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Frank Skinner Sitcom shown on Channel 4 in 1994

Frank won the Perrier award in 1991. As a result he appeared on Channel 4 comedy programmes called Packet Of Three and Packing Them In. Frank then scripted a sitcom pilot for Channel 4's Bunch Of Five, which first aired on 10 June 1992, which was then developed into the series Blue Heaven.

 

Semi-autobiographical, episodes depicted the struggles of Frank (vocals) and Roache (Comedian Conleth Hill) (keyboards) as they tried to make a success with their musical duo, Blue Heaven. Set in Birmingham to a background of working-class pubs and West Bromwich Albion football matches each episode saw the two heroes battle to crack the big time against enormous public apathy and parental hostility. Singularly failing to set the world on fire, Blue Heaven's most crowd-pleasing song was 'Please Stop Booing Us, We're Going Soon'.


was it any good?

 

The series was very well written with plenty of sharp lines and hilarious observations. There was no studio audience which gave the production a low-key feel and meant that some of the sparkling one-liners were greeted by an odd and undeserved silence.

Frank will often speak to camera in an alfie-esque type of way.

 

The support acting was good, with a welcome return to sitcom for Paula Wilcox, who gave a broad Brummie accent as Frank's screen mum. All in all, Blue Heaven was quality, likeable entertainment that arguably suffered from the decision not to use a studio audience. 

 

 

6, although 7 if you count the pilot. they were about 35 mins each episode.