Lead Balloon
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About
Lead Balloon is a British television series produced by Open Mike Productions for BBC Four. The series was created and is co-written by comedian Jack Dee and Pete Sinclair. It stars Dee as Rick Spleen, a cynical and misanthropic comedian whose life is plagued by petty annoyances, disappointments and embarrassments. Raquel Cassidy, Sean Power and Tony Gardner also star. The first series of six episodes was broadcast on BBC Four in 2006, with the first episode achieving the highest ratings for a comedy on the channel. Repeats of the series were run on BBC Two and BBC HD, bringing it to a larger audience. A second series of eight episodes aired on BBC Two in November 2007, and a third series began airing in November 2008. A fourth and final series commenced broadcast on 31 May 2011 on BBC Two and ended on 5 July. Comparisons were made by critics to the successful American comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, and positive comments were made about Lead Balloon's characters, particularly Magda, the Eastern European housekeeper. The first series was released on DVD in November 2007. The show's theme tune is a cover version of "One Way Road", written by Noel Gallagher and performed by Paul Weller.
Cast
Episodes
Season 1
Rubbish
Rick fronts a lame government TV recycling campaign which backfires spectacularly. He falls out with café-owner Michael over a homemade fruitcake, and has a full-on row with unhinged baby-present shopkeeper Maureen.
Wayne
A teaspoon crisis in the Spleen household leads Rick to petty theft. Meanwhile, Rick's sleep is disturbed by the paperboy, Wayne, who is very punctual, very noisy and has a brain the size of a walnut.
£5000
Rick gets in a punch-up at an awards ceremony and ends up with a black eye. Marty is preparing to pitch a programme to the BBC and Michael is delighted that Rick has accidentally sponsored him a small fortune for his Skipathon.
Allergic
Rick discovers he may have inadvertently killed one of Britain's best-loved entertainers, but he's preoccupied by a missing shoe-organiser. Meanwhile Rick prepares for upcoming appearance on topical news panel show Bullet in the News.
Pistachio
Rick buys himself a scooter but worries that it makes him look gay. Hosting the Air Conditioning and Climate Control Awards goes disastrously, and a trip to the local dry cleaner ends in a heated argument.
Fatty
Rick is publicly humiliated on TV by daytime chat-show host Adam Green. He also has an unfortunate encounter with an acquaintance at the gym, and Ben manages to destroy Rick's brand new DVD player by taking the back off.
Where does Lead Balloon rank today?
Lead Balloon is #3482 on the CineFlixo Daily Streaming Charts today.
- Highest: #3482
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Watch Lead Balloon Online Free — All Episodes in HD
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About Lead Balloon
Lead Balloon is a British television series produced by Open Mike Productions for BBC Four. The series was created and is co-written by comedian Jack Dee and Pete Sinclair. It stars Dee as Rick Spleen, a cynical and misanthropic comedian whose life is plagued by petty annoyances, disappointments and embarrassments. Raquel Cassidy, Sean Power and Tony Gardner also star. The first series of six episodes was broadcast on BBC Four in 2006, with the first episode achieving the highest ratings for a comedy on the channel. Repeats of the series were run on BBC Two and BBC HD, bringing it to a larger audience. A second series of eight episodes aired on BBC Two in November 2007, and a third series began airing in November 2008. A fourth and final series commenced broadcast on 31 May 2011 on BBC Two and ended on 5 July. Comparisons were made by critics to the successful American comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, and positive comments were made about Lead Balloon's characters, particularly Magda, the Eastern European housekeeper. The first series was released on DVD in November 2007. The show's theme tune is a cover version of "One Way Road", written by Noel Gallagher and performed by Paul Weller. Across 4 seasons and 27 episodes, originally airing on BBC Four.
Lead Balloon Cast and Characters
The cast features Jack Dee (as Rick Spleen), Tony Gardner (as Michael), Rasmus Hardiker (as Ben), Anna Crilly (as Magda), and Raquel Cassidy (as Mel). Their performances are a major reason Lead Balloon has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch Lead Balloon Online
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▶ Watch Lead Balloon NowWhy People Are Watching Lead Balloon
There's a reason Lead Balloon keeps showing up on "must-watch" lists. What makes it work is sharp comedic timing that lands consistently. If you enjoy Inglés storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lead Balloon
Where can I watch Lead Balloon online for free?
You can watch Lead Balloon online free on CineFlixo. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does Lead Balloon have?
Lead Balloon has 27 episodes across 4 seasons. All episodes are available to stream right here on CineFlixo.
Is Lead Balloon good? What's the rating?
Lead Balloon holds a 7.6/10 rating based on 16 reviews — well above average.
Who is in the cast of Lead Balloon?
The main cast includes Jack Dee, Tony Gardner, Rasmus Hardiker, and Anna Crilly, plus a strong supporting ensemble.
Is Lead Balloon available in Inglés?
Yes — Lead Balloon was originally produced in Inglés and that's the version you'll stream here on CineFlixo. English subtitles are provided when available.
When was Lead Balloon released?
Lead Balloon first aired in 2006.
Do I need an account to watch Lead Balloon on CineFlixo?
No. CineFlixo is free and you can watch Lead Balloon without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Similar Series You Might Like
If you enjoyed Lead Balloon, check out The European Side, The Drew Carey Show, What I Like About You, Keeping Up Appearances, and Nathan Barley.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Lead Balloon for free?
You can watch Lead Balloon online for free on CineFlixo. All 27 episodes across 4 seasons are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does Lead Balloon have?
Lead Balloon currently has 4 seasons and a total of 27 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on CineFlixo and continue watching from where you left off.
What is Lead Balloon about?
Lead Balloon is a British television series produced by Open Mike Productions for BBC Four. The series was created and is co-written by comedian Jack Dee and Pete Sinclair. It stars Dee as Rick Spleen, a cynical and misanthropic comedian whose life is plagued by petty annoyances, disappointments and embarrassments.… It belongs to the Comedy genre.
In which language is Lead Balloon originally available?
Lead Balloon was originally produced in English. On CineFlixo the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was Lead Balloon first released?
Lead Balloon first premiered on October 4, 2006 (2006). The series has since concluded its run.
All Seasons
Browse every season of Lead Balloon — 4 seasons in total
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