Dead Ringers: Series 20-23 Plus Specials

A collection of four series of the award-winning satirical show – plus 12 Christmas Specials

With its wickedly funny mimicry and on-point parodies, Dead Ringers became an instant classic when it hit the airwaves in January 2000. In these four series, first broadcast between 2020 and 2023, the team give us their inimitable impersonations of the famous and infamous: from Donald Trump and Joe Biden to Liz Truss, Professor Chris Whitty and Holly Willoughby.

Finding the comedy in Covid, they take on social distancing, the test and trace system, masks and R numbers. There’s a special maths lesson from Matt Hancock, a fight between Good Boris and Bad Boris about when lockdown should start, and a covert recording of Dominic Cummings – as well as tips from Dr Michael Mosley on how to stay healthy in post-pandemic Britain.

Plus, Keir Starmer shows the nation his Ramsay MacDonald in Naked Attraction, Rishi Sunak contracts a nasty dose of the 1970s, we learn the explicit secrets of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s OnlyFans account and we’re introduced to some surprising new contestants in Love Island. Angela Rayner has some unusual items for The Repair Shop, The Archers is revamped for Gen Z, the cost of living crisis hits Ready Steady Cook – and there’s a treat for anyone who’s ever watched a Wes Anderson film and wondered why.

Also featured are twelve fantastic festive specials, including a compilation episode in which Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens join Dead Ringers creator and producer Bill Dare to present a selection of the funniest Party Leader sketches since 2014, when David Cameron vs Ed Miliband was the only show in town.

Cast and credits

Starring Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson, Jess Robinson, Duncan Wisbey, Naomi McDonald, Anil Desai and Jason Forbes

Produced and created by Bill Dare

Production Co-ordinators: Sarah Sharpe, Caroline Barlow, Katie Baum and Dan Marchini

Sound Designer: Rich Evans

Written by Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Jeffrey Aidoo, Simon Alcock, Daniel Audritt, Rebecca Bain, Davina Bentley, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, James Bugg, Kat Butterfield, Sarah Campbell, Gareth Ceredig, Lewis Cook, Cody Dahler, Robert Darke, Tasha Dhanraj, Sophie Dickson, Charlie Dinkin, Chris Donovan, Toussaint Douglass, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Jade Gebbie, Alex Hardy, Rajiv Karia, Athena Kugblenu, Kate Lipson, Cameron Loxdale, Jane McCutcheon, Vivienne Riddoch, Christina Riggs, Nicky Roberts, Katie Sayer, Cassie Smyth, Peter Tellouche, Edward Tew, Rachel E. Thorn, Joe Topping, Paige Wilson, Duncan Wisbey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 June-17 July 2020 (Series 20), 11-25 December 2020 (Christmas Specials), 11 June-16 July 2021 (Series 21), 10-24 December 2021 (Christmas Specials), 17 June-22 July 2022 (Series 22), 9-23 December 2022 (Christmas Specials), 16 June-21 July 2023 (Series 23), 15-29 December 2023 (Christmas Specials)