Lead Balloon. Rick Spleen (Jack Dee). Copyright: Open Mike Productions
Lead Balloon

Lead Balloon

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two / BBC Four
  • 2006 - 2011
  • 27 episodes (4 series)

Sitcom starring Jack Dee as Rick Spleen, a grumpy misanthropic stand-up comedian whose life is plagued by let downs and embarrassment. Stars Jack Dee, Raquel Cassidy, Sean Power, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Rasmus Hardiker and more.

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Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 2 - Hero

Rick becomes a local hero when he stops someone from committing suicide.

Preview clips

Further details

Lead Balloon. Rick Spleen (Jack Dee). Copyright: Open Mike Productions

Rick gets even more excited when, as a result, a TV executive agrees to come to dinner to talk about Rick's career. Magda prepares a traditional dish from her country for the evening, but when the guests finally arrive, Rick gets an unwelcome surprise.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 22nd November 2007
Time
9:30pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 21st February 2011 12:25am BBC1
Monday 21st February 2011 1:10am BBC1 Scot

Cast & crew

Cast
Jack Dee Rick Spleen
Raquel Cassidy Mel
Sean Power Marty
Antonia Campbell-Hughes Sam
Rasmus Hardiker Ben
Tony Gardner Michael
Anna Crilly Magda
Guest cast
John Biggins Clive Gray (Neighbour)
Neil Edmond Policeman
Martin Marquez Tony
Cathryn Bradshaw Sheryl
Writing team
Jack Dee Writer
Pete Sinclair Writer
Production team
Alex Hardcastle Director
Alex Hardcastle Producer
Addison Cresswell Executive Producer
Andrew Beint Executive Producer
Russell Beeden Editor
Gordon Whistance Production Designer

Video

Rick is in the paper as a hero

Rick becomes a local hero when he stops someone from committing suicide... not that he likes bragging on about it.

Featuring: Jack Dee (Rick Spleen) & Sean Power (Marty).

Press

Off The Telly Review

Shorn of the excesses of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Lead Balloon reveals traces of true brilliance. Perhaps it would be more palatable to many if they actually did admit the link instead of constantly denying the obvious.

John Phillips, Off The Telly, 22nd November 2007

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