"Phoenix Nights" (2001) TV series 2001-2002

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

14 January 2001 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Musical Acts | Sitcom | Singing | Working Mans Club | Bar

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Peter Kay	...	Brian Potter / ... (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Dave Spikey	...	Jerry 'St. Clair' Dignan / ... (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Janice Connolly	...	Holy Mary (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Archie Kelly	...	Kenny Senior (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Patrick McGuinness	...	Paddy (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Justin Moorhouse	...	Young Kenny (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Toby Foster	...	Les (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Steve Edge	...	Alan (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Neil Fitzmaurice	...	Ray Von (12 episodes, 2001-2002)
Ted Robbins	...	Den Perry (8 episodes, 2001-2002)
Beatrice Kelley	...	Marion (6 episodes, 2001)
Enid Dunn	...	Joyce (6 episodes, 2002)
Alice Barry	...	Regular (5 episodes, 2001)
Wai Kee Chan	...	Dec (5 episodes, 2002)
Julian Sua	...	Ant (5 episodes, 2002)
Daniel Kitson	...	Spencer (5 episodes, 2001-2002)

Also Known As:

Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights (UK) (alternative title)

Runtime:

25 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Bolton, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Goodnight Vienna Productions

Trivia:

The series was filmed in a real club in Bolton.

Quotes:

Brian Potter: It just came to me in a dream, like St. Paul on the road to Domestos.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do (2003) (TV)

hilarious comedy based in the North West of England

This comedy, which ran for two series, was co-written by and starred (in several roles), Bolton comic Peter Kay, who has his finger perfectly on the breathing pulse of North West England (speaking as someone the same age as Kay who comes from a part of the NW not a million miles from Bolton). Phoenix Nights was set in a lousy Northern club with 'entertainment', bingo, and droll staff, just the kind of club that existed in the 1970s and 1980s.

Brian Potter, owner and sometime licensee, is wheelchair bound and sarcastic, with his wingeing voice and blustering manner. Played by Kay he is a great creation. The main target for Brian's verbal attacks is Jerry 'St Clair' (Dave Spikey) who acts as compère and - at times - terrible entertainer. Doormen Max (Kay again) and Paddy (Patrick McGuinness) went on to have their own spin-off series.

Alongside the long-running feud between Potter and Den Perry (Ted Robbins), the high points of Phoenix Nights includes the variety 'auditions' which ended each episode (who could forget the doves which flew into the air condition fans, or the ping pong lady?). The audience at the Phoenix were real-life Bolton residents, and their reactions are absolutely genuine.

I have two favourite episodes - the one with the outdoor entertainment ('Sammy the Snake' (!), and the Children's Activity Hut, formerly the Gents loo); and the Stars in Their Eyes episode (with the jam-jar glassed club worker as Gary Glitter, and Jerry and Brian as Elton John and George Michael).

It ended far too soon but the two series that were made are the stuff that makes classic comedy.