''Sir Bernard's Stately Homes'' is a British TV comedy series first shown in 1999 on

BBC Two BBC Two is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's second flagship channel, and it covers a wide range of subject matte ...

and later repeated on

Play UK Play UK was a music and comedy television channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom as part of the UKTV network of channels. Play UK broadcast 24/7 on digital platforms, but on the Sky Analogue platform on the Astra 19.2°E satellite system, ...

. Only six ten-minute programmes were produced, all written by and starring

Matt Lucas Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English actor, comedian, writer and television host. He is best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC sketch comedy series ''Little Britain (TV series), Little Britain'' (2003–2006) ...

and

David Walliams David Edward Williams (born 20 August 1971), known professionally as David Walliams (), is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television personality. He is best known for his work with Matt Lucas on the BBC sketch comedy series '' Little ...

. It bore many similarities to the more well-known ''

Rock Profile ''Rock Profile'' is a British television comedy show written by and starring comedy partnership Matt Lucas and David Walliams, both later widely known for the sketch show '' Little Britain''. ''Rock Profile'' first appeared on the channel UK P ...

''. The series was directed by

Edgar Wright Edgar Howard Wright (born 18 April 1974) is an English filmmaker. He is known for his fast-paced and kinetic, satirical Film genre, genre films, which feature extensive utilisation of expressive popular music, Steadicam tracking shots, dolly zo ...

, and produced by Myfanwy Moore, who would become the producer of ''

Little Britain Little Britain may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little Britain'' (TV series), a British radio and then television series ** '' Little Britain USA'', an American spin-off * "Little Britain", a song by Dreadzone from the 1995 album ''Second ...

''.

Plot

The central character is Bernard Chumley, played by Matt Lucas, who was already a regular stand-up character of Lucas' and would go on to be a fixture of ''Little Britain''. In each edition, Sir Bernard and his friend Anthony Rogers would investigate a number of country estates while searching for the Golden Potato, an advertising stunt which would win them a year's supply of Allen's Crisps ("the cheaper crisp!") Each house is named after a character or actor from ''

Grange Hill ''Grange Hill'' is a British Children's television series, children's television drama series, originally produced by the BBC and portraying life in a typical Comprehensive school (England and Wales), comprehensive school. The show began its ru ...

''. Further popular culture is revisited at the end of episode 5, in which the pair eat snacks on a rollercoaster dressed as

scout Scout may refer to: Youth movement *Scout (Scouting), a child, usually 10–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouts (The Scout Association), section for 10-14 year olds in the United Kingdom ** Scouts BSA, sect ...

s, in a similar fashion to a group of scouts in a well-known edition of ''

Jim'll Fix It ''Jim'll Fix It'' is a British television series broadcast by the BBC, presented by Jimmy Savile and running for almost two decades, between May 1975 and July 1994. Devised by Bill Cotton, the show encouraged children to write a letter to Savi ...

''. David Foxxe,

Paul Putner Paul Putner (born 18 March 1966) is an English actor and comedian. Life and career Putner was born in March 1966 in East Grinstead, West Sussex. He studied at LAMDA where he won the Kenneth More prize for comedy acting. His first significant ...

Rowland Rivron Rowland John Rivron (born 28 September 1958) is a British writer, comedic actor and television personality. Early career Rivron played the comic character 'Dr Martin Scrote' on the Jonathan Ross chat show ''The Last Resort'', and also played S ...

, Rhys Thomas, and Julie T. Wallace appeared throughout the series. The script editor was

Barry Cryer Barry Charles Cryer (23 March 1935 – 25 January 2022) was an English writer, comedian, and actor. As well as performing on stage, radio and television, Cryer wrote for many performers including Dave Allen, Stanley Baxter, Jack Benny, Rory B ...

Episodes

External links

* 1999 British television series debuts 1999 British television series endings BBC television comedy British English-language television shows {{BBC-comedy-tv-prog-stub