30 minSeason 1 • Episode 6
LatestA documentary following the rise and fall of Marc Park, 12 months after he won "Talent Trek" in the first episode, "In the Club." After rising to fame as part of pop group Park Avenue in the first documentary, Park ditched partner Cheryl Avenue when she became pregnant. After two or three hits, he found he was being portrayed as a villain in another documentary focusing on Cheryl's struggles as an unemployed single mother. Eventually he returns to his job as a greengrocer whilst Cheryl becomes a star, much to the chargin of Marc.
That Peter Kay Thing is a series of six spoof documentaries shown on Channel 4 in January 1999. Set in and around Bolton, these follows the lives of different characters and stars Peter Kay as the subject of each documentary. All of the episodes display Kay's penchant for nostalgic humour and unsympathetic lead characters. The series was narrated by Andrew Sachs. Many of the plot lines were based around actual events from Kay's life. At least six of the characters appear in the spin-off series Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights.
Writing
Kay's autobiographical cruelty to his own alter-egos
Acting
Neil Fitzmaurice and Paddy McGuinness before they were famous
Production
Andrew Sachs' deadpan narration saves nothing
Creator
Peter Kay
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This quietly invented the British cringe-comedy mockumentary format years before The Office, but got buried in regional obscurity.
The 'In the Club' episode's DJ friends—Toby and Lester—are played by Kay's actual school friends, using their real names.
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