Little Britain - The TV.Series
Created | Updated Sep 8, 2007
"Britain. Britain. Britain. Land of technological achievment.
We've had running water for over ten years, an underground station linked to Peru and we invented the cat."
- Tom Baker.
Little Britain is a comedy sketch show written and performed by Matt Lucas and David Walliams. The award winning TV series started out as a radio series on BBC Radio 4, when it won a Sony Award the first time it has appeared on radio. Since then, Little Britain has already become a classic. Although the name comes from the term 'Little Englander', there is a place in New York, a song by technopop mid 90's band Dreadzone, a Street in London, an old term for Brittainy in France and a place in Warwickshire all called Little Britain.
The diverse characters and memorable catchphrases are already household names. Here are just a few of them.
Vicky Pollard
Juvenile delinquent Vicky Polllard ("No but yeah but no")1 can not shut up and often the nemesis of many teachers and social workers,she orders snakebite, stubs out cigarettes and always denies responsibility for anything. Played by Matt Lucas.Marjorie Dawes
Evil FatFighters group leader Marjorie Dawes ("Have a bit of dust")always disparaging to her terrified group. gives out handy tips like "Dust is low in fat so you can have as much as you like" or motivational hints like "Picture yourself naked. Not nice is it, eh? Who the hell would want a great lump?" Her group includes Paul, Dave (whom Marjorie mistakenly refers to as Johansen), Sue, Meera (whom Marjorie calls either Moira,Mary, or My Lovely Asian friend. Marjorie appears to be racist to her because she always needs something repeating to haer because of her accent although she is very easy to understand), Tanya and Jenny.
Marjorie is a huge believer in eating dust, because 'dust is very low in fat so you can have as much dust as you like'. Her oddest diet is called 'The Half-the-calories diet', in volving cutting food in half, and because it is only half the calories, you can have twice as much. Unfortunately, her diets don't seem to work. She does claim to be her target weight, although she is 15 stone. She often bullies her members, as well as her special guests, including spitting on Vanessa Felts. Marjorie originally appeared in Lucas and Walliams' comedy panel game Shooting Stars.
Played by Matt Lucas.
Emily Howard
'Rubbish' transvestite Emily Howard ("I am a lady!")runs a guest house in the town of Old Haven. She welcomes anybody to her house, but treat her like a lady or she will get very upset.You can find her doing all manner of ladylike things, but if you catch her in her bedroom you might see her using barbells. Played by David Walliams, now with transvestite friend Florence, played by Matt Lucas.Daffyd Thomas
Welshman Daffyd Thomas (I am the only gay in the villiage)is a Comitted 'Homosexualist' living in the town of Llanddewi Brefi.Proud of his sexuality,he shows it off with a range of rubber outfits. But Daffyd will get angry if any other gays trespass on his town because he will not accept the fact that he is not the only gay in the village. Played by Matt LucasLou and Andy
Put-upon helper Lou ("This is a right kerfuffle") spends his days helping his wheelchair-bound friend Andy ("Yeah I know")who is monosyllabic and always changes his mind after a sure decision.But Lou is oblivious that Andy is able to climb, walk and even dive when he wants to. Lou Reed played by David Walliams. Andy Pipkin played by Matt Lucas.Writer/Performer - Matt Lucas
In 1992, Matt Lucas made his comedy debut on the London stand-up comedy circuit at the age of eighteen appearing as the character Sir Bernard Chumley. Since then he has had a long association with Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer, talent spotted by them five weeks after his first gig. He worked with Vic and Bob on It's Ulrika, Bang Bang It's Reeves and Mortimer, Randall and Hopkirk Deceased,The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer, and Catterick.
In 1994 he played The Edinburgh festival, returning with longtime collaborator David Walliams with Bernard Chumley and Friends. He then embarked on four series of BAFTA winning Shooting Stars as George Dawes, the giant drumming baby with 'the scores'.
His series with Walliams 'Rock Profiles' won them a increasing audience but they really struck gold with Little Britain which has been a massive success. They won Best Comedy Show and Performance Gongs at The 2004 Royal Television Society Awards and a BAFTA for Best Comedy Series.
The original Radio 4 Series won a Sony Silver Award.
Lucas has also written for a number of newspapers, publications and comedians including Ali G. He has had a cameo role in Shaun of the Dead and played Leigh Bowery in the original cast of Taboo, the Boy George-scripted musical.
Writer/Performer - David Walliams
David Walliams met Matt Lucas at the National Youth Theatre, where the two were brought together by their shared love of Reeves and Mortimer.
He graduated from Bristol University and in 1995, he teamed up with Matt after being a scriptwriter, stand-up comedian and children's T.V presenter.
He has appeared on the drama Attachments,The League of Gentlemen, Spaced, Rock Profiles but is best known, along with Lucas, with Little Britain.
He and Lucas took their Sir Bernard Chumley and Friends show to The Edinburugh Festival in 1995, returning in 1996 and 1997. Then, they embarked on a sell-out UK tour throughout 1997 and appeared at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival 2 years later.
In September 2003, the Radio Series Little Britain became an eight episode TV Series on BBC Three, with a repeat on BBC 2.The show was so popular, it was 'promoted' to BBC 1, although the too offensive bits were cut out. The show has won numerous gongs and Walliams won The Best Comedy Newcomer Award at the 2003 British Comedy Awards. Although admitting that he is not a newcomer, he is proud of achieving it and said that it has got a pride of place on the mantlepiece.
The Third Series is coming out very soon, with new characters such as a woman obsessed with frogs named Ledley and a Thai Bride called Ting-Tong, the wrong bride whom Dudley wished to order. A new radio series is planned as well.
Written and performed by Matt Lucas and David Walliams with hillarious narration by Tom Baker.
