Little Blighty on the Down

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Little Blighty on the Down
Genre Comedy drama
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Starring Jo Kendall
John Baddeley
Jonathan Kydd
Written by John O'Farrell
Mark Burton
Mike Coleman
Produced by Lissa Evans
Original release2 September 1988 
31 December 1992
No. of series5
No. of episodes28 (including 3 Christmas editions)
Audio format Stereophonic sound

Little Blighty on the Down was a satirical radio comedy series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between 1988 and 1992. It was a parody of contemporary life in Britain as seen in the small village of Little Blighty. ( Blighty being an old affectionate nickname for Britain; a down is a chalk hill, such as in England's South Downs; the village's name is thus suggestive of a Britain which is "little" rather than "great" in terms of importance or governance, and which shouldn't be described as being "on the up").

Comedian Jo Kendall starred as Mrs Roberts, domineering leader of the Parish Council, who engaged in rather one-sided battles with her tongue-tied rival, Working men's club president Mr Blandish.

Each of the weekly half-hour episodes would lampoon a particular political theme, e.g. party politics, the environment, health care, privatisations, the Cold War, the European Union, the criminal justice system, glasnost and perestroika, South Africa under apartheid. Current events would be used for some plot elements, e.g. the release of Nelson Mandela, the election of Solidarity in Poland, or the England football team versus West Germany.

Roberts's ruling party on the council are the Rotarians, in other words they are from the powerful and privileged sections of society but see themselves as being benevolent politicians, and are a satire on the Conservative Party. The series regularly lampooned Margaret Thatcher's perceived domineering attitude towards her Cabinet, through Mrs Roberts's heavy-handed management of her fellow councillors, accompanied by withering one-liners at their expense (delivered in Jo Kendall's foghorn-like vocal imitation of "Mrs T").

Their main opponents, at the Working Men's Club (a microcosm of the British Labour Party) are working-class folk whose ambitions to take power from the Rotarians are constantly frustrated by their own indecisiveness and internal fighting. Labour mud-slinging and party figures such as Tony Benn and Neil Kinnock were sent up.

The wider world and the UK's relations with it made appearances in the shape of Little Blighty's neighbours. To the west across a river lies the business-dominated city of Nukem, and to the east the city of Megaton, run by a dictatorial bureaucracy.

Nearer to Blighty is the richer, bratwurst-eating, BMW-driving town of Greater Krauton, hopefully soon to be united with their Megaton-like neighbours the Lesser Krauts. The Rotarians note Greater Krauton has virtues that they desire, like efficient transport, nice hospitals, and . . . more money!

The resource-laden, out-of-town supermarket Oppresto's (its name a parody of actual contemporary supermarket chain Presto), with its slavedriving managers like Mr F.W., downtrodden workforce, and rebellious trade union shop steward Mr Freeman, presents a moral dilemma for the Blightish. Is it morally right to benefit by trading with such an exploitative operation?

At home the Blighty Bugle with its fearless reporter and nervous editor, and the local aristocratic Lady, with her mansion and relatives, would stand in for the real-world Press and British Royal Family.

Episode list

SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst broadcastAdditional episode information
112 September 1988Satirical soap opera telling the everyday story of country folk. Starring John Bluthal, Andrew Sachs
29 September 1988Sparks enjoys economic prosperity under the Rotarians. But will it last? Starring Nick Hancock, Andrew Sachs
316 September 1988As a sporting event looms, friendly rivalry becomes sinister espionage. Starring John Bluthal, Nick Hancock
2121 July 1989Parish Council leader Mrs Roberts battles on with her village toll tax.
228 July 1989Is there anything in Little Blighty that Mrs Roberts won't put out to private tender? The parish council are worried.
34 August 1989Parish council leader Mrs Roberts must deal with a supermarket boycott.
411 August 1989Stinky rivers; a dwindling but overcrowded doctor's surgery; corrupt press editors.
518 August 1989Parish Council leader Mrs Roberts finds it hard to relax on her holiday.
SpecialThe Blighty Chronicles29 December 1989The village's rich history is staged - but the audience is revolting.
316 July 1990Parish Council leader Mrs Roberts wonders how to become more popular.
213 July 1990The editor of the Bugle gets a call from Deep Throat, an informant at the Parish council.
320 July 1990Mrs Roberts faces fallout from an outspoken member of the parish council. Starring Michael Troughton
427 July 1990Council leader Mrs Roberts insists an electrical substation is raffled off.
53 August 1990Leader Mrs Roberts experiences the poor state of local trains first hand.
415 July 1991Mrs Roberts has fallen from power and John Barnum is the new Council leader.
212 July 1991The Parish council needs its money, but will the bank be able to pay out?
319 July 1991Council leader Mr Barnum tries to impress a delegation with a village cover-up.
426 July 1991As the council launch a new charter, the opposition need a new initiative.
52 August 1991When an opera star visits, council leader John shows his true colours.
SpecialIt's A Wonderful Blight26 December 1991Mr Barnham's guardian angel shows the parish council leader what life in Little Blighty would be like if he had never been born
5110 July 1992Can Parish Council leader John Barnum satisfy the new doctor's demands?
217 July 1992With the village bankrupt - council leader Mr Barnum cracks down on expenses.
324 July 1992Scandal rocks the Parish Council, but can they keep it off the front pages?
431 July 1992The Parish Council's school crack down on hippies - enter Ebenezer Birch.
57 August 1992A cash crisis hits the Parish Council - and the local family of toffs.
SpecialDead of Blight31 December 1992Lord and Lady Spenney invite the local dignitaries to dinner, where the guests recount tales of horror.

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