, Rodney's facial expressions upon hearing those scams. Throughout the years, Grandad died and the equally funny Uncle Albert came to live with them, the brothers married and Del Boy had a son, Damien.moreless
15
The Invisibles

BBC (ended 2008)

Maurice Riley and Syd Woolsey are a pair of ex-thieves who, after living and hiding out in Spain for a while, decide to return to the UK and retire from their life of crime to a quiet Devon fishing village. When retired life proves too dull for them, and their money starts to run out, they inevitably find themselves pulled back to their old criminal ways.moreless
16
Have I Got News for You

BBC

"Have I Got News For You" is a long-running, satirical panel quiz, poking fun at the news stories of the past week. Each week two guests join team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, with a guest host presiding over the points.moreless
17
My Hero

BBC (ended 2006)

George Sunday is leading a double life. When he is not running a health-food shop and living happily in a tiny suburban flat with his wife, Janet, he is the world's most famous superhero, Thermoman. Learning to with problems that arise because he is not familiar with customs on Earth presents many humourous dilemmas and delightful conflicts because George is often too honest and takes everything too literally.moreless
18
Friday Night with Jonathan Ross

BBC (ended 2010)

With a cheeky gag never too far away and a wit sharper than his own suits, don't expect the guests to get an easy ride on the way to plugging their latest film, book, session in rehab or range of underpants. Funny, likeable and unlike any other chat show host, if you get to sit with Jonathan you're doing something right. Either that, or you're just Ricky Gervais.moreless
19
Shakespeare Retold

BBC

Shakespeare Retold is a dramatic four-part TV series developed by BBC One that focuses on a modern adaptation of four of William Shakespeare's beloved plays. David Nicholls's Much Ado About Nothing moves the romantic intrigue from Messina to a local news studio with the bickering couple of Beatrice (Sarah Parish) and Benedick (Damian Lewis) as its anchors and the lovely but gullible Hero (Billie Piper) tries to cope with her engagement to Claude (Tom Ellis) and the unwanted attentions of Don (Derek Riddell). Peter Moffat's Macbeth follows the jealousies and uprisings within the world of celebrity chefs as Joe Macbeth (James McAvoy), a sous chef, deals with his credit-taking boss Duncan Docherty (Vincent Regan), his power-hungry wife Ella (Keeley Hawes), and the righteous Peter Macduff (Richard Armitage). Sally Wainwright takes on The Taming of the Shrew to a political realm when an abrasive career politician, Katherine Minola (Shirley Henderson), is pushed to marry a penniless nobleman Petruchio (Rufus Sewell) because it would be good for her career. Lastly, in Peter Bowker's A Midsummer Night's Dream the whole world turns upside down when an engagement party turns disastrous for Hermia (Zoe Tapper) and James (William Ash) as her true love Xander (Rupert Evans) crashes the party while security guard Nick Bottom (Johnny Vegas) tries to finagle his way into the limelight.moreless
20
Comic Relief

BBC

Comic Relief is the BBCs biennial fund raising event, which raises millions for the charity of the same name. The charity supports people suffering both in the UK and the third world.
Comic Relief began on Christmas Day 1985 with a fund raising event on the BBC's Late, Late Breakfast Show hosted by Noel Edmonds. More live events followed until finally Comic Relief was allowed to take over the BBCs main channel on February 5th 1988 for the first of the 'Red Nose Day' variety shows. The result has been a phenomenal success, gaining national cult status and taking over the normal lifestyles of millions of people who pull out all the stops to do something seriously daft for charity and put their hands in their pockets for a good cause. The most common thing to see in the UK, in the run up to Red Nose day, is the Red Nose itself which has taken on many different forms over the past 20 years.
The effect of Comic Relief's variety show cannot be understated, raising the total raised from £15 million in 1985 to £337 million in 2003 and all of it goes to charity.
Each 6-hour show is an amalgamation of hundreds of TV Celebrities, Comedians and Musicians work, as they all pull together to partly amuse the British public, but most importantly make sure we know exactly why they're doing it. Regular film inserts are featured demonstrating the poor lifestyles people suffer and what we, the viewers can do about it. Celebrities like Lenny Henry, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Billy Connelly, Victoria Wood and Davina McCall deliberately subject themselves to poverty and famine in Ethiopia and other third world countries to create devastatingly real and poignant accounts of what the more unfortunate people around the world have to put up with every day of their lives.
This isn't just a show, it's a national institution and without it, there would be a lot more people a lot worse off around the world today.moreless
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