About this season
Comedy Map of Britain is a BBC documentary series which visits the places that have inspired many of Britain's leading comedians. It first aired on BBC Two in 2007 and 2008. Narrated by veteran broadcaster Alan Whicker, comedians included in the two series include Angus Deayton, Anton Rodgers, Arthur Smith and Hale and Pace, Bill Bailey, Chris Moyles, the Chuckle Brothers, Dudley Moore, Eric Idle, Graham Fellows, Hugh Grant, Ian Hislop, Ian Lavender, Jim Davidson, Jon Culshaw, Mark Thomas, Maureen Lipman, Michael Palin, Paul Merton, Richard Whiteley, Ricky Gervais, Ronni Ancona, Rowan Atkinson, Roy Chubby Brown, Steve Coogan, Syd Little and Eddie Large, Terry Jones, Leigh Francis and many others.
Episodes (6)
1. Episode 1 - Nottingham to Cambridge
Aired 19 April 2008 • 60 min
Comics reveal the locations around the UK that have inspired their work and played an important part in their lives. In the first programme, Alan Carr goes back to the football ground in Northampton that inspired his stand-up. Ruby Wax returns to Stratford RSC where she was a budding actress and David Baddiel revisits Haberdashers School where he first performed in a sixth-form revue.
2. Episode 2 - Aviemore to Edinburgh
Aired 26 April 2008 • 60 min
Talented comics including Johnny Vegas, Jenny Eclair, Rhona Cameron, Doon Mackichan and Fred MacAulay revisit locations in Scotland that have inspired their work, including Edinburgh, Musselburgh, St Andrews and Aviemore. Julian Doyle, Production Manager for Monty Python Films, also returns to Doune Castle where he created the medieval world of the Holy Grail on a shoestring. Alan Whicker narrates.
3. Episode 3 - Newcastle to Leeds
Aired 3 May 2008 • 60 min
Maureen Lipman returns to her comic roots in Hull, where she first got laughs on the steps of her father's tailor shop. Brothers Simon and Chris Donald visit the Victorian terrace in Newcastle where they gave birth to the anarchic comic Viz, while writer Ian Le Frenais trawls the city's suburbs to reveal the haunts of the Likely Lads. Leigh Francis travels to Leeds to reveal the 'real Avid Merrion'. Alan Whicker narrates.
4. Episode 4 - Leeds to Nottingham
Aired 10 May 2008 • 60 min
Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles returns to the Leeds radio station where he learned his craft. Comedian Mark Thomas harks back to his political roots and reminisces about his early attempts at social activism. Impressionist Jon Culshaw goes in search of his biggest fan and there's a visit to the Working Men's Club where the local extras got more of an eyeful than they anticipated. Alan Whicker narrates.
5. Episode 5 - Norwich to Hastings
Aired 17 May 2008 • 60 min
A selection of comedians retrace their roots in East Anglia and Essex. Former Dad's Army Star Ian Lavender visits the show's locations in Thetford, Arthur Smith goes back to his university days in Norwich and, in Suffolk, Lee Evans' dry cleaner talks about the challenge of keeping the funnyman's suit pristine. Other contributions come from Lee and Herring, Dudley Moore, Lee Evans, Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.
6. Episode 6 - Brighton to Whitstable
Aired 24 May 2008 • 60 min
Alan Davies returns to Whitstable, where he made his debut, Steve Pemberton goes back to the Rottingdean shop that inspired The League of Gentlemen, and Iain Lee finds out about Marty Feldman's old fairground job in Margate. Alan Whicker narrates. Last in series.