Give My Head Peace
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Give My Head Peace is a satirical television comedy series on BBC Northern Ireland that pokes fun at political parties, paramilitary groups and the sectarian divide in Northern Ireland. The programme is written and performed by a Northern Ireland comedy troupe known as the Hole in the Wall Gang.
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[edit] Background
The concept originated on the BBC Radio Ulster programme Across the Line, in the late 1980s, as a five-minute slot. The radio version used many of the characters and plot ideas used in the later TV series.
Its first television appearance was in a made for TV film called "Two Ceasefires and a Wedding", shown on BBC Northern Ireland in 1997, poking fun at the clichéd "love across the barricades" plot that features in many dramas about Northern Ireland. In this case the lovers were Emer, the daughter of a "prominent" Sinn Féin activist, and Billy, an Royal Ulster Constabulary constable. Their wedding is opposed by their respective families, and ends in farce (but with Emer and Billy happy anyway).
A full series was then commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland. Some changes were made to the format prior to the series going ahead - with the character of Cal (Emer's brother) changing substantially, and the introduction of other recurring characters such as Big Mervyn and Red Hand Luke. A few years into the series, Nuala McKeever (Emer) left the series to pursue other interests, and a new love interest for Billy was introduced in the form of Emer's previously unseen sister, Dympna.
As of 2005, the series continues to run on BBC One Northern Ireland. It is usually screened in a prime-time Friday night slot, opting out from network BBC One. In mid-2004, a selection of episodes were shown across the UK on BBC Two in a late-night slot on Saturdays.
In recent years, they have performed live shows at a selection of venues across Northern Ireland. The 2004 show was chiefly made up of scripts from the 2004-2005 series. In 1999 a video & book was brought out.
[edit] Characters
The principal characters are:
- Da (Tim McGarry) - A "prominent" Sinn Féin spokesperson who is eventually elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly
- Cal (Damon Quinn) - Da's son. In the pilot ("Two Ceasefires and a Wedding") he is portrayed as a sinister Irish Republican Army activist. In the series, his character is much dumbed down and he is the "thick one" of the family.
- Uncle Andy (Martin Reid) - An old-fashioned traditional loyalist whose twin loves are British Ulster - and Elvis Presley. he was once hypnotised into thinking he was the Pope, but hilariously the hypnotist dropped dead before he could be brought out of the trance...
- Billy (Michael McDowell) - Andy's nephew and an RUC (later Police Service of Northern Ireland) officer. He falls in love with Emer (and later Dympna). Throughout the series' life, there have been occasional hints that Andy may be more than just his uncle... In the 2003-2004 series, however, the writers knowing that they couldn't keep up that pretence for too much longer, the story was finally wrapped up, well sort of... Viewers were sill left feeling fairly confused.
- Emer (Nuala McKeever) - Da's daughter, she falls in love with Billy, but later runs off with a Spaniard (and leaves the series).
- Ma (Olivia Nash) - Da's wife, the sensible one of the household (despite her obsession with local DJ and country singer Hugo Duncan, and mild crush on Uncle Andy), though she hates her husband so much that it's almost unbelievable. Almost... She is the one first coins the term "Give My Head Peace".
- Dympna (Alexandra Ford) - replaced Emer when she ran off with a Spaniard (although popularly believed that the character was never mentioned before her appearance, Dympna and another sister, Una, were mentioned at the very beginning of Two Ceasefires and a Wedding. Da apparently tarred and feathered her, in response to a massive phone bill. Una has never been seen, leading to speculation that she has never been allowed to return to the country after forgetting to tape The Quiet Man). Dympna married Billy in a chaotic ceremony in Rome at the end of the 2002 series.
- Big Mervyn (BJ Hogg) - Uncle Andy's best mate. Not the brightest.
Other occasional characters are:
- Red Hand Luke (Dan Gordon (comedian)) - born-again Christian and violent loyalist psychopath. Also a "Shugo" Duncan fan. He acts like a big child, and when he doesn't get his way, savagely beats everyone up, usually Andy and Mervyn, who often live in fear of the next time he (literally) bursts through Andy's front door.
- Sammy (Gordon Fulton) The landlord of the "Loyalist Kneebreakers", Andy and Mervyn's favourite haunt, a rowdy loyalist drinking den.
- Pastor Begbie (Paddy Jenkins) - A recently introduced character. Like Red Hand Luke, a born-again Christian and feared loyalist, now a 'Presbyterian minister'. He and Luke met whilst they were in jail. He often gets Andy and Mervyn to perform painful and/or humiliating tasks for him, and threatens them with a visit from his 'henchmen' if they refuse.
[edit] Episode list
[edit] 2006
- Easter Special - Easter Parade
- Christmas Special - The McGlinchey Code
[edit] 2004-2005
Series 9
- Episode 1 - The Kid
- Episode 2 - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
- Episode 3 - Keep the Aspidistra Flying
- Episode 4 - The Searchers
- Episode 5 - I am the Law
- Episode 6 - Fahrenheit 451
- Episode 7 - Surprise! Surprise!
- Episode 8 - Love Actually
- Episode 9 - Canada Dry
- Episode 10 - The Passion of Red Hand Luke
- Christmas Special - It Was A Very Good Year
[edit] 2003
Series 8
- Episode 1 - The Producers
- Episode 2 - Return of the Mummy
- Episode 3 - It Must Be Love
- Episode 4 - The Sixth Sense
- Episode 5 - The King and I (Christmas Special)
- Episode 6 - Shock and Awe
[edit] 2002
Series 7
- Episode 1 - Don't Go Up There
- Episode 2 - The Prime of Inspector Brodie
- Episode 3 - Get Thee to a Nunnery
- Episode 4 - I Have a Dream
- Episode 5 - La Passionara
- Episode 6 - Lord of the Ring
Series 6
- Episode 1 - Village People
- Episode 2 - Friends
- Episode 3 - In the Name of the Father
- Episode 4 - Return of the Native
- Episode 5 - Crime and Punishment
- Episode 6 - Secondary Colours
[edit] 2001
Series 5
- Episode 1 - The Talented Mr Ripple
- Episode 2 - Number One Fan
- Episode 3 - The North Down Connection
- Episode 4 - McKenna's Gold
- Episode 5 - Luke Back In Anger
- Episode 6 - The Beautiful Game
Series 4
- Episode 1 - A Day in the Life
- Episode 2 - Seven
- Episode 3 - Intiminadation
- Episode 4 - The Drugs Don't Work
- Episode 5 - A Christmas Carol (Christmas Special)
- Episode 6 - The Shoes of the Fisherman
[edit] 2000
Series Y
- Episode X - Reborn on the 12th of July - Episode dated 2000
[edit] 1999
Series X
- Episode X - Saving Ryan's Daughter (Don't know exactly what series, but the show is dated 1999)
[edit] Trivia
The theme song of the series is "She Says" performed by The Saw Doctors. It was released as a single in Ireland in the late 1990s.
[edit] External links
- Give My Head Peace Official website
