The BBC Radio 4 Spoof Comedy Series

A Look Back at the Future

Brian Perkins and Kate Robbins &lsquo;remember&rsquo; 21st Century years yet to happen in this futuristic 1994 comedy showFirst broadcast (with the aid of a crystal ball) in summer 1994, the Sony Award-winning show returns for a second series starring the &lsquo;Godfather of Radio 4&rsquo;, Brian Perkins, and Spitting Image impressionist Kate Robbins. This time, they turn their comic gaze on six roller-coaster years from the 21st Century: 2001, 2005, 2010, 2021, 2025 and 2099.Among the extraordinary events of this turbulent era were the invention of the Telepathone, the first ego transplant, the rise of the Church of the Latter Day Agnostics, and America&rsquo;s invasion of Narnia. So strap in for a thrilling trip back to the extraordinary, turbulent era when &lsquo;Toddler Power&rsquo; ran rampant, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party became the breakthrough third force in British politics &ndash; and time ran backwards&hellip;Predicted by Spitting Image writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair &ndash; who also play supporting roles in the sketches &ndash; this sharp, satirical show features special guest comedians Jeremy Hardy, John O&rsquo; Farrell, Griff Rhys Jones, Tony Hawks, Nigel Planer and Hugh Dennis.Cast and creditsStarring Brian Perkins and Kate RobbinsSpecial guests: Jeremy Hardy, John O&rsquo;Farrell, Griff Rhys Jones, Tony Hawks, Nigel Planer, Hugh DennisPredicted by Spitting Image writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete SinclairProduced by Caroline LeddyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:2001 9 July 19942005 16 July 19942010 23 July 19942021 30 July 19942025 6 August 19942099 13 August 1994&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Brian Perkins and Kate Robbins &lsquo;remember&rsquo; 21st Century years yet to happen in this futuristic 1994 comedy show 
 
First broadcast (with the aid of a crystal ball) in summer 1994, the Sony Award-winning show returns for a second series starring the &lsquo;Godfather of Radio 4&rsquo;, Brian Perkins, and Spitting Image impressionist Kate Robbins. This time, they turn their comic gaze on six roller-coaster years from the 21st Century: 2001, 2005, 2010, 2021, 2025 and 2099. 
 
Among the extraordinary events of this turbulent era were the invention of the Telepathone, the first ego transplant, the rise of the Church of the Latter Day Agnostics, and America&rsquo;s invasion of Narnia. So strap in for a thrilling trip back to the extraordinary, turbulent era when &lsquo;Toddler Power&rsquo; ran rampant, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party became the breakthrough third force in British politics &ndash; and time ran backwards&hellip; 
 
Predicted by Spitting Image writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair &ndash; who also play supporting roles in the sketches &ndash; this sharp, satirical show features special guest comedians Jeremy Hardy, John O&rsquo; Farrell, Griff Rhys Jones, Tony Hawks, Nigel Planer and Hugh Dennis. 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Brian Perkins and Kate Robbins 
Special guests: Jeremy Hardy, John O&rsquo;Farrell, Griff Rhys Jones, Tony Hawks, Nigel Planer, Hugh Dennis 
Predicted by Spitting Image writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair 
Produced by Caroline Leddy 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
2001 9 July 1994 
2005 16 July 1994 
2010 23 July 1994 
2021 30 July 1994 
2025 6 August 1994 
2099 13 August 1994 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

A BBC Radio 4 political comedy satire

Little Blighty on the Down: Series 1-5

All five series of the political satirical soap opera set in the strangely familiar village of Little Blighty - plus Christmas Specials 
 
'A comic microcosm of a country not a million miles away' Radio Times 
 
Little Blighty is an idyllic part of the world, with a church, a market, a small school and a pub, The Cock and Bull. Village life is pretty uneventful, though the humdrum happenings include social turmoil, economic upheaval and vicious political squabbles - all presided over by the redoubtable head of the Parish Council and Secretary of the Rotarians, Mrs Roberts. 
 
This formidable lady has been running things for nine years: despite the best efforts of the leader of the opposition, Working Men's Club chairman Mr Blandish. He's desperate for his members to present a united front against Mrs Roberts, but unfortunately they're too busy fighting amongst themselves. 
 
The doctor's surgery is overcrowded, the river's polluted, the school is fiddling the exam results and the local market's under threat from cheap imports, but nothing seems to dent Mrs Roberts' popularity - until she introduces a conveyance charge across the village bridge. Could the 'Toll Tax' finally be her downfall? 
 
Also included are three festive Specials, The Blighty Chronicles, It's A Wonderful Blight and Dead of Blight, in which the village's rich history is staged; a guardian angel visits Little Blighty; and we attend Lord and Lady Spenney's Christmas party, where we hear some bloodcurdling supernatural tales... 
 
Scripted by Spitting Image writers John O'Farrell, Mark Burton and Mike Coleman, and first broadcast in 1988, this 'everyday story of a country folk' is a pitch-perfect parody of the British political landscape in the late '80s and early '90s - and remains surprisingly topical today. It is performed by a star cast including Jo Kendall, Andrew Sachs, Nick Hancock, Michael Troughton and Alistair McGowan. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Mike Coleman 
Produced by David Tyler and Lissa Evans 
Performed by Jo Kendall, John Bluthal, Andrew Sachs, Nick Hancock, Bernadine Corrigan, Daniel Strauss, Michael Troughton, John Baddeley, Jonathan Kydd and Alistair McGowan 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 2-16 September 1988 (Series 1), 21 July-18 August 1989 (Series 2), 29 December 1989 (The Blighty Chronicles), 6 July-3 August 1990 (Series 3), 5 July-2 August 1991 (Series 4), 26 December 1991 (It's A Wonderful Blight), 10 July-7 August 1992 (Series 5), 31 December 1992 (Dead of Blight) 
 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

All five series of the political satirical soap opera set in the strangely familiar village of Little Blighty- plus Christmas Specials 
 
'A comic microcosm of a country not a million miles away' Radio Times 
 
Little Blighty is an idyllic part of the world, with a church, a market, a small school and a pub, The Cock and Bull. Village life is pretty uneventful, though the humdrum happenings include social turmoil, economic upheaval and vicious political squabbles - all presided over by the redoubtable head of the Parish Council and Secretary of the Rotarians, Mrs Roberts. 
 
This formidable lady has been running things for nine years: despite the best efforts of the leader of the opposition, Working Men's Club chairman Mr Blandish. He's desperate for his members to present a united front against Mrs Roberts, but unfortunately they're too busy fighting amongst themselves. 
 
The doctor's surgery is overcrowded, the river's polluted, the school is fiddling the exam results and the local market's under threat from cheap imports, but nothing seems to dent Mrs Roberts' popularity - until she introduces a conveyance charge across the village bridge. Could the 'Toll Tax' finally be her downfall? 
 
Also included are three festive Specials, The Blighty Chronicles, It's A Wonderful Blight and Dead of Blight, in which the village's rich history is staged; a guardian angel visits Little Blighty; and we attend Lord and Lady Spenney's Christmas party, where we hear some bloodcurdling supernatural tales... 
 
Scripted by Spitting Image writers John O'Farrell, Mark Burton and Mike Coleman, and first broadcast in 1988, this 'everyday story of a country folk' is a pitch-perfect parody of the British political landscape in the late '80s and early '90s - and remains surprisingly topical today. It is performed by a star cast including Jo Kendall, Andrew Sachs, Nick Hancock, Michael Troughton and Alistair McGowan. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Mike Coleman 
Produced by David Tyler and Lissa Evans 
Performed by Jo Kendall, John Bluthal, Andrew Sachs, Nick Hancock, Bernadine Corrigan, Daniel Strauss, Michael Troughton, John Baddeley, Jonathan Kydd and Alistair McGowan 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 2-16 September 1988 (Series 1), 21 July-18 August 1989 (Series 2), 29 December 1989 (The Blighty Chronicles), 6 July-3 August 1990 (Series 3), 5 July-2 August 1991 (Series 4), 26 December 1991 (It's A Wonderful Blight), 10 July-7 August 1992 (Series 5), 31 December 1992 (Dead of Blight) 
 
 
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Mark Burton

John O'Farrell

Pete Sinclair

Brian Perkins

Kate Robbins

Chris Barrie

Hugh Dennis

Steve Coogan

Jack Dee

Rory Bremner

The Complete Series of the Award-Winning BBC Radio 4 Comedy

The 1993 series that sees Brian Perkins and Kate Robbins 'looking back' at the decade that was yet to happen 
 
Newsreader and &lsquo;Godfather of Radio 4&rsquo; Brian Perkins and Spitting Image impressionist Kate Robbins star in this Sony Award-winning satirical show, set on New Year&rsquo;s Eve at the turn of the millennium. As the Nineties come to a close, they recall the tumultuous, earth-shattering events of the years 1994-1999. 
 
Join them as they revisit when the House of Commons voted for an Honesty Act; Blue Peter launched an appeal with a twist; the media&rsquo;s attention turned to an unusual new breed of dog; The Archers went on strike; the Hubble space telescope discovered a new star sign and young people thrilled to an exciting new musical style blending dub reggae and horse-racing commentary&hellip; 
 
Predicted using a crystal ball in 1993, this futuristic show was foretold by Spitting Image writers Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair, who also performed alongside special guests Chris Barrie, Hugh Dennis, Steve Coogan, Jack Dee, Rory Bremner and Alistair McGowan. 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Brian Perkins and Kate Robbins 
Written and performed by Mark Burton, John O'Farrell and Pete Sinclair 
Special guests: Chris Barrie, Hugh Dennis, Steve Coogan, Jack Dee, Rory Bremner and Alistair McGowan 
Produced by Caroline Leddy 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
 
1995 10 July 1993 
1996 17 July 1993 
1997 24 July 1993 
1998 31 July 1993 
1999 7 August 1993 
1994 31 December 1993 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Books by Mark Burton

Series by Mark Burton

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