 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2009) |
| Bo' Selecta! | |
|---|---|
 Title screen of Bo' Selecta |
|
| Format | Sketch show Comedy |
| Created by | Leigh Francis |
| Developed by | Leigh Francis Ben Palmer |
| Starring | Leigh Francis |
| Country of origin |  United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Spencer Millman |
| Running time | 25 mins |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel 4 |
| Original run | 6 September 2002 – 24 September 2009 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Keith Lemon's World Tour A Bear's Tail |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
Bo' Selecta! is a British sketch show written and performed by Leigh Francis, known for its often deeply surreal, abstract toilet humour, which lampoons popular culture. It was broadcast on Channel 4 and ran for three series between 2002 and 2004, spawning several spin-offs. Francis played Avid Merrion, a dangerously insane stalker from Aracnipuss, who conducts celebrity interviews whilst wearing an array of hideous, comically unrealistic latex masks, each one supposed to at least vaguely resemble a famous personage. The most popular sketches involve entertainers such as Elton John, David Blaine, Kelly Osbourne, Michael Jackson, Mel B and Craig David. Another recurring character on the show is 'the Bear', a perverted, foul-mouthed teddy who spews a constant barrage of filth at his guests, often before exposing himself and ejaculating everywhere. The series title is based on a line from the Craig David song "Re-wind".
Much of the show's humour is derived from the deliberate ineptitude of each impersonation and general incongruity; famous scenes include Avid slapping Justin Timberlake with some raw meat, and trying to seduce Patsy Kensit while in character as Mel B. Despite a loyal following and some strong reviews, the show has been singled out by several critics for allegedly promoting narrow-mindedness and puerile behaviour.[1]
Contents |
List of Seasons
| Series | Episodes | Broadcast | Specials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | TBA | Pilot |
| 2 | 8 | TBA | Christmas Special |
| 3 | 9 | TBA | A Bears Tail |
| 4 | 6 | TBA | Christmas Special |
A Bear's Tail
After the third series of Bo’ Selecta!, Francis built a sitcom vehicle around his Bear character called A Bear's Tail. The evolution of the series could be seen in the final episode of Bo' Selecta! series 3, which showed the Bear taking over as host of the series. The Christmas special of 2004 discarded the usual Bo' Selecta trappings and instead introduced the series concept, being entitled 'A Bear's Christmas Tail', the series then started 6 months later.
Bo! in the USA
In April 2006, a fourth series of Bo' Selecta! was commissioned by Channel 4. Known as "Bo! in the USA", the first episode aired on 13 October 2006. Verne Troyer, best known for playing the character "Mini-Me" in the second and third Austin Powers films, features regularly as The Bear's Hollywood agent. Barunka O'Shaughnessy stars as Sascha Merrion, Avid's wife and sister. The series is set entirely in the USA, with Avid and Sascha running a luxury hotel, but retains most of the regular characters, as well as some new ones. [2]
Keith Lemon's World Tour
In 2007, Francis announced that Bo! in the USA was his last series of the format, and that he was due to film a new series for ITV. Based around a recurring Bo' Selecta! character, Keith Lemon [3],"Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour" in which Francis travels around the world on a shark shaped flight plan in his alter-ego of Keith Lemon, it premiered 11 March 2008 on ITV2 at 10pm.
| Episode | First Broadcast | Location | Celebrity Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 March | Las Vegas | Mel C & Mel B |
| 2 | 18 March | Australia | Holly Valance & Stefan Dennis |
| 3 | 25 March | Mexico | Holly Willoughby |
| 4 | 1 April | Egypt | Samia Smith & Sharon Osborne |
| 5 | 8 April | Japan | Tamzin Outhwaite |
| 6 | 15 April | Iceland | Dermot O'Leary |
Cha'mone Mo Fo Selecta - Michael Jackson Special 2009
Leigh Francis has announced that he's bringing the show back with a dedicated tribute to Michael Jackson. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: "I'm starting work on my one-hour show about the king of pop. (His fans won't be offended), it'll be a glorious thing."[1] The programme was shown on E4 at 10pm on Thursday 24 September 2009 and 378k (2.5%) watched. In this Special episode old characters returned which inclued Craig David, Mel B, The Bear and Avid Merrion, as well as the introduction of new ones.
Future
On 24 September 2009, in a interview with the BBC, Leigh Francis said that Bo` Selecta! may return for a fifth series in 2010, claiming he became "excited" whilst making the show whilst producing the Michael Jackson tribute episode. [4] It was further hinted during a countdown programme on 4Music. During 'A Bear's Chrimbo Top 20,' Francis, in the guise of The Bear, introduced Proper Crimbo by stating that 'Avid' may be returning to our screens.
Other media
Two singles centred around the series were released by Francis, the first, "Proper Crimbo" a No.4 hit in the UK during December 2003. The second, a cover of "I Got You Babe" featuring Francis as Avid Merrion and Davina McCall and Patsy Kensit on backing vocals, was released in December 2004 & reached No.5 in the UK.
See also
External links
- Bo! in the USA at Channel4.com
- Google Video - Bo' Selecta!
- Bo' Selecta! at the Internet Movie Database
- Bo' Selecta! at TV.com
- [5] Guardian Interview
- "Craig Phillips Official Website"
|
||||||||
References
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
