Bo' Selecta! | |
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Title screen of Bo' Selecta!
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Created by | Leigh Francis |
Developed by | Leigh Francis Ben Palmer |
Starring | Leigh Francis |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of series | 5 |
No. of episodes | 45 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Spencer Millman |
Running time | 30 minutes (including commercials) |
Production company(s) | Talkback |
Distributor | Fremantle Media |
Release | |
Original network | Channel 4 |
Original release | 6 September 2002 | – 25 November 2006
External links | |
Website |
Bo' Selecta! was a British adult sketch show written and performed by Leigh Francis, that lampooned popular culture and was known for its often surreal, abstract toilet humour.
Bo' Selecta! was broadcast on Channel 4 and ran for three series between 2002 and 2004, spawning several spin-offs. Francis played central character Avid Merrion, a dangerously insane stalker, who is obsessed with celebrities and tracks them down. The show consists of sketches involving various celebrities, portrayed by Francis in a latex mask. The most popular sketches involve entertainers such as Elton John, David Blaine, Kelly Osbourne, Michael Jackson, Mel B and central character Craig David. Avid Merrion would appear in his own sketches placed throughout each episode. Another recurring character on the show played by Francis is "the Bear", a perverted teddy bear who interviews (real, as opposed to portrayed) celebrity guests, where he will make them read a bedtime story to him. Each story starts off the same way and ends with the celebrity (usually female) performing a sexual act, causing the Bear to have an erection.
The series title is based on the title of the Artful Dodger and Craig David song "Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta)". Craig David is one of the main characters and speaks in catchphrases such as "proper bo I tell thee" and "can I get a reeewind". Much of the show's humour is derived from the deliberate ineptitude of each impersonation and general incongruity; famous scenes include Avid slapping Justin Timberlake with slices of cold meat, and trying to seduce Patsy Kensit while in character as Mel B.