Dead Ringers (comedy)
Dead Ringers is a UK radio and television comedy impressions show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and BBC2. The program was devised by Bill Dare, and stars Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Phill Cornwell, Kevin Connelly and Mark Perry.The program is well known for its portrayal of fellow BBC employees, such as Radio 4 news reader Brian Perkins as a gangster and Director General of the BBC Greg Dyke as a Michael Caine-like character. Newsreaders Kirsty Wark (of Newsnight) and Charlotte Green (of Radio 4) regularly open bulletins on the programme with a line from a popular song ("He was a skater boy, she said see you later boy, he wasn't good enough for her. More on that story later"). Broadcasts reportedly from Downing Street parody BBC political editor Andrew Marr, showing his supposed eccentric manner, interminable sentences, and jerky movements.
Culshaw regularly performs telephone prank calls impersonating Tom Baker's incarnation of The Doctor or Alec Guinness's version of Obi-Wan Kenobi. In the show's television incarnation he goes shopping as both characters, vexing shop assistants and used-car salesmen alike ("Yes, I know it's got six months' road-tax left, but will it take me to Alderaan?").
President George W. Bush mangles the English language ("My fellow amaeboids...", "My fellow umbrellastands...") and tapes over intelligence videos with episodes of Sesame Street.
Prime Minister Tony Blair announces his hand gesture style while speaking, while Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott catches fire when two of his incomprehensible sentences rub together.
