How to Start Your Own Country
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How To Start Your Own Country was a six-part British television series aired by the BBC at 10:00pm from August 3, 2005, until September 6, 2005. It was presented by Danny Wallace and followed his quest to start his own country in his flat in Bow, East London, eventually named Lovely.
(How To Start Your Own Country was also a book by Erwin S. Strauss published in 1979 by Loompanics)
A show called Citizen TV, also presented by Danny Wallace, was shown to digital viewers after each episode, giving news and discussions about the country. New episodes of Citizen TV, a half hour phone-in show that was available after the main show via BBCi, can now be viewed online at Citizens Required.com.
Contents |
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Birth Of A Nation
- Danny investigates territory for his proposed country, visiting Sealand and invading Eel Pie Island. He eventually decides upon the area of his flat.
[edit] Citizens Required
- With the help of an advertising agency, Danny chooses a design for the flag of his country. He records a national anthem, which is played during his interview on Iain Lee's LBC show.
[edit] For King And Country
- Danny studies how to be a good leader, writes his own constitution and assembles a parliament.
[edit] State Of A Nation
- Danny visits two very different 'utopian' communities, the planned town of Celebration which maintains its pleasantness through strict rules and regulations, and the anarchic self governing neighbourhood of Christiania. He also speaks to a Catholic Cardinal about the role of religion in society and to Sheriff Joe Arpaio about law and order.
- A sombre visit to death row and an interview with a death row prisoner leads him to decide against the death penalty in his country.
[edit] The Bank Of Danny
- When he struggles to pay his electricity bill, Danny begins to kickstart his country's economy. He investigates the National Debt, with advice from former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke. He designs his own currency,the IOU (Interdependant Occupational Unit), which he shows to Andrew Bailey, the Chief Cashier at the Bank of England. He also discovers The Principality of New Utopia and interviews the UK Pro Consul, Tony Nicodemous. He applies for international aid, and fails.
[edit] The United Nations
- Danny attempts to enter the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 with a song called "Stop the Muggin', Start the Huggin'".
- In an attempt to officially become a country, he travels to New York to try to win the support of the United Nations. The lack of a territory lets him down.
- This final episode ends with a gathering of citizens in Leicester Square, where Danny reveals that the country is to be called Lovely.
[edit] DVD Release
The series will be released on DVD in the UK in January 2007, having been postponed from October 2005, although some copies were distributed to shops and as such have appeared on eBay and in shops which failed to perform the recall on the original DVD.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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