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: 2,046
Episode menu
Series 4, Episode 5 - Blade
Further details
Having accepted funding from the local council, Rick reluctantly agrees to teach a Stand-up Comedy Workshop in Belford Prison. But this turns out to be one of Rick's worst gigs: he is taken hostage, trapped in the prison library by a knife-wielding prisoner, Donald.
Donald is a worrying mixture of charming and psychotic - and worse still for Rick, has a pathological hatred of liars. Can Rick talk his way out of trouble?
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 28th June 2011
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
| Jack Dee | Rick Spleen |
| Robbie Coltrane | Donald |
| Adam Stevens | Journalist |
| Judith Faultless | Journalist |
| Jack Dee | Writer |
| Pete Sinclair | Writer |
| Alex Hardcastle | Director |
| Alex Hardcastle | Producer |
| Addison Cresswell | Executive Producer |
| Andrew Beint | Executive Producer |
| Liana Del Giudice (as Liana Del Guidice) | Editor |
| Gordon Whistance | Production Designer |
Video
Robbie Coltrane in Lead Balloon
Robbie Coltrane guest stars as prisoner Donald, who asks Rick for a review on his stand-up routine. Rick gives a positive review as Donald explains all of the stories he told were true.
Featuring: Jack Dee (Rick Spleen) & Robbie Coltrane (Donald).