Little Britain - Series Info

Information on the hit UK TV comedy series from the BBC, Little Britain

This page contains information on 'Little Britain', the hit BBC TV sitcom. It contains some useful information on the series, info on the DVD releases and a brief episode listing.

Little Britain is a small and surreal parallel universe peopled by over-the-top eccentrics, lunatics and social misfits. In Little Britain, you'll meet Vicky Pollard, the gloriously incoherent trailer trash teenager, and Emily Howard, the world's least convincing transvestite. Then there's Andy, sitting all day in his wheelchair, painstakingly looked after by Lou, who has no idea his friend can walk.
Little Britain presents the breathtaking debris of modern life—all the mad, bad, quirky and generally crazy people who populate the fringe of British society.

Starting life on BBC Radio, the double act of Matt Lucas and David Walliams created an impressive collection of characters that made the transition to TV in 2003. The TV series started as a fairly unknown entity, but now has snuck its way into the culture as a popular mainstream British comedy, with many of the catchphrases being instantly recognisable, such as "yeah, but, no, but yeah", "I want that one" and "the only gay in the village"

You'll need a slightly odd sense of humour to be a fan of this series, but it does grow on you, and there's some truly funny moments tucked in between the more obvious sketches. Specials for us are the Tom Baker off-the-wall narration, and the tiny Dennis Waterman, who'll write the theme toon, sing the theme toon...

"Little Britain - Complete First Series" - DVD Review The Series 1 DVD of Little Britain is a little treasure chest containing 225 minutes of uniquely Little Britain material. Here's a quick look at what's on the disks: All eight episodes of the first series are included, and tempting though it is, we'd recommend that you curb your enthusiasm and don't try to do the whole lot in one sitting - It's a little like overdosing on Monty Python - after two or three episodes on the trot, the brain starts to get acclimatised, and the shows take on a surreal kind of predictability - we'd advise you watch in short doses... in that way, you can really get the most of what Lucas and Walliams are offering. Many of the situations reoccur in each episode and taken collectively, it the same joke played in a number of different ways (take Lou and Andy's "I want that one" as an example), but with Little Britain, it's not so much about the verbal puns and the situation, but the effort and attention to detail that've gone into the writing, production and the acting. There are also a fair number of below-the-surface comedy moments too, that are well worth looking out for. Watch closely! Obviously, anyone buying the DVD is probably doing so for the episodes themselves, but for us in the Radio & Telly office, the extras on the DVD are the gems here - some comedy DVD releases contain half a dozen outtakes and a commentary if you're lucky, but this DVD really is packed with a strong collection of impressive extras, such as: Pilot episode: This is a full episode, and shows many of the regular characters "under construction", with some of the faces we've come to know in a raw state (such as the Scottish hotelier, fat-fighter Marjorie, Emily Howard, and a different granny). Shame amount the laughter track though... Deleted scenes: An impressive 45 minutes of extra scenes, with highlights including the St Tom's Ambulance chaps at a hearing, good news at the Cancer charity, Kenny Craig hypnotising at the scene of an accident, and the man who wants to meet the Royal Family (Keith Harris & Paul Daniels) imposter. Commentary: From Matt Lucas & David Walliams - on the episodes, pilot & deleted scenes. Commentaries also include producer Myfanwy Moore and director Steve Bendelack. Behind the scenes documentary: A look at what goes into putting an episode together - a 35 minute insight into how the show is make (before a live audience), including a look at how the original radio shows were recorded, and how they do the Dennis Waterman bits . Little Britain survey: What does Britain mean to the characters of Little Britain? Hilarious 5 minute extra created for the DVD release . The BBC3 splodges: Two TV station idents voiced by Matt & David. Live sketches: Performances for the live Teenage Cancer Trust - 15 minutes of sketches, with an intro from Alan Partridge. Interviews: Matt & David on the Jonathan Ross Show (12 mins), and a 30 minute radio interview on BBC's 5 Live. Best of Rock Profiles :What the stars got up to before Little Britain. Finally, check out each disk's character profile for a few extra extras (esp. Andy & Lou on disk 1) The producers are to be commended on a cracking collection of Lil' Britain material. We reviewed the US version of the DVD (Little Britain has been running on BBC America, and now has a large following outside of the UK(, and we can't help wondering how this series reflects on how Britain is viewed... would visitors be disappointed? We may not have invented the cat (as Tom Baker announces in one of the series intro), but we are home of many of the best comedy series in the world. Regardless of your comedy tastes, there'll be plenty to make you smile in Little Britain, and we can highly recommend this feature-packed DVD. The Series 1 2-disc DVD is available from Amazon.co.uk & Play.com. For the US version reviewed here, go to Amazon.com

Series 1 episode listing

Episode 1
At the comprehensive school in Darkley Noone, straw-brained, squawking schoolgirl Vicky Pollard explains why she hasn't done her essay on Lord Kitchener. Inside 10 Downing Street, Prime Minister Michael is meeting with handsome new Treasury aide, Gregory Merchant, until jealous Sebastian interrupts the meeting. Transvestite Emily Howard escapes from the rain in a seaside pub.

Episode 2
At the newsagent, Dafydd Thomas is astounded to discover that someone has bought his copy of Gay Times. Andy insists on wearing his Smurf outfit to a smart Chinese restaurant. Vicky Pollard is accused of pushing a little girl into the swimming pool. Inside No 10 Downing Street, Sebastian is not happy when his opinion poll results briefing is interrupted by Prime Minister Michael's wife. At Flatley psychiatric institution, inmate Anne is disrupting all Dr Lawrence's attempts to show an inspector round. Starsky and Hutch celebrity 'David Soul' makes a hospital visit, and Marjorie Dawes introduces her class to the FatFighters Slimmer of the Year, Cliff Roberts.

Episode 3
After a disastrous by-election, Prime Minister Michael is going through the morning papers with his aide, Sebastian. Vicky and her mates are trying to order drinks in a pub, despite being obviously underage and without ID. Stage hypnotist Kenny Craig uses his powers to win at Scrabble while visiting his mother in hospital. At Fatfighters, Marjorie Dawes delights in telling the class all the most embarrassing details about a new member, her sister Barbara.

Episode 4
Transvestite Emily Howard is in denial when asked to cover her testicles for an x-ray. Vicky Pollard ends up in court, where her incomprehensible mutterings make no sense to the judge and jury. In a dance studio, Sandra Patterson watches anxiously as her nine-year-old son Ralph auditions for a commercial. Visiting her mother in hospital, Marjorie Dawes tries to persuade the doctor to put her into an old people's home. Royal reporter Peter André gets a dressing down from his BBC producer for a very odd item on last night's news.

Episode 5
At the Paul Young Offenders Institution, Vicky Pollard has been summoned to the governess's office for biting another inmate in the canteen. Prime Minister Michael is holding a press conference at No 10 on the disgraced Foreign Secretary's resignation. At Kelsey Grammar a young pupil gets career advice from a robot. The Queen is hosting a garden party but Peter André, Royal Correspondent for the BBC, cannot get in without an invitation. Former Olympic silver medallist Denver Mills is giving out less-exalted medals on Downey Junior School's prize-giving day.

Episode 6
Inside 10 Downing Street, Sebastian cannot remain silent when Prime Minister Michael tackles the Chancellor of the Exchequer about his leadership ambitions. At a visit to the doctor Vicky Pollard learns to her amazement that she is eight months pregnant. Retired athlete Denver Mills gives a speech at the Annual Police Federation Dinner. FatFighters leader Marjorie Dawes meets a client in her local supermarket. Psychiatrist Dr Lawrence's family have a special guest staying with them this weekend – his craziest patient, Anne. And Andy and Lou are planning a holiday.

Episode 7
Teenage mother Vicky Pollard tells her social worker that she's swapped her baby for a Westlife CD. Marjorie Dawes tries to forget her one-night-stand with FatFighter Paul. Andy needs to choose a colour so Lou can paint his room. Horrified at the numbers that have arrived, Dafydd cancels gay night at Llandewi Breffi's local pub. Nine-year-old child actor Ralph Patterson auditions for a production of Bugsy Malone, while mum Sandra attempts to get rid of the opposition. Meanwhile in politics, it's party conference time and late at night in his hotel room, Prime Minister Michael is making some final changes to his big speech.

Episode 8
Transvestite Emily Howard gives a broken-down van driver some most unfeminine help. Dafydd is dismayed when barmaid Myfanwy admits that she too is gay. Vicky Pollard is invited back to her old school as a reformed character. Romantic novelist Dame Sally is dictating her latest oeuvre to Miss Grace, while a traffic report is on the radio. Marjorie Dawes is not amused that Mrs Harrison from FatFighters head office is checking up on her. Jason calls on his friend Gary's grandmother, bearing gifts of ice cream, a video of 91/2 Weeks and lubricating jelly. And Andy does a spot of shoplifting when Lou takes him to the supermarket.

Availability: Series 1 DVD is available from Amazon.co.uk and Play.com . Series 2 DVD became available in the UK in October 2005. Details at Amazon.co.uk and Play.com . Series 3 DVD became available in the UK in September 2006. Details at Amazon.co.uk and Play.com . Also... Find out where it all started - The Little Britain Radio Series is available on CD from Amazon - also available for immediate download from Audible.co.uk

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