Brian Pern. Brian Pern (Simon Day). Copyright: BBC
Brian Pern

Brian Pern

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Four / BBC Two
  • 2014 - 2017
  • 10 episodes (3 series)

Spoof music documentary series fronted by Simon Day in character as art rocker Brian Pern. Also features Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers, Michael Kitchen, David Cummings, Philip Pope and more.

Brian Pern. Brian Pern (Simon Day). Copyright: BBC

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2014 - 2017
Channels
BBC Four, BBC Two
Episodes
10 (3 series), plus 1 music video special
Stars
Simon Day, Paul Whitehouse, Nigel Havers, Michael Kitchen, David Cummings, Philip Pope, Al Murray, Vic Reeves and more
Writers
Simon Day and Rhys Thomas
Director
Rhys Thomas
Producers
Rhys Thomas, Saurabh Kakkar and Richard Webb
Company

The Life Of Rock With Brian Pern is a spoof music documentary fronted by award-winning art rocker Brian Pern (Simon Day), featuring a host of cameos from the world of music and unseen footage.

Brian Pern is an ageing rock star and former front-man of ground breaking progressive rock group Thotch. Like many artists of his age, rather than make new music, he spends more time trying to save the planet (including his campaign to teach gorillas how to Skype).

Now, the BBC have asked him to front a major documentary where he presents his guide to The Life Of Rock from prehistoric man to the present day.

Thotch band members and former Stowe classmates Pat Quid (guitarist) and keyboard player Tony Pebble - pronounced Pebblé - join Brian to reminisce about their heyday and beyond.

With guests from the world of music playing versions of themselves, including Jools Holland, Rick Wakeman, David Arnold and Roger Taylor, Brian takes rock lovers on a re-imagined history of the genre.

Series 2 is titled A Life In Rock. It sees Brian and his bandmates look back on their past together.

Series 3 - 45 Years Of Prog And Roll - sees Brian celebrating 45 years in rock and roll.

Simon Day previously starred as Brian Pern in some online comedy videos for the BBC in 2010. Watch

Stream and download

Additional details

Also known as
  • Brian Pern: 45 Years Of Prog And Roll (Series 3.)
  • Brian Pern: A Life In Rock (Series 2.)
  • The Life Of Rock With Brian Pern (Series 1.)
  • Rock Ratatouille (Working title)
Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 10th February 2014 at 10pm on BBC Four
Most recent repeats

Share this page