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Description: Leigh Francis under the guise of Avid Merrion introduces us to a sketch show not quite like any other. Bo' Selecta! came from a phrase Craig David used in a song meaning Good DJ. Using a set of rubber face masks and costuming, Leigh and his team create celebrities from the past and present either living out the lifestyle of the rich and the famous or living secret lives, as common as the rest of us. The show began on September 6th 2002, and ran for six episodes, with an additional two episodes featuring clips from the first series and new sketches in February of the the following year. Throughout the series the focus was on Avid's obsession with celebrities and most of the action took place in his flat. It was here we were introduced to some familiar characters who stuck through all three series of the show. Ozzey (Ozzey Rezat) was Avid's landlord and next door neighbour, who spent his days creating shirts featuring celebrity photos for Avid. In Avid's toilet was Da Craig (Big Brother winner Craig Phillips) who Avid kept hostage in his bathroom. He also kept his dead mother in his closet. As well as celebrity impersonations, Avid was regularily joined by stars making guest appearances, mainly up a tree in Hamstead Heath were Leigh in a small Bear suit, became a easily aroused character named The Bear. The second series ran for eight episodes from June 6th 2003 through to July 25th. The series pretty much followed the same premise as the first, more cameos were made and new characters introduced. After this series followed the first chart single to be realised by Avid along with many actual celebrities and his rubber faced creations a single named 'Proper Crimbo' was released in the UK, on the CD single a spoof of Michael Jacksons 'Thriller' was also released. A promo was shown of both videos and there was also a behind-the-scenes show made. Also a Christmas special entitled 'Ho-Ho-Ho Selecta!' was shown. The third series was completely different, airing this time for nine episodes from June 18th 2004, Avid had being given his own talk show. A now camped up, gay Ozzey was Avid's make-up artist. The Bear returned around the studio and Craig had being given his own DIY show in the studio next door. There was also the introduction of some new characters which have appeared in spin-offs after the series ended including Cocknose the producer, (Bo' In The USA!) Keith Lemon the director (A Bear's Tail, Bo' In The USA! and Keith Lemon's Very Brilliant World Tour) and movie critic Corey Haim (Bo' In The USA!). Avid released another Christmas single, aided by the real Patsy Kensit and Davina McCall, the trio re-released 'I Got You Babe', the B-Side to which was Leigh's Craig David's 'Sodapop'. A Promo was shown again and a more in-depth behind-the-scenes show was also made. Since the end of the third series, Leigh has gone on with Channel 4 to create a sitcom with The Bear, entitled A Bear's Tail. Then alongside his new wife who is also his sister, he had moved to America to open a hotel with her, in a sketch show, similiar to the original series Bo' In The USA!. A new episode of the series aired on September 24th 2009, as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. The show retold the stars life, it marked the return of Leigh Francis to the network, since his departure to ITV2.

Overview

Production Company:
  • Bellyache Productions
  • Channel 4 Television Corporation
  • TalkBack Productions
Initial Release Date: Sep 6, 2002
Number of seasons: 3 Seasons
Genres:
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