Elephants to Catch Eels
Encyclopedia
Elephants to Catch Eels was an historical situation comedy
series broadcast on BBC Radio 4
in 2003 and 2004. It was written by Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain
and produced by Jan Ravens
.
Set in the fictional Drumlin Bay, Cornwall
, during the 1790s, Elephants To Catch Eels follows the smuggling
exploits of the resourceful Tamsyn Trelawney (Lucy Speed
(series 1); Sheridan Smith
(series 2)) and her drunken innkeeper father Jago (John Bowe). The new preventive officer Major
Falconer (Cameron Stewart) finds it difficult to believe a woman could be involved in smuggling, unlike his deputy Captain Marriot (Andrew McGibbon
). Other characters include Squire Bascombe (Martin Hyder) and the gullible Dewey (Mark Felgate) with other parts played by Mark Perry
and India Fisher
. Anachronistic allusions, such as a “Smuggling personality of the year” contest, are part of the comedy.
It was broadcast in two series, each of six half-hour episodes, from February to March 2003 and April to May 2004, and has been repeated on BBC Radio 7.
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
series broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
in 2003 and 2004. It was written by Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain
Nev Fountain
Nev Fountain, born Steven John Fountain, is an English writer, best known for his comedy work with writing partner Tom Jamieson on the radio and television programme Dead Ringers.A native of Stamford, Fountain attended the University of Warwick...
and produced by Jan Ravens
Jan Ravens
Janet "Jan" Ravens is an English actress and impressionist, famous for her voices on Spitting Image and Dead Ringers.-Early life:...
.
Set in the fictional Drumlin Bay, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, during the 1790s, Elephants To Catch Eels follows the smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
exploits of the resourceful Tamsyn Trelawney (Lucy Speed
Lucy Speed
Lucy Renee Speed is an English actress known for her television roles as Natalie Evans in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders, and DS Stevie Moss in the ITV1 police drama series The Bill.-Early life:...
(series 1); Sheridan Smith
Sheridan Smith
Sheridan Smith is an English actress and singer who is best known for her contributions to the British sitcoms Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Gavin & Stacey and Benidorm. She has also become a recognised face in West End theatre, where she has appeared in Little Shop of Horrors,...
(series 2)) and her drunken innkeeper father Jago (John Bowe). The new preventive officer Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Falconer (Cameron Stewart) finds it difficult to believe a woman could be involved in smuggling, unlike his deputy Captain Marriot (Andrew McGibbon
Andrew Paresi
Born in Chiswick in 1961, Andrew McGibbon is an English comedian, actor, writer, musician and composer. He has also produced and directed extensively, chiefly for radio.-Education:...
). Other characters include Squire Bascombe (Martin Hyder) and the gullible Dewey (Mark Felgate) with other parts played by Mark Perry
Mark Perry (impressionist)
Mark Perry is a British impressionist and his notable impressions include; David Dickinson, John Prescott and the late Robin Cook. Perry is known for playing various public figures in Dead Ringers and 2DTV. In 2007 he appeared in the radio comedy Bleak Expectations...
and India Fisher
India Fisher
India Fisher is a British actress born in 1974. Her father is the ex-MP Mark Fisher. She is also the stepsister of musician Crispin Hunt and of actress Francesca Hunt, who appears with her in the play Other Lives....
. Anachronistic allusions, such as a “Smuggling personality of the year” contest, are part of the comedy.
It was broadcast in two series, each of six half-hour episodes, from February to March 2003 and April to May 2004, and has been repeated on BBC Radio 7.