British Comedy Guide
I'm Spazticus. Copyright: Zeitgeist Television
I'm Spazticus

I'm Spazticus

  • TV sketch show
  • Channel 4
  • 2005 - 2013
  • 9 episodes (2 series)

Hidden camera prank show in which disabled performers prank able-bodied members of the public. Aims to highlight the public's attitude. Stars Tim Baggaley, Tim Gebbels, Toby Hewston, Simon Stevens, Maxwell Laird and more.

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Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 1

Celebrities are fooled into endorsing a bizarre new charity for amputees, a blind man walks a guide pig rather than a guide dog, and there's the return of some old favourites from the first series.

Further details

I'm Spazticus. Copyright: Zeitgeist Television

Offering a fresh take on the hidden camera prank show, I'm Spazticus is back for a brand new series. Featuring a cast of disabled talent, the show sees individuals with various disabilities pranking members of the public in a cheeky and irreverent way.

In this first episode, celebrities are fooled into endorsing a bizarre new charity for amputees, a blind man walks a guide pig rather than a guide dog, and there's the return of some old favourites from the first series: the talking guide dog and the punk dwarf who punches people's food.

I'm Spazticus is disabled larking at its best.

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 14th August 2013
Time
10:50pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Tim Baggaley Ensemble Actor
Tim Gebbels Ensemble Actor
Simon Stevens Ensemble Actor
Maxwell Laird Ensemble Actor
Tanyalee Davis Ensemble Actor
Martin Dougan Ensemble Actor
Kelly Knox Ensemble Actor
Deepa Shastri Ensemble Actor
Guest cast
Brian Belo Self
Lauren Goodger Self
Frankie Cocozza Self
Andrew Martin Ensemble Actor
Leon Chai Ensemble Actor
Ollie Clarke Ensemble Actor
Ollie Hancock Ensemble Actor
Blake Lisle Ensemble Actor
Oskar Periera Ensemble Actor
Ben Wilcox Ensemble Actor
Writing team
Jamie O'Leary Writer
Production team
Gemma Rawcliffe Series Director
Dan Whitehead Series Producer
Gina Lyons Producer
Jamie O'Leary Executive Producer
Charlie Fawcett Editor
Dan Mellow Editor
Rob Snelling Editor
Daniel Teper (as Danny Fromajio) Composer

Press

A pilot developed into a four-part series in 2012, I'm Spazticus received mixed reviews, but C4 has had faith enough to try again this year. It's frustrating to report that little has improved. Deriving its title from an ancient, taboo-pushing Ian Dury song (Spasticus Autisticus) is symptomatic of the problem - it's woefully old-fashioned from start to finish.

The all-disabled cast do their best, but there's only so far one can go when a sketch involves pretending to be Hitler. When Freddie Starr isn't being channelled, Brass Eye is, with a carbon-copy of the famed 'Carla the elephant' skit involving a charity committed to stopping monkey arms being used instead of expensive prosthetic arms. Trouble is, whereas Chris Morris had the panache to make Martin Amis look like a tit, I'm Spazticus can only cajole plankton from TOWIE or Big Brother to make themselves look foolish. This raises precisely no laughs, simply because nobody expects reality rejects to be anything but dimwitted to begin with.

Amid the Jackass-lite buffoonery, one skit shines - an estate agent turning up to give an estimate on a wendy house. Otherwise, there's little to threaten the holy trinity of pranksters - Steve Allen, Sacha Baron Cohen and St Noel of Crinkley Bottom.

Oliver Keens, Time Out, 14th August 2013

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