Lead Balloon
- TV sitcom
- BBC Two / BBC Four
- 2006 - 2011
- 27 episodes (4 series)
Sitcom starring Jack Dee as Rick Spleen, a grumpy misanthropic stand-up comedian whose life is plagued by let downs and embarrassment. Also features Raquel Cassidy, Sean Power, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Rasmus Hardiker, Tony Gardner and Anna Crilly
Streaming rank this week: 2,965
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 1 - Giraffe
Further details
In the opening episode, Rick appears as a Celebrity Oracle' on a day time quiz show. Back at home, Magda, his surly Eastern European help, has finally handed in her notice.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Thursday 15th November 2007
- Time
- 9:30pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Jack Dee | Rick Spleen |
| Raquel Cassidy | Mel |
| Sean Power | Marty |
| Antonia Campbell-Hughes | Sam |
| Rasmus Hardiker | Ben |
| Tony Gardner | Michael |
| Anna Crilly | Magda |
| Michael Fenton Stevens | Trevor |
| Gail Kemp | Linda Parson |
| Ralph Ineson | Bob Martin |
| Alan McKenna | Policeman |
| Jack Dee | Writer |
| Pete Sinclair | Writer |
| Alex Hardcastle | Director |
| Alex Hardcastle | Producer |
| Addison Cresswell | Executive Producer |
| Andrew Beint | Executive Producer |
| Russell Beeden | Editor |
| Gordon Whistance | Production Designer |
Video
Dunces and Dorks
Rick appears as a Celebrity Oracle on a day time quiz show and makes a fool of himself. This is the scene the next day in Michael's cafe.
Featuring: Jack Dee (Rick Spleen), Tony Gardner (Michael) & Sean Power (Marty).
Press
Sadly for Jack Dee, he's created a character that is impossible to side with. Look at David Brent for example. He's odious, stupid and distasteful... but somewhere, underneath all that hideousness lies a heart. Where Brent clearly wants to please everyone all the time, Dee's Spleen is, in short, a horrible human being.
mofgimmers, TV Scoop, 16th November 2007Jack 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.
James Walton, The Telegraph, 16th November 2007