Massive (TV series)

Massive is a BBC Three sitcom set in Manchester. It follows Danny and Shay, played by Ralf Little and Carl Rice, who quit their office jobs to start a record label after Danny inherits £10,000 from his grandmother. The show first aired on 14 September 2008.

Danny Stewart (Ralf Little) is Shay’s best friend and funds their label, Shady Music, with his inheritance. He often clashes with Shay over musical taste and ends up in an unwanted relationship with Tina. Danny drives an Austin Allegro.

Shay Finnegan (Carl Rice), whose real name is Seamus, is the first in his family to hold a steady job. He has unusual musical interests, including a fondness for the band The Lamps and a desire to revive old music styles. He initially dislikes the duo HearKittyKitty but warms to them as they gain success.

Other characters include Lou (Christine Bottomley), a local music critic and journalist; Tony Finnegan (Johnny Vegas), Shay’s petty thief father; Lorraine Finnegan (Lorraine Cheshire), Shay’s mother who enjoys Strongbow cider; Nancy (Joanne King), a cafe worker and friend of Danny who becomes the love interest of Swing; Swing (Joel Fry), a geeky DJ who lives with his mother and works in an electrical store; Tina Simpson (Beverly Rudd), half of HearKittyKitty, who insists she is not adopted and drinks Lambrini perry while pursuing Danny; Marie Simpson (Faye McKeever), Tina’s sister and the other half of HearKittyKitty, who likes pies and works with Tina at a baker’s shop; Manny Westside (Paul Kaye), a recovering cocaine addict and record producer; Tommy Sadoski (Nigel Whitmey), an American Anglophile lawyer who loves pork pies; and Ricky Lisburg (Steve Furst), a washed-up A&R scout who reads self-help books and will do anything to sign HearKittyKitty.

The Pott Shrigleys, a five-piece band from Hebden Bridge, appear in Episode 6, performing the songs “Make It Alone” and “White Noise.” The Lamps, a six-piece band also from Hebden Bridge, appear in Episodes 1 and 2; they wear masks, write songs about Jeremy Paxman, and perform “Dogs Ablaze” and “Oo La La Jeremy Paxman.” The programme was produced by Jim Poyser and directed by David Kerr.