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.
Episode menu
Brian Pern: A Tribute
Further details
Following the sudden death of Brian Pern in a Segway accident, BBC Four is to broadcast this special documentary, dedicated to the musician, celebrating his life and work. The one-off special will be directed by the award-winning film-maker Rhys Thomas OBE (self-proclaimed) who will talk exclusively to Brian's friends and family as well as any random celebrities he can get hold of at such short notice.
Rhys Thomas explains why the show is ending
Phil Collins pays tribute
Phil Collins pays tribute to the late, great Brian Pern in this episode. However, is Phil taking part in the documentary to pay his respect to Brian or does he have an ulterior motive?
Director Rhys Thomas says: "Working with Phil Collins was a thrill. He's another of my heroes and, like Peter Gabriel, it's great he's in on the joke when clearly Genesis were a bit of an inspiration behind Thotch. He's also one of the few rock stars who can genuinely act. He's a big comedy fan too. I remember seeing him in The Two Ronnies sketches when I was about 5 years old and just assumed he was a comedian too. I'd love to do more things with him in the future."
Collins is just one of the many stars to reflect on the life of the man "who invented world music and pioneered pop/prog rock." Other people involved in the programme, which was hastily put together after the news of Brian's passing, include John Thomson, Monty Don, Suranne Jones, Angus Deayton, Christopher Eccleston, David Arnold, David Baddiel, Peter Davison and Jane Asher.
Brian's friends, lovers and fans speak candidly about Brian's life and work in this poignant special and discuss what the future holds as the remaining members of Thotch plan a tribute concert at the Royal Albert Hall in Brian's name to raise money for Segway Awareness.
This exclusive 'documentary' for BBC Four also features Brian's final prophetic interview, which has never been transmitted before, as well as the true story behind his untimely death, and the making of his last album, Heaven Calling, which was released just 271 days after his 66th birthday.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 29th March 2017
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Four
- Length
- 40 minutes
Cast & crew
| Simon Day | Brian Pern |
| Paul Whitehouse | Pat Quid |
| Nigel Havers | Tony Pebblé |
| Michael Kitchen | John Farrow |
| David Cummings | John |
| Philip Pope | Mike Phillips |
| Rhys Thomas | Self |
| Matt Lucas | Ray Thomas |
| Lucy Montgomery | Pepita Sanchez |
| Suranne Jones | Astrid Maddox Pern |
| John Thomson (as John Thompson) | Perry Boothe |
| Christopher Eccleston | Luke Dunmore (Sound Engineer) |
| Jane Asher | Cindi |
| Alan Ford | 'Big' Basil Steel |
| David Baddiel | Self |
| David Arnold | Self |
| Mike Read | Self |
| Phil Collins | Self |
| Peter Gabriel | Self |
| Paul Gambaccini | Self |
| Gavin Esler | Self |
| Angus Deayton | Self |
| Peter Davison | Self |
| Mike Batt | Self |
| Monty Don | Self |
| Paul McCartney | Self |
| Tony Way | Ensemble Actor |
| Shanta Patel | Ensemble Actor |
| Simon Day | Writer |
| Rhys Thomas | Writer |
| Tony Way | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Rhys Thomas | Director |
| Rhys Thomas | Producer |
| Ben Caudell | Executive Producer |
| Christopher Bird | Editor |
| Neil Barnes | Production Designer |
| Steven Burge (as Stephen Burge) | Composer |
| Lynsey Moore | Costume Designer |
| Ric Clark | Director of Photography |
| Stephen Holbrook | Composer |
| Philip Pope | Music Production |
Press
Preview - Brian Pern: A Tribute
One of the lesser known deaths in recent months was that of the Thotch frontman and Simon Day lookalike Brian Pern.
Ian Wolf, On The Box, 29th March 2017Killing their creation off in a Segway accident allows Simon Day and writer-director Rhys Thomas to present "an exclusive, cobbled-together tribute, with whoever we could get hold of at short notice". In practice, the spoof obituary means a greatest-hits feel, as Christopher Eccleston, Jane Asher and the rest take their characters' disdain for Pern up a notch. There follows a compilation of Pern hits, "with some poorly written captions underneath". Sublime.
Jack Seale, The Guardian, 29th March 2017Brian Pern: obituaries aren't meant to be hilarious
Obituaries aren't meant to be hilarious but trust us, this one is.
Mark Braxton, Radio Times, 29th March 2017Brian Pern - a knowing parody of the rock eulogy
Following the unofficial year of celebrity death that was 2016, another victim has been claimed by the great Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame in the sky.
Nick Mitchell, i Newspaper, 29th March 2017Rhys Thomas on Brian Pern: A Tribute
To celebrate the end of an era, we caught up with series co-creator, co-writer, director and star Rhys Thomas to talk about the final days of a rock legend.
The Velvet Onion, 28th March 2017TV review: Brian Pern: A Tribute
The highlight is probably Peter Davison recalling Pern's feeble acting on Dr Who.
Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 28th March 2017