The following is a list of recurring characters from The Mighty Boosh, including characters from the television series, the radio series, and the various stage shows. Most of the recurring characters are played by Julian Barratt, Noel Fielding, Michael Fielding, Rich Fulcher or Dave Brown. For minor and non-recurring characters see List of minor characters from The Mighty Boosh.
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The Mighty Boosh centres on the adventures of Howard Moon (Barratt) and Vince Noir (Fielding), aided by the other two members of the central cast, Naboo the Enigma (Michael Fielding) and Bollo (Peter Elliott/Dave Brown), who by series 3 they share a flat with. Bob Fossil (Rich Fulcher) is part of the central cast in series 1, becoming a recurring character thereafter.
In the course of the series a variety of bizarre and surreal recurring characters cross their paths, mostly also played by the same cast doubling up.
Howard TJ Moon is portrayed by Julian Barratt. Howard is an aspiring musician, actor, poet, novelist and photographer. In the first series he works at the Zooniverse as a zookeeper, alongside Vince. In the second series, Howard and Vince have left the zoo and formed a band together. He is vain, despite being described as "generic-looking"[1] and often makes outrageous claims which often turn out to be true (he claims, for instance, to have turned down a lucrative offer extended by Walt Disney himself to sort all of Disney's felt-tip pens).[2] He reacts to criticism violently.[3] His favourite style of music is jazz-fusion, and he spends part of each day in a "jazz trance". He often claims different parts of his body or aspects of his style to be "powerful" when he is made fun of.[4] He is unlucky in love, and in series one is in love with reptile keeper, Mrs Gideon. His attempts to impress her with his novel writing[3] and snake capturing[1] are often the launching point for his and Vince's adventures. He has claimed to have "deeply Spanish" lineage; Vince usually counters that he is "clearly from Leeds".[5] Despite his lack of success, he seems to see himself as a smooth-talker and while he thinks he is being cool and dashing, his attempts to smooth talk women are awkward at best.[6] To impress two electro girls, he talks of animals in heat[7] and in series two, to impress Precious Lilywhite, he speaks about jazz and plays a tune on his self-made flute.[8] In series two, he does manage to earn the love of an hermaphrodite merman, Old Gregg. Old Gregg proposes marriage to Howard, who acquiesces due to Old Gregg's promise to let him out of the cave he is being held captive in.[9] Whilst Old Gregg is endowed with a 'mangina', it is supposed in the live tour that Howard has a 'shenis' and proposes that they were "Going to make sweet, sweet love".
In the series three episode Party Howard's romantic troubles reach a new level of wretchedness, when it is revealed that he is a virgin. Later in the episode Vince and Howard share a kiss (in order to save Vince's life) leading Howard to announce that he has now discovered his own homosexuality and is in love with Vince. Vince is horrified, but he becomes jealous moments later when Howard begins flirting with a girl.[10]
Howard believes that he has a dark, brooding, poetic side to his personality and has many artistic pretensions, although almost all of his artistic efforts come to nothing. In series two, he flirts with being a nature photographer and longs to get his pictures on the cover of Global Explorer magazine.[11] He briefly came close to becoming a published author, although he ruined his chances by descending into paranoia and angst as a result of his frequent failures to the point where, after being asked, Mrs Gideon criticised his writing causing him to fly into a blind rage and strike her in the face in front of his potential publisher.[3] He is a gifted musician, thanks to selling his soul to the Spirit of Jazz, although he refuses to play instruments because the Spirit of Jazz "gets inside" him and makes him commit embarrassing acts.[7] This claim is short-lived as by series two he is seen playing a variety of instruments on several occasions with no threat of the Spirit of Jazz.[8] In series two, Howard's lack of funkiness is suggested as one reason he has not garnered the success he wants. Vince tells him he looks like 'a supply teacher' and that he is 'too white', while Old Gregg tells Howard that he is too rigid "like a bread stick" and has no rhythm.[9]
Whenever Howard is near to death, he pleads not to die, saying, "Don't kill me. I've got so much to give." While Vince is always dressed very flashily and into the current fashion, Howard tends to look unkempt and shabby. In the second series, we learn that Vince cuts Howard's hair while Howard is asleep.[8] Vince and other characters usually comment that he has small eyes, either like a cockerel, shrimp or crab's eyes.
Howard can be aggressive (he often threatens to "come at" Vince, for instance) but when faced with an actual fight, he tends to fold quickly.[1] He is generally a very angry and frustrated man, and while he berates Vince for having an excessively sunny outlook on life, he also relies on Vince for emotional support. Howard often treats Vince like an inferior, although the laconic Vince is generally more amused than offended by Howard's superior attitude. They tease each other constantly, but there is a deep bond between them and both have demonstrated repeatedly that they will risk death to rescue each other from various dangerous situations and they even share a kiss in one episode (even if only to save Vince's life).[10] When facing death, the two will often reminisce about very silly things - "like that one time they ate soup".[12] This usually leads into a 'crimp': a short, completely random song that quickly strays off-topic and often involves harmony.
Howard's age is uncertain. In "Fountain of Youth", during a flashback to the pair's school days, he exclaims that he is the same age as Vince, despite looking much older, and it mentioned several times that they went to school and college together. If we are to believe his assertion in Party, he is "32 - ten years older than [Vince]". This may have been to indulge Vince by "confirming" a fake age of 22. However on a Mighty Boosch tour Vince jokes that Howard is 62, but then states he is actully 58.
The T.J in Howard's name stands for 'Tommy Jerry', as revealed in The Mighty Book Of Boosh
Vince Noir was originally created by Noel Fielding for the 1998 stage show, The Mighty Boosh. Vince Noir went on to appear in three more stage shows, a radio series, and an TV series on BBC Three.
During the course of the stage shows, the radio series and the TV series, it is implied that he was born in the mid-1980s,[10] and spent much of his early life as an orphan, being raised in a forest by Bryan Ferry,[13] and then proceeded to spend the latter part of his childhood in civilisation in England, where he befriended Howard Moon at primary school.[12] He left secondary school in his mid-teens, after being convinced by Howard to work at a local zoo called the Zooniverse,[14] despite mentioning at various points that he took a gap year,[15] achieved at least two BTEC National Diplomas,[1] and went to college.[15] At the Zooniverse, he befriended Naboo the Enigma, Bollo the Ape, and Bob Fossil. He and Howard also went on several adventures whilst working at the Zooniverse, including visiting the Arctic tundra,[16] Limbo,[17] and going on a road trip.[13] By 2005, he had left the Zooniverse, and was living in a flat in Dalston with Howard, Naboo and Bollo, to concentrate on his musical career, being in a band with Howard, writing music and playing gigs locally. He and Howard went on more adventures, including visiting Planet Xooberon[12] and Black Lake,[9] and getting stranded on a small desert island.[8] By 2007, Vince and Howard were working in the Nabootique, a small second-hand shop owned by Naboo.[10] Although Vince and Howard do not travel much while working at the Nabootique, they still tend to have rather extraordinary adventures in England. Vince is often quite sarcastic to Howard, but when in the radio series Howard says he is going to leave the zoo, Vince tries to persuade him not to, but Howard states that "or would you rather fly around in a chopper, letting off flares?" Overall, Vince's friendship with Howard shows that he sees him as a target to wind up and talk to, but to also act as a shoulder to cry on, but that they are the duo.
Vince's main personality trait is his relaxed outlook on life, living with perpetually laid back ease, socialising easily with those around him. Vince is often the voice of reason when Howard is being pretentious, although Vince has also been known to have a particularly naïve[17] and somewhat childlike[18] outlook on life. It is often implied that Vince is narcissistic, putting great pride in his appearance, especially his hair,[17] which he describes as "a basic back-comb structure, slightly root-boosted framing with a cheeky fringe." Vince usually conforms to specific subcultures which he considers vogue, such as mod,[14] goth,[6] punk,[2] and New Rave,[2] adapting them to fit his androgynous dandyesque appearance. Vince is commonly mistaken for a female, and one-off characters often refer to him as Howard's wife or "lady friend". He even says to Howard, "I'm the confuser! Is it a man? Is it a woman? I'm not sure if I mind!", or in the Tundra episode Dixon Bainbridge says "Howard Moon and his ugly girlfriend are missing from the zoo."
Though he seems much more confident and secure than Howard, Vince is desperate to be admired as an individual and a trendsetter. In one episode he invites party guests to "bask in the glory of [his] outfit". When a doppelgänger calling himself Lance Dior arises, Vince's optimism crumbles and he becomes insecure.[19]
It was implied in the third series that Vince had bisexual tendencies. Such tendencies are first noted in the episode "Journey to the Center of the Punk" when his singular brain cell remarks to Howard that he "does swing both ways" but didn't really feel "it" with him. Several such references are made in the episode "Party", especially when he kisses Howard passionately to avoid being beheaded by Dennis the head shaman.
Vince is a fan of electro music (including Gary Numan[7] and The Human League[7]), The Rolling Stones,[3] punk rock,[2] and glam rock (including Kiss[1]). Mick Jagger is Vince's hero.[3] He is highly disdainful of jazz, going as far as to claim to be allergic to it.[2] Vince has sung for various bands, including a glam-folk band,[7] an electro band,[7] his and Howard's own band,[20] and a punk band.[2] Vince is also a keen artist having gained a BTEC National Diploma in Art,[1] as well as hair design [6] and a novelist, writing Novellas and publishing them independently.[3] Vince Noir is also extremely proud of his hair. He reveals that he uses Nicky Clarke straighteners in the "Call of the Yeti" episode. Howard is also compassionate about Vince's hair, referring to it as Vince's mane.
Vince's uncle is a French Duke.[4]
Vince also claims he is the "King of the Mods".[14] In the season two episode entitled "Fountain of Youth", Howard Moon claimed to be the same age as Vince but in a later episode in season three,[10] Vince is ten years younger.
In the "Call Of The Yeti" episode, it is shown that Vince has a scar in his lower stomach from a Nicky Clarke straightener after he fell asleep on one of them while in a drunken state. In the same episode, Vince revealed that he cannot drive. In the episode "Fountain of Youth" Vince reveals that he is claustrophobic.
Naboo is portrayed by Michael Fielding. He was created for the 2000 stage show, Autoboosh, and later went on to appear in the pilot and all three series of the TV series, and the 2006 stage show, The Mighty Boosh.
In the pilot episode, he is mute, according to Fossil. He later disproves this when he mentions Fossil's attraction to Bainbridge.
Naboo is a freelance shaman with the ability and knowledge of many spells; he is also a recreational drug user and a drug dealer.[11][21] He is a member of the Board of Shaman, and like many of them, is a heavy drinker, and a rider of the magic carpet.[18] His full name[21] is Naboolio Randolf Roberdy Poberdy the Enigma. Naboo, like all shamans,[6] will turn his back on people to teach them a lesson.
Naboo was born in the 16th century, and raised on the planet Xooberon.[12] He was mistakenly sent to Earth by the King of Xooberon to protect the amulet of the planet's Fountain of Youth.[12] He became a drug dealer for Rudi & Spider at one point in the 1970s.[20] He went on to work as a kiosk vendor at the Zooniverse, a zoo in England.[4] While at the Zooniverse, he would often help Howard and Vince out of situations they often found themselves in, typically their explanations being followed by his catchphrase, "I don't believe this!" As an example, when Howard is being pursued by the Spirit of Jazz in the episode 'Electro', Naboo saves him by trapping the spirit in a vacuum cleaner.[17] Naboo left the Zooniverse to become a freelance shaman, moving into a flat in Dalston with Howard, Vince, and Bollo, the latter now being his familiar spirit. In the episode "Party" of series 3, it is revealed that Naboo has no genitals, and his groin is as "smooth as the bonnet of a Porsche."[10] By the 2006 stage show, he had opened a second hand shop called the Nabootique (sometimes known as Naboo's Nik-Naks) .[5] In the episode "Fountain of youth" Bollo reveals that Naboo is 406 years old.
Bollo was originally portrayed by Dave Brown, and also portrayed in the first TV series by Peter Elliot. He first appeared in "Jazz", an episode of the 2001 radio series. He went on to appear in all three series of the TV show and the 2006 stage show.
Bollo is an anthropomorphic ape who has been portrayed as inept yet immensely strong.[11] He and Vince are very close, a stark contrast to his relationship with Howard.[8] His catchphrase is "I've got a bad feeling about this...", said in every show since "The Call of the Yeti".[22] He also DJs at the London nightclub Fabric on Tuesdays.
He first appeared in "Jazz", an episode of a radio series, portrayed by Dave Brown. He next appeared in "Mutants", where he is stolen by Bainbridge to mutate.[1] He then appeared in "Bollo", where he is gravely ill, escaping death when the Grim Reaper takes Howard instead of him.[17] He briefly appears in "Electro", smashing up a guitar in the style of Jimi Hendrix.[7] By the second series he has become Naboo's familiar spirit, and has appeared in every episode since.
In The Mighty Book Of Boosh, Bollo is found to have a spaniel called Roger. [11]
Bob Fossil is portrayed by Rich Fulcher. In the radio series Fossil is the ill-tempered owner of Bob Fossil's Funworld, an inept zoo. In the TV series, he is the manager of the Zooniverse and zoo owner Dixon Bainbridge's right-hand man. He is loud and brash and is normally portrayed as Howard and Vince's enemy, often trying to set them up for disaster, although on occasion he has expressed attraction to both of them. On radio, Fossil liked Vince and hated Howard, on television he generally dislikes both of them (although he is sometimes friendly to Vince), and his radio persona is somewhat replaced by employer Bainbridge. Fossil has a desperate crush on Bainbridge, and declares that he is very interested in getting involved in Bainbridge's "shady operations".[1] Bainbridge often pushes Fossil roughly aside, knees him in the groin or punches him in the face but Fossil claims this is something they do all the time and it's a way of showing affection. On at least one occasion, Fossil and Bainbridge apparently rode in a pick-up truck and beat up midgets, though this may be more rambling from Fossil.
In the TV series Fossil is portrayed as incompetent; for example he does not know how to dial with a phone and calls a portable tape recorder his "talk box".[4] He is often very childlike and emotional, and when confronted with something disturbing (such as a mysteriously floating cup, or a cage full of mutants) he will shriek horribly.[1] Though Fossil is chief zoo keeper, he knows nothing about animals. He is unable to identify the animals he supposedly cares for at the zoo, even the relatively easy ones, such as the elephant (which he calls "the grey leg-face man"), The panda ("The black eyed chinese people who eat sticks") or Ivan the bear ("the hairy Russian carpet guy"). According to the radio series, Fossil also had a traumatic childhood which involved his mother hiding in a bunker at breakfast while throwing eggs at him. In the series, Fossil has his own theme song for the zoo: "Nicey nicey zoo zoo, for him and her and me and you!"[1] In the radio series, Bob has a brother called Wilbur who reunites him and his mother, who had believed that Bob died in Vietnam.
Though Fossil and the zoo were, without explanation, absent from the second television series, he makes a brief reappearance at the end of The Nightmare of Milky Joe as the presenter of "The Pie Face Showcase" TV music programme. In this appearance he makes a joke about his wife; it is unclear if he actually has a wife or not, although she is also mentioned in the radio series ('I got a tiny wife to support'). He returns in the third episode of series 3, "The Power of the Crimp", as the owner of the Velvet Onion club, where Vince and Howard regularly gig. It is revealed that his mother thinks he is in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp and that he has sent a bundle of sticks to his brother, Donny.[19] Fossil was last seen on the TV show, in the episodes "Party" and "The Chokes".[10]
In the live show it is revealed that he starred in the title role of a detective show called "Big Leg". The character of Big Leg later appears to defeat The Hitcher.
Fossil speaks with an American accent. He does not like cricket, and communicates this through the medium of dance, particularly to 10CC's "Dreadlock Holiday". It is possible this dislike stems from a bad experience, as he tells Naboo "...that's why you should never bring a cricket bat to Greece". Fossil also created the "Pocket Cup" in the episode 'Killeroo'. He was later seen selling them at the fight for 5 euros.
Dixon Bainbridge was originally portrayed by Richard Ayoade in the pilot episode, and later by Matt Berry throughout the first series. He originally appeared in the pilot and several episodes of the first series of the TV show, and in the 2006 stage show, The Mighty Boosh.
Bainbridge is the owner of the Zooniverse, as well as being an admired adventurer with an impressive moustache.[16] Bob Fossil is deeply in love with Bainbridge, which often results in Bainbridge beating him up.[16]
His first appearance is in the pilot episode of the TV series, portrayed by Richard Ayoade. He then appears in "Mutants", where he steals and mutilates the various animals and keepers of the Zooniverse.[1] He next appears in "Tundra", a remake of the original pilot episode. He inspires Howard and Vince to travel to the Arctic Tundra and find the Egg of Mantumbi, which Bainbridge later finds himself, escaping the Black Frost by using the heat stored in his own moustache.[16] Bainbridge later tries to sell the Zooniverse to build a road over it in "Jungle"; a plan which is later averted by Howard and Vince.[14] Bainbridge finally appears in "Charlie", where he steals credit for Vince's work as a novelist, causing Charlie, the subject of Vince's novels, to appear and attack Bainbridge and his publisher.[3] He was last seen delivering a box to the Nabootique.[5]
It was revealed in The Mighty Book Of Boosh that Bainbridge had been knighted in a story that involved Bainbridge rescuing his kidnapped wife in Brazil.
Lester Corncrake is portrayed by Rich Fulcher. He appeared in several episodes of the third series of the TV show.
Lester Corncrake is a blind vinyl doctor who is close friends with Howard Moon, and also an avid jazz fan.[2] He mistakenly believes he is black.[2]
Lester first appeared in the 2007 episode, "Journey to the Centre of the Punk" in which he accompanies Howard on his microscopic journey inside Vince to eliminate the jazz virus he has ingested.[2] He next appears briefly in the 2007 episode "The Power of the Crimp", disowning Howard after his and Vince's poor performance at a gig at the Velvet Onion where they were sabotaged by their new rivals, the Flighty Zeus.[19] His last appearance to date was in the 2007 episode, "Party", where he is a guest at Howard's birthday, where he is mistakenly beheaded by Dennis, then raped by Tony Harrison. He is briefly mentioned in the third series finale meaning that he is still alive[10]
Dennis is portrayed by Julian Barratt. He was originally created for the 2005 TV episode "Nanageddon", and later appeared in three episodes of the third TV series in 2007.
Dennis is the head of the Board of Shamen, although he sometimes wonders about the team he has assembled.[6] He is married to an extreme sports calendar model. (She tried to seduce Vince in the episode 'Party').[10] He originally trained Naboo in the ways of the Shaman.[21] He beheaded Lester Corncrake at Howard Moon's birthday party.[10] He is skilled with a sword, and defeats three attackers in the party episode. His shaman members are loyal to him, but most of them mock his drug taking, due to him being the only member who does not consume drugs.
Rudi van DiSarzio is portrayed by Rich Fulcher and Julian Barratt. He was originally created for the 1998 stage show, The Mighty Boosh, and also appeared in an outtake for the "Jazz" episode of the 2001 radio series The Boosh, both portrayed by Rich Fulcher. He was then portrayed by Julian Barratt in the 2004 episode "Jungle", and the 2005 episode "The Priest and the Beast" of the TV series. He last appeared in the 2006 stage show, Boosh Live.
Rudi is a High Priest of the Order of the Psychedelic Monks and plays guitar and sings in Rudi & Spider.[20] He and Spyder Dijon are Bongo Brothers.[20] Rudi and Spider quarrel often, but are very close despite having starkly different personalities. Rudi's behaviour and attitude is extremely puritanical; he thinks of alcohol and women as "distractions" (in stark contrast to the animalistic nature of his fellow band member, Spider Dijon), and even went so far as to say that he considered all women "strange and evil".[20] He is also suspected of having a sexual relationship with his guitar, which he calls Miranda, though Rudi has always maintained that this was a misunderstanding on his wife's part ("I was naked, it was dark, I was changing a string, I became entangled.")[20] Whenever he is asked for his name, Rudi's initial response will often be "I go by many names..." followed by a list of radically odd and random names.[14] Some of his many names include "Shatoon, Bringer of Corn", "Mickey Nine, The Dreamweaver", "Photoshop", "Trenu, The Boiler", "Marjorie Keek", "Mystery Man", "The Shadow Dweller", "Diviner of Mysteries", "Rudi the Pruney", "Miraculous Mark", "Domino, the Bounty Hunter", "Clive" and "Cillit Bang", He is often called "Peppercorn" by the Dutch. A similar character, Howard's uncle Pedro, appears in the radio episode "Tundra", also claiming to go by many names.
In Jungle and some other appearances he has a tiny (puppet) body and he appears attached to a mobile backdrop; in most appearances he is of normal size and wears a long purple robe. In all of his appearances on stage or TV, Rudy has large buck teeth, browned skin (it is not clear what ethnicity is meant to be) and an enormous afro haircut with a door in it, called the door of Kukundu, that can open to take people on bizarre psychedelic trips. He claims to have earned his door by becoming spiritually enlightened as a monk. Rudi is allergic to wheat.
Mrs Gideon is portrayed by Victoria Wicks. She was mentioned briefly in the The Boosh as Howard's band partner and lover, until the smooth talking Rudy Mancheigo (based on the character of Rudi van DiSarzio) wooed her with empty wisdoms, and appeared in the first series of the TV show.
Mrs Gideon was the Head of Reptiles at the Zooniverse.[1] She was the chief love interest of Howard in Series 1 but as she could not remember his face, his love went unrequited. She was, however, interested in Vince, admiring his paintings, remarking that Vince's portrait of Howard (a featureless face atop a Zooniverse uniform) looked just like him, and going to Vince when her snake was stolen by Bainbridge, much to Howard's disgust and envy.[1] She is fond of trumpets and bookmarks. The trumpet reference is related to the Biblical legend of the Trumpet of Gideon.
Old Gregg is portrayed by Noel Fielding. He was created for "The Legend of Old Gregg", a 2005 episode of the TV series. He later went on to appear in the 2006 stage show, The Mighty Boosh.
Old Gregg is a hermaphroditic merman who occasionally refers to his vagina, which emits a blinding light, as his "mangina." He inhabits a cave below the lake in a village called Black Lake.[9][23] Old Gregg is fond of Bailey's Irish Cream, as well as being a watercolour painter.[9] He owns The Funk, an extraterrestrial covered in 'udder-like' teats which lactate liquid Funk.[9] Old Gregg is in love with Howard Moon; singing a song with him entitled "Love Games", chronicling his obsession and Howard's reluctance, and later proposing to Howard.[24] A deleted scene from "The Legend of Old Gregg" documents many rumours about Old Gregg, including his cannibalistic nature, and his age at over 1,200 years old.[25] Before meeting Howard, Old Gregg was obsessed with Slash, the former Guns N' Roses guitarist, to the point of kidnapping him. It was mentioned that it ended badly, involving Gregg being very upset and Slash plummeting from a helicopter down 1000 feet onto some sharp rocks. He also claims that he said, "You should build a Velvet Revolver and go and live in it." - Velvet Revolver being Slash's new band.[26]
Old Gregg is first seen in the 2005 episode, "The Legend of Old Gregg" in which he meets and falls in love with Howard, who is then rescued by Vince. Old Gregg then joins Howard in the 2006 stage show, after tracking him down and having himself delivered in a box, where they sing a rendition of "Love Games" and are later seen kissing.[5] Old Gregg last appeared in deleted scene from the 2007 episode, "Party", disguised as a woman who has taken a liking to Howard.[27] The episode became popular on YouTube and Old Gregg became something of an internet meme.[28]
There is a legend of an Old Gregg merman that existed at Orford Castle in Suffolk. The tale is that this merman was caught in fishermen's nets in about 1167 and was held for six months until he escaped. The creature was naked, covered in hair and never talked.[29]
Tony Harrison is portrayed by Noel Fielding. He was originally created for a 2005 episode of the second series of The Mighty Boosh, "Nanageddon", and later returned for three episodes of the third series.
Tony Harrison is a disembodied pink head topped with a bulbous shape vaguely resembling a phallus,[30] or a squid, with eight or so tentacle-like appendages sprouting from his neck, and a coarse, nasal East London brogue.[6] He is a shaman, and member of the Board of Shamen. Tony appears unable to speak without smiling, even when relaying the most dire information, such as when relaying the importance of Shaman Juice to Naboo after Naboo had the juice taken from him by Crack Fox. Although Harrison claims that his navigational skills are second to none, and to be a 'unique thinker' in the field of strategy, the other shamen are quick to point out the apparent limitations of his lack of mobility; Tony is barely mobile within the show, but is frequently outraged at suggestions that this is the case.[6] Harrison's drug of choice is poppers, for which he has an immense capacity.[10] Tony is married, and makes frequent reference to Mrs Harrison who, as yet, has not been seen on the show,[6] and who, in the 2008 live tour, is announced to have left him. Tony's marriage does not prevent him from appearing to indulge an apparent sexual attraction to human heads. Harrison also implies that he has given Mrs Harrison the "back of his tentacle" in the past, and is disgusted that Dennis seems "whipped" by his extreme sports calendar model wife. Tony's catchphrase, "This is an outrage!" has been spoken by him during every appearance in the show: Tony uses the phrase both when he feels hard-done-by, and when sexually aroused. He is an ardent fan of Fleetwood Mac, to the extent of suggesting playing the album Tusk in its entirety while DJ-ing Howard's birthday party with Saboo.[10] He also claims to have an HGV licence.[18]
Tony first appeared, alongside the rest of the Board of Shaman, in the 2005 TV episode "Nanageddon", where he and fellow Shaman Saboo are given the task of finding and exorcising the powerful demon Nanatoo, which ends in Saboo ejecting him from his magic carpet out of annoyance.[6] He next appears in the 2007 TV episode, "Eels", accompanying the other Shaman on Dennis's stag weekend.[18] He then appears briefly in the 2007 TV episode, "The Strange Tale of The Crack Fox" being Naboo’s executioner for the crime of giving a malevolent fox access to shaman juice.[21] His latest appearance was in the 2007 episode "Party" where he and Saboo DJ'd at Howard's birthday party.[10] In The Mighty Book of Boosh it is revealed that Tony is the Ents manager for the Shaman Council, and that he originates from Xooberon, the same planet as Naboo. It's also revealed that his middle name is Ian.[26]
The Hitcher is portrayed by Noel Fielding. He was created for the 1999 stage show Autoboosh, and later appeared in the 2001 radio series, four pisodes of the television series, and the 2006 stage show, The Mighty Boosh, in which he is the main antagonist, killing all the main characters at one point.
The Hitcher is an old cockney man with long grey hair, green skin, a large Polo mint over his left eye (which he refers to as his "solo Polo peeper"), a top hat and black and red clothing. He is evil, threatening to kill Howard and Vince whenever he meets them, and killing the whole cast in the stage show.[5][13] His real name is Baboo Yagu, but he is almost always referred to as The Hitcher.[13] He is also a proponent of jazz fusion, especially proficient on the bass guitar.[13] The name Baboo Yagu likely comes from the old Russian legend of Baba Yaga.
The Hitcher has a confused history; he states in "The Hitcher" that as a child his parents were ashamed of his small thumb (prompting him to seek out the Hornet Shaman). However, in "Eels" he reveals that Elsie, proprietor of the Pie and Mash Shop, gave him free eels "on account of [him] being an orphan n' that" (Eels). In The Mighty Book of Boosh, it is revealed The Hitcher trained a man called Ian in the ways of a Cockney. Ian later goes on to become Jack the Ripper, and the Hitcher murders him as punishment for 'slashing Women'. [26]
The Hitcher is sometimes accompanied by two short, rotund henchmen called the Piper Twins. The Piper Twins are dressed similarly to the Hitcher, with similar Polo mint eyes, but wear bowler hats and have long red moustaches, made from strawberry bootlaces. They are portrayed by Rich Fulcher and Dave Brown
The Hitcher's first appearance was in Autoboosh, where he encounters Howard and Vince, trapping them in a box and then rapping about doing so. This plot was the template for a 2001 radio episode and a 2004 television episode, both titled "Hitcher".
In the television episode, he is proprietor of the "Zoo for Animal Offenders".[13] He later appears in the 2005 television episode, "Fountain Of Youth", where he plans to use the fountain of youth's magical qualities for himself with the motive to rule the universe.[12] Next he appeared in the episode "The Nightmare of Milky Joe" as one of the coconut people. He then appeared in the 2006 stage show, The Mighty Boosh, which contained elements of both Autoboosh and the 1999 stage show, Arctic Boosh.[5] His latest appearance was in the 2007 television episode, "Eels", in which he attempts to run a protection racket on The Nabootique.[18]
The Hitcher's appearance, though always grotesque, alters slightly during the course of the television show. In the first series episode "The Hitcher" he has an abnormally large thumb, as well as nose and chin. He explains this as a result of visiting a Hornet Shaman in the bin of a primary school and asking him to enlarge his thumb. In the second series his thumbs are both normally sized. In the third series he has both a normal chin and nose, and looks altogether much younger and more spry — a direct result of his showering in the Fountain of Youth in the episode of the same name (Series 2) - although his voice, based loosely on Noel Fielding's grandfather, remains as haggard as ever. In the episode of "the Hitcher" of series one, Noel explains that the Hitcher is based on his grandfather crossed with the character Fagin from the play Oliver.
The Hitcher appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross singing a song about eels. Although he dances energetically and enthusiastically, he falls to his knees at the end of the song, complaining of his "old legs." The Polo came off his eye during the song and he casually tossed it aside.
The Spirit of Jazz/Howlin' Jimmy Jefferson is portrayed by Noel Fielding. He appears in three separate forms over the course of the series. It is revealed in the series 3 episode, Journey to the Centre of Punk, that he was a famous jazz musician that lived by the swamps of Mississippi. When he was alive he had black and white skin, red eyes and wore a white suit and top hat. When he discovered he was dying of a "strange swamp fever" he decided to make one final record called Voodoo Scat and mixed it with a drop of his own blood.[2]
In the series 1 episode "Electro" is the first appearance of Howlin' Jimmy Jefferson. His ghost is featured in this episode and referred to as the Spirit of Jazz. In this form he looks the same as he did when he was alive but now has a number of supernatural powers and uses them to possess people such as Howard. Howard apparently made a deal with him years ago in which he would make Howard one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. From that moment on whenever Howard played an instrument the Spirit of Jazz would possess him and make him do "strange things" such as playing the trumpet so vigorously that his clothes tore off.[7] The story is never fully resolved, however, subsequent episodes have shown Howard playing several instruments without any implication that he is possessed by the Spirit of Jazz.
Howard later obtains the voodoo scat record that Howlin' Jimmy made and Vince eats a piece of it which causes one of Howlin' Jimmy's blood cells (referred to as the jazz cell) to try and take over Vince's body. Howard along with Lester Corncrake shrink down and enters Vince's body in an attempt to defeat the jazz cell but end up bringing it out of Vince's body with them and making it much larger. It is eventually defeated by an infected safety pin and walks away complaining, falling over just outside the door of the Nabootique. In the form of the jazz cell, Howlin' Jimmy looks like a ball of black dreadlocks with a head and top hat.[2]
Kirk is portrayed by Kirk Gaitskell-Kendrick.[31] Kirk is a nephew of Noel Fielding's former girlfriend Dee Plume, although Noel referred to Kirk as his own nephew.[32] He first appeared in the 2005 episode, "Nanageddon", and later appeared in three 2007 episodes.
Kirk is a child Shaman, and a member of the Board of Shaman.[6] He has admitted to being "an erotic adventurer of the most deranged kind" from the fourth dimension,[6] and a "vehicular menace, mowing down all in [his] path".[18] Kirk is renowned by the other members of the Board of Shaman for having the greatest capacity for taking drugs.[21] To this day Tony Harrison wonders what Kirk is looking at when he's high (as he stares off into the distance for extreme lengths of time) and is told that nobody knows. A deleted scene from "Nanageddon" reveals that Saboo trained Kirk in the ways of the Shaman.[33]
The Moon is portrayed by Noel Fielding with his face covered in shaving foam. He was originally created for Fielding's 2002 stand-up show Voodoo Hedgehog at the Edinburgh Festival, his appearance is a tribute to/derived from Georges Méliès' A trip to the moon. He later appeared in all episodes of series two and three of The Mighty Boosh, and in the 2006 and 2008 live shows.
The Moon talks about himself, the stars and other planets, as well as strange and often borderline incoherent things. For example, he talks about licking the Sun's back without it knowing, or the time he saw a man with a telescope.[6] He has a variety of poems and songs. The Moon always appears to be simple-mindedly cheerful, and he is described by Tony Harrison as "an alabaster retard".[6]
Tommy Nookah was originally portrayed by Richard Ayoade. He appeared in the radio episode "Jungle" and later in revised form during the first series of the TV show, where he was played by Rich Fulcher rather than Ayoade. In both versions he is the previous owner of the zoo where Howard and Vince work; he is assumed by many to be dead. Howard sees him as an idol and mentor, despite Vince pointing out that he was a short, stocky character with an exceptionally wide head. Howard later enters the jungle room of the zoo to find Tommy. In the TV version Tommy has subsisted for years on nothing but cheese, and as a result his head has turned into cheese. Tommy considers himself King of the Rockers, and flies into a rage when confronted by mods.
The Parka People are a diminutive race of people who wear parkas that completely obscure their features. They appear in the "Tundra" storyline and the third series episode "Party". By looking deep into the parka, one can see one's deepest desire. The Parka People typically guard the object of the Arctic quest (Egg of Mantumbi, Ruby of Kukundu, etc.). One of the Parka people appears in the stage show (played here by Noel Fielding); Howard takes a letter out from under the parka, but first he accidentally rips out its eye and sticks it back in its pocket. The parka person then states "Oh, that's where my pen went !".
Saboo is portrayed by Richard Ayoade. He was originally created for "Nanageddon", an episode of the second series of The Mighty Boosh and later appeared in three episodes of the third series, "Eels", "The Strange Tale of the Crack Fox" and "Party".
Saboo is a shaman, and a member of the Board of Shaman.[6] He is also a DJ.[10] He is close to Kirk but is unaware of his sexual adventurism, extreme road rage, and great capacity for drug consumption, and dislikes Tony Harrison, whom he has attempted to kill, and Naboo, whose propensity for getting in trouble with the Board of Shaman often results in Saboo attempting to make an example of him. He also frequently refers to his colleagues as 'plum(s)' and variations thereof when they act foolishly. During his first appearance, he frequently referred to 'the crunch,' criticising other characters for their lack of familiarity with it to the point of being accused of being 'obsessed with the crunch.' "The crunch", in this sense, is a high pressure moment, which is a common usage of the term in UK English. He was Kirk's tutor.
In The Mighty Book Of Boosh, Saboo angrily tells Tony Harrison in e-mail form that he had laid down every Shaman Club Room carpet for the last 300 years.
Leroy is a recurring character that only ever appears on screen once in the television series when Vince creates a band which was a glam rock/folk fusion in series 1 episode 7 electro. He is said to have helped Howard edit the show's script in the series 1 episode "Tundra", cutting out the scene where Vince has the legs of a ram. Leroy also goes on secret spy skiing missions in the Alps as is mentioned in the series 3 episode "Eels". He is mentioned in the episode "Electro" as having tried to form a glam-folk-rock band with Vince. It is assumed the character shown in the following flashback is Leroy. He is played by Olly Ralfe in this short scene. He is also referred to very briefly in episode 1 of season 1 Killaroo when Vince states that Leroy had told him earlier he saw Howard dancing for Fossil in the moonlight in "little blue pants" and is later referenced in "The Ape of Death" talking to Vince on a cellphone when Howard is "haunting" him.
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