British Comedy Guide
Love British Comedy Guide? Support our work by making a donation. Find out more
Little Britain. Image shows from L to R: David Walliams, Matt Lucas, The Prime Minister (Anthony Head)
Little Britain

Little Britain

  • TV sketch show
  • BBC Three / BBC One
  • 2003 - 2016
  • 23 episodes (3 series)

Matt Lucas and David Walliams take a comic look at British life in this character-based sketch series. Also features Anthony Head, Joann Condon, Charu Bala Chokshi, Leelo Ross, Ruth Jones and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 599

F
X
R
W
E

Press clippings Page 9

Apart from some transatlantic locations and a couple of new accents, Little Britain USA was mostly more of the same old jokes recycled. Which isn't entirely a bad thing, familiarity breeding contentment among the modern sketch show audience.

Harry Venning, The Stage, 6th October 2008

Jim Shelley Review

It's the last sketch of Little Britain USA and Bubbles de Vere displays the kind of sharp observation totally lacking in the 'comedy' up until then. I think it's very important to know when to stop, Bubbles confesses, having gambled - and lost - her dress, wig, and ruby-encrusted 'panties' on the roulette table.

I only wish Bubbles had thrown her ludicrous fat suit into the pot, too. With the losing streak David Walliams and Matt Lucas were on, that would have been the end of her, guaranteed.

Jim Shelley, The Mirror, 6th October 2008

Little Britain USA Review

Has Little Britain become too much of a monster? Whether it has or not, it's impossible to deny that Matt Lucas and David Walliams have pulled off a sensational achievement. The first episode of Little Britain USA featured content that was every bit as good as the home-grown version and for that alone Lucas and Williams should be congratulated, applauded and showered with medals.

David Sharpe, Cool Blue Shed, 5th October 2008

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't love Little Britain? The observations are quite nice, but I don't think Lucas and Walliams are great writers or great performers - a shame, given that they are our most successful comedy writing and performing double act. Each sketch is one idea dragged out tediously to the point of embarrassment. I can honestly say I didn't laugh once in this one, didn't even smile. I don't even find it offensive. Just boring and irritating. Moving it all to America doesn't change anything.

Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 4th October 2008

Little Britain USA Review

Little Britain has never been a particularly clever or unique comedy - it's just a melting pot of ideas stolen from Vic & Bob, The Fast Show and The League Of Gentlemen; brilliantly repackaged and sold to people who enjoy toilet humour with lashings of camp rudeness. Don't get me wrong, schoolboy humour has its place and can be hilarious if used sparingly - but, after years of gags revolving around peeing, vomiting, swearing and prosthetic nakedness on Little Britain, I've just become numb to it.

Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 4th October 2008

Little Britain USA Review

It's not a case of building something up to knock it down, or hating it when our friends become successful, Little Britain USA is an exemplar of something that was once sporadically twisted and frequently funny metamorphosing into utter rubbish.

The Custard TV, 4th October 2008

Crisper and less gross than the last British series, the American Little Britain was made for cable channel HBO. New characters include an astronaut riddled with feelings of inadequacy and a granny who loves crystal meth, but the familiar conceits work well too: witness Marjorie Dawes briefing her class on questions for a visiting Rosie O'Donnell: Let's not go on about her sexuality. Let's stick to why she's so fat.

Metro, 3rd October 2008

Matt Lucas and David Walliams attempted to storm the US with this bizarre transatlantic hybrid of their comedy series. It didn't exactly meet with critical acclaim in America, but British viewers will still find their favourite characters, as well as a few new American ones too, such as Bing Gordyn, the eighth astronaut on the moon.

Robert Collins, The Telegraph, 3rd October 2008

Fans of Little Britain's savage brand of panto humour are in for an extended treat. Matt Lucas and David Walliams have made a six-part series in the US. Vicky Pollard is off to boot camp; Daffyd Thomas goes to university, Sebastian Love becomes prime minister and Lou and Andy are in search of a miracle cure, US-style. In television terms, this is an event of seismic proportions. It is produced by Simon Fuller, the creator of American Idol and the studio sketches will be directed by David Schwimmer from Friends. For millions of viewers, that's Friday night sorted out for the foreseeable future.

David Chater, The Times, 3rd October 2008

Fans will not be disappointed as the double act head to America to spread their brand of comedy. And rest assured, our fave characters are here including Lou and Andy and Vicky Pollard.

My fave is Marjorie Dawes of Fat Fighters USA, who is spectacularly rude to Hollywood star Rosie O'Donnell.

Anila Baig, The Sun, 3rd October 2008

Share this page