Jack Dee’s fourth and last series of Lead Balloon is currently being broadcast on BBC2.
In it, Dee plays the main character, Rick Spleen, who is an out-of-work comedian trying to make the big time.
The comedy of the sit-com is centred around Rick’s jealous and irritated response to the good things that he sees happening to others. Everyone is succeeding around him but he is not. His own wife works as an agent for many successful artists, including comedians, and is in constant demand. For example, in episode one, a reporter from The Daily Telegraph comes round to write a feature on their house and, in episode two, one of her clients gets nominated for three awards including best stand-up.
