![Lead Balloon. Rick Spleen (Jack Dee). Copyright: Open Mike Productions Lead Balloon. Rick Spleen (Jack Dee). Copyright: Open Mike Productions](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/300x200/l/lead_balloon2.jpg)
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.
Episode menu
Series 4, Episode 5 - Blade
Further details
![Lead Balloon. Donald (Robbie Coltrane). Copyright: Open Mike Productions Lead Balloon. Donald (Robbie Coltrane). Copyright: Open Mike Productions](https://cdn.comedy.co.uk/images/library/comedies/180x200_eps/l/lead_balloon_episode_0405.jpg)
Having accepted funding from the local council, Rick reluctantly agrees to teach a Stand-up Comedy Workshop in Belford Prison. But this turns out to be one of Rick's worst gigs: he is taken hostage, trapped in the prison library by a knife-wielding prisoner, Donald.
Donald is a worrying mixture of charming and psychotic - and worse still for Rick, has a pathological hatred of liars. Can Rick talk his way out of trouble?
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 28th June 2011
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Jack Dee | Rick Spleen |
Robbie Coltrane | Donald |
Adam Stevens | Journalist |
Judith Faultless | Journalist |
Jack Dee | Writer |
Pete Sinclair | Writer |
Alex Hardcastle | Director |
Alex Hardcastle | Producer |
Addison Cresswell | Executive Producer |
Andrew Beint | Executive Producer |
Liana Del Giudice (as Liana Del Guidice) | Editor |
Gordon Whistance | Production Designer |
Video
Robbie Coltrane in Lead Balloon
Robbie Coltrane guest stars as prisoner Donald, who asks Rick for a review on his stand-up routine. Rick gives a positive review as Donald explains all of the stories he told were true.
Featuring: Jack Dee (Rick Spleen) & Robbie Coltrane (Donald).