'Little Britain' returns to TV for first time in more than a decade
David Walliams and Matt Lucas could not resist a bat joke as they brought Little Britain back to TV for the first time in over a decade.
The comedians resurrected the much-loved series for a sketch on BBC telethon The Big Night In, which saw Children In Need and Comic Relief join forces to raise money for the fight against the coronavirus.
As the sketch started, the pair, in character as Lou and Andy, discussed what to have for dinner.
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Lucas suggested a bat, apparently in reference to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has been linked to the creatures.
“Bat?” said Walliams. “You want to eat a bat for your tea?
“I don’t think it’s a good idea eating a bat.”
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The comedians, who filmed the sketch from their own homes, brought back other favourites including Bubbles Devere and Vicky Pollard.
In a joke about lockdown life, Vicky got told off by Walliams’ policeman for using a park to sunbathe instead of exercise.
“Shut up, I am well exercising!” the character snapped.
Viewers said the piece was the perfect end to the telethon, which also saw Dawn French back as the Vicar of Dibley, Miranda Hart resurrecting her character Miranda and Peter Kay returning with a new version of his Amarillo video.
“Loved it!” said one fan on Twitter, while another said it “made me realise how much I really miss Little Britain!”
Many said it was “brilliant” and that it had them reminiscing about the comedy.
“The (improvised) costumes, the characters, the bold politically incorrect humour, the cameos by original cast members, all of it. Fantastic!” gushed one impressed fan.
Little Britain began as a radio show on BBC Radio 4 in 2000 and moved to TV in 2003. It ran for four series and five specials, as well as spawning two seasons of spin-off Little Britain USA and two live tours.
It ended in 2008 but there has long been talk of a possible comeback.
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Earlier this year, Walliams, 48, suggested that if he and Lucas made more Little Britain it might be more ‘woke’.
The original series featured characters such as Ting Tong the Thai mail order bride, cross-dressing ladies Emily and Florence, Daffyd ‘the only gay in the village’ and Lucas in black make-up as a Mr T look-alike.
Walliams told The Sun he thought the series would return and said: “You’d definitely do it differently because it’s a different time. There’s all kinds of tolerances that change.”
