Little Britain

Little Britain is a BBC radio and television sketch show written by and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. The original series debuted on BBC Radio 4 in 2001, running for two short series of five and four half-hour episodes respectively. In 2003, the show began as a television series on the BBC's digital-only channel BBC 3, running to 8 episodes. Most of the TV material was adapted from the original radio sketches, but there were also some original sketches featuring new recurring characters. Due to the success of the series, the first series was repeated on the mainstream channel BBC 2. Although reactions to the series were mixed, many critics were enthusiastic, and the show was recommissioned for another series. Interestingly, unlike many radio-based successes which have crossed over to television, it is understood that a new radio series of the programme is also planned. A second TV series featuring several new characters began on BBC 3 on October 19, 2004, and due to the show's popularity the scheduled repeat run was "promoted" to BBC 1, starting on December 3, 2004, guaranteeing higher ratings. However, the repeat showing did not feature material from the original run deemed too offensive for the BBC 1 audience.

Related Topics:
BBC - Radio - Television - Sketch show - Matt Lucas - David Walliams - BBC Radio 4 - 2001 - 2003 - BBC 3 - BBC 2 - October 19 - 2004 - BBC 1 - December 3

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A compilation of sketches from the first radio series was released on CD, later followed by the complete first series (presumably by public demand). Radio 4 began a rerun of all 9 episodes in February 2004. Unusually, this overlapped with a rerun on digital radio channel BBC 7 of the first 5 that began in mid-March. In June–July 2004 BBC 7 broadcast the remaining 4.

Related Topics:
CD - Rerun - February 2004 - Digital radio - BBC 7 - March - June - July

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A DVD of the first TV series was released in December 2004 in the UK, as well as a book: The Complete Scripts and Stuff: Series One. In January 2005 a half-hour episode was specially commissioned and released on DVD in aid of the Comic Relief charity fundraising event. The episode featured cameos from Elton John, Robbie Williams, Simon Callow, Trisha Goddard and George Michael and was broadcast on 11 March 2005. It was reported that a request by 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.

Related Topics:
DVD - January 2005 - Comic Relief - Elton John - Robbie Williams - Simon Callow - Trisha Goddard - George Michael - 11 March - 2005 - Tony Blair - General election

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The show is aired in the United States by BBC America http://www.bbcamerica.com/genre/comedy_games/little_britain/little_britain.jsp and in Canada by BBC Canada.

Related Topics:
United States - BBC America - Canada - BBC Canada

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The name is a modification of the term 'Little England'.

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A third series is in production for the autumn/winter 2005 BBC line-up. New characters include a middle-aged man and his young Thai girlfriend Ting-Tong.

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