Big Top
- TV sitcom
- BBC One
- 2009
- 6 episodes (1 series)
Fraught with problems and dealing with a cacophony of egos, Ring Mistress Lizzie must struggle to keep Circus Maestro going. Stars Amanda Holden, John Thomson, Sophie Thompson, Tony Robinson, Ruth Madoc and Bruce Mackinnon
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 2 - Visa
Further details
Boyco the acrobat makes his TV debut, starring in an advert for personal injury lawyers. Spurred on by jealousy, Plonky the Clown reports Boyco to the immigration authorities and Lizzie discovers that he has no UK work visa.
Lizzie is willing to do anything to keep Boyco in the country - even marry him - but Boyco will marry for nothing less than true love. Meanwhile, Plonky will do absolutely anything to prevent the wedding from happening, even if that means sabotaging the show.
Notes
Originally scheduled to be broadcast as episode 3.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 9th December 2009
- Time
- 7:30pm
- Channel
- BBC One
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Amanda Holden | Lizzie |
| John Thomson | Geoff |
| Sophie Thompson | Helen |
| Tony Robinson | Erasmus |
| Ruth Madoc | Georgie |
| Bruce Mackinnon | Boyco |
| Nick Holder | Immigration Official |
| Holly Hayes | Registrar |
| Tom Goodman-Hill | Advert Voiceover (Voice) |
| Janette Tough (as The Krankies) | Self |
| Ian Tough (as The Krankies) | Self |
| Daniel Peak | Writer |
| Paul Mayhew-Archer | Script Editor |
| Geoff Posner | Director |
| John Stroud | Producer |
| Marcus Mortimer | Producer |
| Jed Leventhall | Executive Producer |
| Simon Wilson | Executive Producer |
| Mykola Pawluk | Editor |
| James Dillon | Production Designer |
| Sally Plum | Costume Designer |
Press
There's a terrible disaster with Big Top tonight. "The BBC is screening another episode?" you may ask. Well, yes it is. But the disaster in question is Lizzie's skydiver breaking his right leg.
He's in hospital in plaster but Lizzie (Amanda Holden) isn't worried yet - his left one still works... Oh dear, now it doesn't. Now she's worried. Just what is a girl in a red coat and giant black knickers supposed to do?
The audience expect a death-defying act but all Lizzie has are a Hi-de-Hi! escapee and her dog, two terrible clowns, a snide Baldrick lookalike and a man in green spandex and silver foil. Unless Erasmus (Tony Robinson) finally lets his hatred of Plonky the Clown (John Thomson) reach psycho killer proportions, the only thing that risks death is the show's script.
Lizzie offers a £100 bonus to anybody who comes up with an act to save the day. But with a team of idiots surrounding her, the suggestions aren't good.
Jane Simon, The Mirror, 9th December 2009