Sir Bernard's Stately Homes
Sir Bernard's Stately Homes was a British TV comedy series first shown in 1999 on BBC Two and later repeated on Play UK. Only six 10-minute programmes were produced, all written by and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams. It bore many similarities to the more well-known Rock Profile.
| Sir Bernard's Stately Homes | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Written by | Matt Lucas David Walliams |
| Directed by | Edgar Wright |
| Starring | Matt Lucas David Walliams |
| Composer(s) | Tim Atack Matt Lucas |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Jon Plowman |
| Producer(s) | Myfanwy Moore |
| Editor(s) | Robin Parsons |
| Running time | 10 minutes |
| Production company(s) | BBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) 16:9 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | May 12 – June 16, 1999 |
The series was directed by Edgar Wright, one of the creative minds behind Asylum, Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz, and produced by Myfanwy Moore, who would become the producer of Little Britain.
Plot
The central character was Bernard Chumley, played by Matt Lucas, who was already a regular stand-up character of Lucas's and would go on to be a fixture of Little Britain. The show was transmitted from 12 May to 16 June 1999, on BBC Two, Wednesdays at 10.20 p.m. In each edition, Sir Bernard and murderer/friend Anthony Rogers would investigate a number of country estates while searching for the Golden Potato, an advertising stunt which would win them a year's supply of Allen's Crisps ("the cheaper crisp!").
Each house is named after a character or actor from Grange Hill. Further popular culture is revisited at the end of episode 5, in which the pair eat snacks on a rollercoaster dressed as scouts, in a similar fashion to a group of scouts in one legendary edition of Jim'll Fix It. David Foxxe, Paul Putner, Rowland Rivron, Rhys Thomas, and Julie T. Wallace appeared throughout the brief series. The script editor was Barry Cryer.
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Baxter Grange" | May 12, 1999 | |
| First of a six-part spoof documentary series in which renowned theatrical raconteur Sir Bernard Chumley - with his criminal sidekick, Anthony Rodgers - tours the stately homes of the good and the great. Tonight, they visit the past home of Lord Nelson, aiming to fill the great admiral's shoes in more ways than one. | |||
| 2 | "Browning Abbey" | May 19, 1999 | |
| Second of a six-part spoof documentary series in which renowned theatrical raconteur Sir Bernard Chumley - with his criminal sidekick Anthony Rodgers - tours the stately homes of the good and the great. Tonight they visit the fictional Browning Abbey where they are soon waylaid by a treasure hunt for the elusive Golden Potato, the prize for which is a year's supply of crisps. | |||
| 3 | "Yates Castle" | May 26, 1999 | |
| Sir Bernard meets his match in the shape of a sex maniac called Dame Lily who takes him hostage. A game of strip poker is the only way to win his freedom. | |||
| 4 | "Bronson House" | June 2, 1999 | |
| At the palatial retreat of the Princess Royal, Chumley discovers a rival film crew. | |||
| 5 | "Kendall Park" | June 9, 1999 | |
| Things get a little gruesome for Chumley and Rodgers when they visit spooky Kendal Park. | |||
| 6 | "Stebson Towers" | June 16, 1999 | |
| The spoof documentary series ends with Sir Bernard and Anthony closing in on the glittering Golden Potato. | |||