Dead Ringers (series)

Dead Ringers is a British radio and television comedy impressions show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and later BBC Two. The programme was devised by producer Bill Dare and developed with Jon Holmes, Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. Among its stars are Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens. The BBC cancelled the television run in 2007 after five years.[1] Dead Ringers' return to Radio 4 was announced in 2014.[2]

Dead Ringers
GenreComedy
Created byBill Dare
Starring
Theme music composerJohn Whitehall
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of series18 (Radio series)
7 (TV series)
No. of episodes100 (Radio series)
48 (TV series) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerJon Plowman
Producers
  • Bill Dare
  • Danny Wallace
  • Mario Stylianides
  • Katie Tyrrell
Running time28 minutes
Production companiesBBC Radio Comedy (2015–16)
BBC Studios (2016–present)
Original release
NetworkBBC Radio 4 2000–2007, 2014–present (Radio series)
BBC One 2002 (TV series)
BBC Two 2002–2007 (TV series)
Release7 January 2000 (2000-01-07) – 15 May 2007 (2007-05-15)
30 July 2014 (2014-07-30) – present (Radio series)
15 March 2002 (2002-03-15) – 29 March 2007 (2007-03-29) (TV series)

History

The programme first aired on BBC Radio 4 in January 2000. Dead Ringers returned to radio in July 2014.[2]

In November 2001 BBC One said it had commissioned a pilot for a television version.[3] The pilot was well received[4] and in August 2002 a full series was commissioned, this time on BBC Two.[5][6][7] The TV show ran for seven series and was axed in April 2009.[8] In 2002 the BBC's Arena broadcast a documentary about the series entitled Radio Ha! - Meet The Dead Ringers, directed by Fisher Dilke. It featured interviews with the cast and writers, and behind-the-scenes footage from a studio recording from the eighth series.[9][10]

Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2001Dead RingersRadio Academy Awards Gold - The Comedy Award[11]Won
2001Dead RingersBroadcasting Press Guild Award for Best Radio Programme[12]Won
2001Dead RingersThe British Comedy Awards - Best Radio Comedy[13]Won
2001Dead RingersThe Heritage Foundation Awards - Best Radio Comedy Show[14]Won

Episodes

Home media

Radio series

TitleEpisodesRuntimeNo. of discsCD release dateAudio cassette release dateDigital download release date
Dead Ringers41 hr 50 mins2 discs6 November 2000[15]6 November 200015 February 2005[16]
Dead Ringers: Series 2 Part 141 hr 45 mins2 discs2 July 2001[17]2 July 20016 April 2005[18]
Dead Ringers: Series 2, Part 241 hr 50 mins2 discs5 November 2001[19]5 November 20016 April 2005[20]
Dead Ringers: The Specials[a]21 hr 50 mins2 discs19 November 2001[21]19 November 200131 March 2005[22]
Dead Ringers: Series 352 hrs 20 mins2 discs1 July 2002[23]1 July 20021 June 2012[24]
Dead Ringers: Series 441 hr 45 mins2 discs4 November 2002[25]4 November 20026 April 2005[26]
Dead Ringers: Series 5 & 683 hrs 30 mins4 discs4 November 2002[27]4 November 200231 March 2005[28]
Dead Ringers: Collection[b]177 hrs 45 mins8 discs11 November 2002[29]
7 April 2003 (MP3-CD)[30]
Dead Ringers: Series 741 hr 50 mins2 discs3 February 2003[31]3 February 200331 March 2005[32]
Dead Ringers: Series 841 hr 50 mins2 discs5 May 2003[33]5 April 2012[34]
Dead Ringers: Series 941 hr 50 mins2 discs7 July 2003[35]31 March 2005[36]
Dead Ringers: Collection 2[c]135 hrs 45 mins7 discs10 November 2003[37]
Dead Ringers: Series 1052 hrs 20 mins2 discs1 March 2004[38]
Dead Ringers: The Best of the Radio Series2 hrs2 discs3 October 2005[39]17 October 2005[40]
Dead Ringers: Series 1263 hrs3 discs11 June 2015[41]11 June 2015
Dead Ringers: Series 13 & 1473 hrs 15 mins4 discs1 October 2015[42]1 October 2015
Dead Ringers: Series 15[d]73 hrs 10 mins4 discs2 June 2016[43]2 June 2016
Dead Ringers: Series 16[e]83 hrs 40 mins2 March 2017[44]
Dead Ringers: Series 17[f]83 hrs 40 mins1 March 2018[45]
Dead Ringers: Series 18[g]73 hrs 30 mins4 October 2018[46]

TV series

TitleRuntimeNo. of discsCD release dateAudio cassette release dateDigital download release dateDVD and VHS release date
Dead Ringers: The Television Series[a]2 hrs2 discs3 November 2003[47]3 November 200315 February 2005[48]7 July 2003[49][50][51]
Dead Ringers: The Television Series 22 hrs 10 mins2 discs5 July 2004[52]5 July 200416 March 2009[53]
Dead Ringers: The Television Series 32 hrs2 discs29 November 2004[54]

References