Dead Ringers
- Radio sketch show
- BBC Radio 4
- 2000 - 2024
- 156 episodes (25 series)
Satirical impressionist show mocking the great and good, from politicians to those familar voices on Radio 4. Stars Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey, Lewis Macleod, Debra Stephenson and more.
- Due to return for Series 26
Key details
- Genre
- Sketch Show
- Broadcast
- 2000 - 2024
- Channel
- BBC Radio 4
- Episodes
- 156 (25 series), plus 5 highlights / drama special
- Creator
- Bill Dare
- Stars
- Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey, Lewis Macleod, Debra Stephenson, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly, Mark Perry and more
- Writers
- Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Tom Coles, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Duncan Wisbey, Ed Amsden and more
- Producers
- Bill Dare, Mario Stylianides, Danny Wallace, Katie Tyrrell, Katie Marsden and Adam Bromley
- Company
Dead Ringers is an impressionist show with a satirical bite.
Regular victims in the original series - which starred Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phil Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry - included Tony Blair, who keeps referring to his physical mannerisms; an almost totally incoherent Robin Cook; and the gaff-strewn speeches of George W. Bush.
As well as mocking politicians, Dead Ringers also makes fun of other Radio 4 programmes and personalities. Regular victims include the cast of The Archers, the (now no-longer running) patronising children's show Go4It, the surprisingly adult adventures of Alan Bennett and Thora Hird, and the most feared man on in the world, the bloodthirsty "Godfather of Radio 4", announcer Brian Perkins.
The episodes also feature a range of hoax calls, most of them involving the voice of the Tom Baker version of Doctor Who.
After 7 years off-air, the show returned in 2014 with a new cast of characters, and new cast members. Now, once again, no one is safe from merciless parody as the show aims to take down every programme, institution and politician you hold dear.
Catch-up
Additional details
- Production
- Studio
Website links
- BBC Radio 4 Homepage
The Radio 4 homepage for the show. - BBC Homepage
The homepage for both the radio and television versions of Dead Ringers. - Wikipedia
Broadcast details
- First broadcast
- Friday 7th January 2000 at 6:30pm on BBC Radio 4
- Most recent repeats
-
- Monday 25th November 2024 at 11:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 25, Episode 4
- Saturday 23rd November 2024 at 12:30pm on Radio 4 - Series 25, Episode 4
- Monday 18th November 2024 at 11:00pm on Radio 4 Extra - Series 25, Episode 3
Recording details
- BBC Radio Theatre
- RADA Studios
- Venue Cymru - 2018 episode
- The Comedy Store (London) - 2019 Xmas Special
- Zoom (Virtual)
- The Cockpit (Marylebone) - Series 22
- Bush Theatre - Series 23
- Hay Festival - Series 24