Massive (TV series)
A sitcom about two friends starting a record label.
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.
- Broadcaster
- BBC Three
- First aired
- 14 September 2008
- Setting
- Manchester
- Genre
- sitcom
- Producer
- Jim Poyser
- Director
- David Kerr
Lore & Background
The series follows Danny Stewart (Ralf Little) and Shay Finnegan (Carl Rice), who use Danny's inherited £10,000 to found Shady Music. Danny drives an Austin Allegro and finds himself in an unwanted relationship with Tina Simpson. Shay, whose real name is Seamus, is the first in his family to find gainful employment and has unusual musical interests, including a fascination with the band The Lamps. The cast includes Lou (Christine Bottomley), a local music critic; Tony Finnegan (Johnny Vegas), Shay's petty thief father; and Lorraine Finnegan (Lorraine Cheshire), Shay's mother who is fond of Strongbow cider. Other characters include Nancy (Joanne King), a cafe worker; Swing (Joel Fry), a geeky DJ who works in an electrical store; and the duo HearKittyKitty, consisting of Tina Simpson (Beverly Rudd) and Marie Simpson (Faye McKeever), who work in a baker's shop. Manny Westside (Paul Kaye) is a recovering cocaine addict and record producer, while Tommy Sadoski (Nigel Whitmey) is an American Anglophile lawyer with a penchant for pork pies. Ricky Lisburg (Steve Furst) is a washed-up A&R scout who reads self-help books. The Pott Shrigleys, a Hebden Bridge five-piece, appear in Episode 6, and The Lamps, a Hebden Bridge six-piece who perform in masks and write songs about Jeremy Paxman, appear in Episodes 1 and 2.
Reader's Guide
Massive is a BBC Three sitcom that aired in 2008, notable for its focus on the Manchester music scene and the comedic struggles of two friends launching a record label. The series features a large ensemble cast including Ralf Little, Carl Rice, Johnny Vegas, and Paul Kaye, and incorporates original music from bands such as a.P.A.t.T. and Peter and the Wolf. Its significance lies in its portrayal of independent music culture and the eccentric characters that populate it, though it did not achieve long-term cultural prominence. The show was produced by Jim Poyser and directed by David Kerr, and remains a niche entry in British television comedy from the late 2000s.
Did You Know?
- The series stars Ralf Little and Carl Rice as Danny and Shay.
- Danny inherits £10,000 from his grandmother to start the record label.
- Ricky Lisburg, a washed-up A&R scout, reads self-help books.
More in British comedy television shows 1-24
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