View source for Dead Ringers (series)

{{Short description|British radio and TV comedy impressions show}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{for|the American television series|Dead Ringers (miniseries)}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = DeadRingers.png
| creator              = [[Bill Dare]]
| executive_producer   = [[Jon Plowman]]
| producer             = {{Unbulleted list|Bill Dare|Danny Wallace|Mario Stylianides|Katie Tyrrell}}
| genre                = [[Comedy]]
| runtime              = 28 minutes
| company              = BBC Radio Comedy (2015–16)<br />[[BBC Studios]] (2016–present)
| starring             = {{Unbulleted list|[[Jon Culshaw]]|[[Jan Ravens]]|[[Phil Cornwell]] (−2007)|[[Kevin Connelly]] (−2007)|[[Mark Perry (impressionist)|Mark Perry]] (−2007)|[[Duncan Wisbey]] (2014–)|[[Lewis MacLeod (actor)|Lewis MacLeod]] (2014–)|[[Debra Stephenson]] (2014–)}}
| theme_music_composer = John Whitehall
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English 
| num_series           = 18 (Radio series)<br/>7 (TV series)
| num_episodes         = 100 (Radio series)<br/>48 (TV series)
| list_episodes        = List of Dead Ringers episodes
| network              = [[BBC Radio 4]]
| network2             = [[BBC One]] (2002 pilot)<br />[[BBC Two]] (2002–2007)
| network3             = [[BBC Radio 4]]
| first_aired          = {{start date|2000|1|7|df=yes}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|2007|5|15|df=yes}}
| first_aired2         = {{start date|2002|3|15|df=yes}}
| last_aired2          = {{end date|2007|3|29|df=yes}}
| first_aired3         = {{start date|2014|7|30|df=yes}}
| last_aired3          = present
}}

'''''Dead Ringers''''' is a British radio and television [[comedy]] [[impressionist (entertainment)|impressions]] show broadcast on [[BBC Radio 4]] and later [[BBC Two]]. The programme was devised by producer [[Bill Dare]] and developed with [[Jon Holmes]], Andy Hurst and Simon Blackwell. Among its stars are [[Jon Culshaw]] and [[Jan Ravens]]. The BBC cancelled the television run in 2007 after five years.<ref name="comedycentral.co.uk">{{cite web |url=http://www.comedycentral.co.uk/daily-fix/news/58676-ringers-is-dead |title=Comedy News &#124; Daily Fix &#124; Comedy News |publisher=Comedy Central |date=2009-04-16 |access-date=2009-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421073510/http://www.comedycentral.co.uk/daily-fix/news/58676-ringers-is-dead |archive-date=21 April 2009}}</ref> ''Dead Ringers''' return to Radio 4 was announced in 2014.<ref name="British Comedy Guide">{{cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/000001538/dead_ringers_to_return_to_radio_4/|title=Radio 4 is bringing back Dead Ringers|publisher=British Comedy Guide|date=8 July 2014|access-date=17 July 2014}}</ref>

==History==
The programme first aired on BBC Radio 4 in January 2000. ''Dead Ringers'' returned to radio in July 2014.<ref name="British Comedy Guide" />

In November 2001 BBC One said it had commissioned a pilot for a television version.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dead Ringers for TV|url=http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2001/11/26/3050/dead_ringers_for_tv|website=Chortle|date=26 November 2001|access-date=22 August 2017}}</ref> The pilot was well received<ref>{{cite news|title=Dead Ringers: Smarting laughs|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1876726.stm|access-date=22 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=16 March 2002}}</ref> and in August 2002 a full series was commissioned, this time on BBC Two.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dead Ringers get TV series|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2176352.stm|access-date=22 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=6 August 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dead Ringers switches to BBC2|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/aug/06/bbc.broadcasting1|access-date=22 August 2017|work=The Guardian|date=6 August 2002}}</ref><ref name="Press Office">{{cite web|title=Dead Ringers does the double: new Radio and Television series|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/08_august/06/dead_ringers.shtml|website=BBC Press Office|access-date=22 August 2017}}</ref> The TV show ran for seven series and was axed in April 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chortle.co.uk/news/2009/04/15/8723/ringers_is_dead|title=Ringers is dead|website=Chortle|date=15 April 2009|access-date=8 December 2009}}</ref> In 2002 the BBC's ''[[Arena (British TV series)|Arena]]'' broadcast a documentary about the series entitled ''Radio Ha! - Meet The Dead Ringers'', directed by Fisher Dilke. It featured interviews with the cast and writers, and [[Making-of|behind-the-scenes]] footage from a studio recording from the eighth series.<ref>{{cite web|title=ARENA: RADIO HA! - MEET THE DEAD RINGERS|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/deadringers_arena.shtml|website=BBC Radio 4|access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Arena: Radio Ha!|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b60c5bc0eb304eed85b9459571a478e1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827052846/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b60c5bc0eb304eed85b9459571a478e1|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 August 2017|website=BBC Genome Project|date=26 December 2002 |access-date=26 August 2017}}</ref>

==Awards==
{{awards table}}
|-
| 2001
| ''Dead Ringers''
| [[Radio Academy Awards]] Gold - The Comedy Award<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony Awards 2001: The winners|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1305660.stm|access-date=21 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=30 April 2001}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| 2001
| ''Dead Ringers''
| [[Broadcasting Press Guild]] Award for Best Radio Programme<ref>{{cite web|title=BPG TV & Radio Awards - 2001|url=http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/bpg-awards/2001-2/|website=Broadcasting Press Guild|date=31 December 2007 |access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| 2001
| ''Dead Ringers''
| The [[British Comedy Awards]] - Best Radio Comedy<ref>{{cite web|title=PAST WINNERS 2001|url=http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/past-winners/2001.aspx|website=The British Comedy Awards|access-date=21 August 2017}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|-
| 2001
| ''Dead Ringers''
| The Heritage Foundation Awards - Best Radio Comedy Show<ref>{{cite news|title=Award triumph for Del Boy|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1393394.stm|access-date=22 August 2017|work=BBC News|date=17 June 2001}}</ref>
| {{won}}
|}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Dead Ringers episodes}}

== Home media ==
===Radio series===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Episodes
! scope="col" | Runtime
! scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} of discs
! scope="col" | [[CD]] release date
! scope="col" | [[Compact Cassette|Audio cassette]] release date
! scope="col" | [[Music download|Digital download]] release date
|-
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers''
| 4
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 6 November 2000<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 1: (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563477539|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 6 November 2000
| 15 February 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers/dp/B002SQ1KIK|title=Dead Ringers|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 2 Part 1''
| 4
| 1 hr 45 mins
| 2 discs
| 2 July 2001<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 2 Part 1: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563535636|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 2 July 2001
| 6 April 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-2-Part-1/dp/B002SQ72PA|title=Dead Ringers: Series 2 Part 1|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 2, Part 2''
| 4
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 5 November 2001<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: Series 2, Part 2|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563535741|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 5 November 2001
| 6 April 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-2-Part/dp/B002SQB6X4|title=Dead Ringers: Series 2, Part 2|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: The Specials''{{efn|Contains The Archers Special, the Election 2001 Special and 50 minutes of unbroadcast material.}}
| 2
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 19 November 2001<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: The Specials|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563536624|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 19 November 2001
| 31 March 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-The-Specials/dp/B002SQ7G5Q|title=Dead Ringers: The Specials|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 3''
| 5
| 2 hrs 20 mins
| 2 discs
| 1 July 2002<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 3: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563536225|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 1 July 2002
| 1 June 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-3/dp/B00883GYOW|title=Dead Ringers: Series 3|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 4''
| 4
| 1 hr 45 mins
| 2 discs
| 4 November 2002<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 4: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563536349|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 4 November 2002
| 6 April 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-4/dp/B002SQ7WXC|title=Dead Ringers: Series 4|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 5 & 6''
| 8
| 3 hrs 30 mins
| 4 discs
| 4 November 2002<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 5 & 6: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563528567|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 4 November 2002
| 31 March 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-5-6/dp/B002SQ6XPK|title=Dead Ringers: Series 5 & 6|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Collection''{{efn|Contains Series 1-3.}}
| 17
| 7 hrs 45 mins
| 8 discs
| 11 November 2002<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Dead-Ringers-Collection-Pt-BBC-Radio/0563528516|title="Dead Ringers": Collection 1 Series 1, 2 (Pt.1 & 2) & 3 (BBC Radio Collection)|date=11 November 2002 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk|isbn=9780563528517 |access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><br/>7 April 2003 (MP3-CD)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Dead-Ringers-BBC-MP3-Audio-John-Culshaw/0563494190|title=Dead Ringers: Series 1, 2 & 3 (BBC MP3 CD Audio)|date=7 April 2003 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk|isbn=9780563494195 |access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 7''
| 4
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 3 February 2003<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 7: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563530650|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 3 February 2003
| 31 March 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-7/dp/B002SQ51X0|title=Dead Ringers: Series 7|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 8''
| 4
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 5 May 2003<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 8: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563494166|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 5 April 2012<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-8/dp/B007ROD25C|title=Dead Ringers: Series 8|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 9''
| 4
| 1 hr 50 mins
| 2 discs
| 7 July 2003<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 9: (BBC Radio Collection) [AUDIOBOOK]|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563494514|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 31 March 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Series-9/dp/B002SQ45XC|title=Dead Ringers: Series 9|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Collection 2''{{efn|Contains Series 4-6, plus the Golden Jubilee Special, which was exclusive to the set.}}
| 13
| 5 hrs 45 mins
| 7 discs
| 10 November 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Dead-Ringers-Collection-2-Jon-Culshaw/0563495014/|title=Dead Ringers: Collection 2|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 10''
| 5
| 2 hrs 20 mins
| 2 discs
| 1 March 2004<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" Series 10: Hit BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series (BBC Radio Collection)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563494891|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: The Best of the Radio Series''
| {{N/a}}
| 2 hrs
| 2 discs
| 3 October 2005<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: The Best of the Radio Series (BBC Audio)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563504587|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 17 October 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Best-Radio/dp/B002SQD75Y|title=Dead Ringers: The Best of the Radio Series|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 12''
| 6
| 3 hrs
| 3 discs
| 11 June 2015<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: Series 12|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|1785290983|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 11 June 2015
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 13 & 14''
| 7
| 3 hrs 15 mins
| 4 discs
| 1 October 2015<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: Series 13 & 14|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|1785291696|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 1 October 2015
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 15''{{efn|Contains Series 15, plus the Christmas 2015 Special and A Look Back at the Year 2020 Special.}}
| 7
| 3 hrs 10 mins
| 4 discs
| 2 June 2016<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers: Series 15|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|1785294350|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| 2 June 2016
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 16''{{efn|Contains Series 16, plus the Christmas 2016 Special and The Alternative 2016 Special.}}
| 8
| 3 hrs 40 mins
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 2 March 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-classic-radio-adaptations/dp/B01MY7DTYE|title=Dead Ringers: Series 16|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 17''{{efn|Contains Series 17, plus the Christmas 2017 Special and The End of the World Special.}}
| 8
| 3 hrs 40 mins
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 1 March 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Christmas-Specials-Impressions/dp/B079MDQ5DM|title=Dead Ringers: Series 17|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=4 March 2018}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: Series 18''{{efn|Contains Series 18, plus the An Alien Has Landed Special.}}
| 7
| 3 hrs 30 mins
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| 4 October 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Radio-Impressions-Show/dp/B07GPSFXY9|title=Dead Ringers: Series 18|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=27 December 2018}}</ref>
|}
{{notelist}}

===TV series===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Title
! scope="col" | Runtime
! scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Number}} of discs
! scope="col" | [[CD]] release date
! scope="col" | [[Compact Cassette|Audio cassette]] release date
! scope="col" | [[Music download|Digital download]] release date
! scope="col" | [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] release date
|-
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: The Television Series''{{efn|DVD & VHS release includes the pilot episode.}}
| 2 hrs
| 2 discs
| 3 November 2003<ref>{{Cite book|title=Dead Ringers TV Series 1 (TV Collection)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563496991|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 3 November 2003
| 15 February 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-The-Television-Series/dp/B002SQ7EGM|title=Dead Ringers: The Television Series|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
| 7 July 2003<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-DVD-Jon-Culshaw-x/dp/B00009PBTN|title=Dead Ringers - Series 1 [DVD] [2002]|date=7 July 2003 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-Complete-1-VHS-x/dp/B00009QNWN|title=Dead Ringers: The Complete Series 1 [VHS] [2002]|date=7 July 2003 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2003/05_may/dead_ringers_s1.shtml|title=Dead Ringers - Series 1|publisher=BBC Worldwide Press Releases|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: The Television Series 2''
| 2 hrs 10 mins
| 2 discs
| 5 July 2004<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" TV Series 2 (Radio Collection)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563525592|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| 5 July 2004
| 16 March 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Ringers-TV-Series-2/dp/B002SPZM30|title=Dead Ringers, TV Series 2|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
|- 
| scope="row" | ''Dead Ringers: The Television Series 3''
| 2 hrs
| 2 discs
| 29 November 2004<ref>{{Cite book|title="Dead Ringers" TV Series 3 (Radio Collection)|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|id= {{ASIN|0563527366|country=uk}}}}</ref>
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
| {{N/a}}
|}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Dead Ringers}}
*{{BBC programme}}
*{{BBC Online|id=radio4/comedy/deadringers.shtml|title=''Dead Ringers''}}/radio4
*{{British Comedy Guide|radio|dead_ringers}}
*{{IMDb title|0313056}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040612164831/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/deadringers/ Old Homepage]

{{BBC Radio 4}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dead Ringers (Comedy)}}
[[Category:BBC television sketch shows]]
[[Category:BBC Radio comedy programmes]]
[[Category:2000s British political television series]]
[[Category:2000s British satirical television series]]
[[Category:2000s British television sketch shows]]
[[Category:2000 radio programme debuts]]
[[Category:2014 radio programme debuts]]
[[Category:2007 radio programme endings]]
[[Category:British radio sketch shows]]
[[Category:2002 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:2007 British television series endings]]
[[Category:Radio programs adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Television series produced at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:Television series based on radio series]]
[[Category:BBC Radio 4 programmes|Dead Ringers]]
[[Category:Television series by BBC Studios]]