''The Folks on the Hill'' was a satirical sketch show, which started in January 2001 as a Saturday morning BBC Radio Ulster broadcast. In 2004, it evolved into an animated television show, first aired on 9 January 2004, on BBC One Northern Ireland. In its 10th year, the final, 17th series was broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster from Saturday 8 October until 12 November 2011, the day before writer and voice-over star Sean Crummey died. The show was a light-hearted, comic parody of the prominent figures of Northern Irish politics, and occasionally other politicians including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Bertie Ahern and George W. Bush. The term 'folks on the hill' refers to the Northern Irish parliament and government at Stormont Hill. The programme was written by Belfast impressionist, Sean Crummey, animated by Liam O'Neill (later Ciaran Boyle) and produced by Owen McFadden. The music was by Paul Rocks. Female voice impersonations were by

Kathy Clugston Kathy Clugston (born 22 August 1969) is a Northern Irish presenter, newsreader and continuity announcer on BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra and the BBC World Service. Born in Belfast, Clugston attended Methodist College and then studied French ...

, who provided the voices for Anne Robinson, Iris Robinson, Camilla, the Queen, Bairbre de Brun and many others.

References

External links

* Folks on the Hill audio clip

* Folks on the Hill video cli

Musical Reference

" The Folks Who Live On the Hill" (1937) is a ballad written by

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

and Jerome Kern. (Note that unlike the show, there is no "the" before "folks" in the song title.) For more information see

Darby and Joan Darby and Joan is a proverbial phrase for a married couple content to share a quiet life of mutual devotion. Usage ''The Nuttall Encyclopædia'' defined the phrase as "a married couple celebrated for their mutual attachment", the ''Random House ...

. BBC Radio comedy programmes BBC Radio Ulster programmes BBC television comedy BBC Northern Ireland television shows Irish comedy television shows Satirical radio programmes British satirical television series 2000s television series from Northern Ireland 2010s television series from Northern Ireland {{BBC-tv-prog-stub