British Comedy Guide
Zimbani. Image shows from L to R: Chester (David McNeill), Julius Zimbani (Julian Barratt), Harry Lenarkos (Colin Hoult). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
Zimbani

Zimbani

  • TV sitcom
  • U&Dave
  • 2010
  • 1 pilot

Spoof 1970s TV action thriller from sketch performers Colin Hoult and David McNeill. With guest star Julian Barratt. Also features Zoe Gardner, Lawry Lewin and John Roy.

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Zimbani. Image shows from L to R: Julius Zimbani (Julian Barratt), Harry Lenarkos (Colin Hoult), Chester (David McNeill). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2010
Channel
U&Dave
Episodes
1 Pilot
Creators
Colin Hoult and David McNeill
Stars
David McNeill, Colin Hoult, Julian Barratt, Zoe Gardner, Lawry Lewin and John Roy
Writers
Colin Hoult and David McNeill
Director
Elliot Hegarty
Producers
Sam Ward, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise and Ben Cavey
Company

A fifteen minute sitcom pilot based on the show created by David McNeill and Colin Hoult. Zimbani began life as a handful of sketches on BBC7's Colin and Fergus' Digi-Radio, it was then developed into a full stage show that debuted at the Fringe in 2008, and has now been turned into this TV pilot.

Zimbani is "a demented tornado of a comedy show that is a homage to great British action films of the 1970s". It features Chester van der Chester, Harry Lenarkos and Julius Zimbani - the latter of whom is the pure manifestation of evil itself.

Zimbani hunters Lenarkos and Chester have finally tracked the maniacal master of evil down to Africa, and have dodged lions and other large furry things to challenge his superiority.

Distracted in their mission and captured by Zimbani himself, Lenarkos and Chester's relationship soon unravels after they're faced with their doom. Chester wears Lenarkos' dead mother's hat and Lenarkos falls in love with him. It's that weird!

Additional details

Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 4th June 2010 at 10:50pm on U&Dave
Episode length
20 minutes
All previous repeats
  • Tuesday 6th March 2012 at 2:40am on U&Dave
  • Friday 13th January 2012 at 2:40am on U&Dave
  • Thursday 9th September 2010 at 11:40pm on U&Dave

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