Lead Balloon (BBC Sitcom, Jack Dee)

Sitcom Lead Balloon focused on Rick Spleen (Jack Dee), a once popular comedian now reduced to the odd corporate gig and occasional guest spot on TV panel shows. Rick is beset by problems on all sides – all of which are generally of his own making.

Making up Rick’s world are his writing partner Marty (Sean Power), definitely not quite right cafe owner Michael (Tony Gardner), “unheppy” house-keeper Magda (Anna Crilly), his daughter Sam (Antonia Campbell-Hughes) and her dopey boyfriend Ben (Rasmus Hardiker) and Rick’s long suffering wife and successful agent Mel (Racquel Cassidy).

Superbly funny Lead Balloon probably never quite got the kudos it deserved, Dee is pretty much playing to type here but he is so good at it!

Lead Balloon started life on digital only Channel BBC4 before getting a quick repeat (whilst the show was still on) on BBC2, series two went straight to BBC2.

Cast: JACK DEE as Rick Spleen; RAQUEL CASSIDY as Mel; SEAN POWER as Marty; TONY GARDNER as Michael; ANNA CRILLY as Magda; ANTONIA CAMPBELL-HUGHES as Sam; RASMUS HARDIKER as Ben

Writers: Jack Dee, Pete Sinclair / Theme Tune: One Way Road, written by Noel Gallagher and sung by Paul Weller.

UK / BBC-4 and BBC-2 / 27×30 minutes / Broadcast 4 October 2006 – 5 July 2011

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