Sean Power

Lead Balloon star claims he's been ripped off

The co-star of Jack Dee sitcom Lead Balloon claims he has been ripped off over the new BBC pilot Chinese Burn.

Sean Power previously worked with stars Yennis Cheung and Shin-Fei Ching developing a similar web series called Chinese Girls In London.

Another desperate bid to salvage his career sees Rick (Jack Dee) take a presenting job on a downmarket shopping channel - much to his wife Mel's (Raquel Cassidy) bemusement, and writing-partner Marty's (Sean Power) unconcealed disdain. On the other hand, housekeeper Magda (Anna Crilly) is seriously impressed by Rick for the first time ever... Beautifully observed, this sitcom is full of quiet exasperation.

Five minutes with Sean Power - Lead Balloon IV

Tellyspotting caught up with the great Sean Power, Rick's American co-writer and part-time conspirator who, quietly, longs to drive Rick crazy. Besides his role as Marty, Power is a well-known playwright and stage director with an extensive career in the theatre.

Jack Dee's back with a second series of his (written with Pete Sinclair) hugely enjoyable BBC2 sitcom Lead Balloon.

Dee's portrayal of cantankerous, middle-aged comedian Rick Spleen has more than a touch of a media-class Tony Hancock to it - a character whose talent for digging himself into holes is second only to a grave-digger's.

One of the main joys of Lead Balloon is its small cast of supporting characters, comprising Rick's supremely patient wife (Raquel Cassidy), staggeringly vague daughter Sam (Antonia Campbell-Hughes), their permanently unheppy Polish home help Magda (brilliantly played by Anna Crilly) and his far-smarter co-writer Marty (Sean Power).

Even as minor a role as over-familiar local cafe owner Michael (Tony Gardner) is a perfectly formed, fully drawn character.

Every one of them was on top form, producing a just about flawless half hour of delightfully miserablist comedy. Lead Balloon is sure to go down well again this winter.