{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox television | image = Is It Bill Bailey.jpg | caption = Title screen | runtime = 30 mins | creator = [[Bill Bailey]] | starring = Bill Bailey<br>[[Simon Pegg]] | channel = [[BBC Two]] | first_aired = {{Start date|1998|2|20|df=y}} | last_aired = {{End date|1998|3|27|df=y}} | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 6 | producer = [[BBC Scotland]] | related = }}
'''''Is It Bill Bailey?''''' was a [[stand-up comedy|stand up]]/[[sketch comedy|sketch]] comedy series written by and starring British actor and comedian [[Bill Bailey]], along with [[Simon Pegg]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=4 January 2024 |title=Why Bill Bailey had to get rescued from city pulpit... |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2909432381 |access-date=2024-12-25 |work=Glasgow Times |id={{ProQuest|2909432381}} }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=McDonnell |first=Jenny |date=Summer 2013 |title=The World's End |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1834034424 |journal=The Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies |issue=12 |pages=149–154 |id={{ProQuest|1834034424}}}}</ref> One series of six episodes was produced and aired on [[BBC Two]] in 1998.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} It was filmed in [[Glasgow]].<ref name=":0" />
It has never been recommissioned or released on [[DVD]]. It was to be repeated for the first time since original transmission on [[Dave (TV channel)|Dave]] from 23 September 2008, but was dropped from the schedules a few days before broadcast.
Each episode featured Bailey performing stand-up comedy on stage, interspersed with sketches starring himself and other actors. As well as performing parodies of [[pop music|pop songs]] or performers, Bailey would [[deconstruction|deconstruct]] music from television shows such as ''[[Doctor Who]]'' or ''[[Starsky and Hutch]]''.
The programme was produced by [[BBC Scotland]] and many of the sketches featured Scottish actors such as [[Forbes Masson]] and [[Ford Kiernan]]. [[Geraldine McNulty]], [[Norman Lovett]] and [[Simon Pegg]] also featured. Additional material was contributed by frequent collaborators [[Sean Lock]] and [[Martin Trenaman]]. The shows were directed by [[Edgar Wright]], who went on to direct the sitcom ''[[Spaced]]'' and the films ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]'' and ''[[Hot Fuzz]]'', all of which starred Simon Pegg. Bailey had a cameo in ''Hot Fuzz'', as well as a small role in ''Spaced''. He was also approached to appear in ''Shaun of the Dead'' as a zombie, but was busy with other engagements at the time. Many songs and routines featured in the show were first performed in his ''Cosmic Jam'' tour and TV show ''[[Asylum (1996 TV series)|Asylum]]'', and several were later used during his ''Bewilderness'' tour.
The title is derived from the game "Rizla" (also known as ''"Who Am I?"''), in which players are assigned the name of a celebrity or animal and must ask other players [[yes–no question]]s to determine who they are. The opening credits of the show depict Bailey with a [[Rizla]] on his forehead, bearing his own name.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{BBC programme}} * {{IMDb title|0144054}}
[[Category:BBC television comedy]] [[Category:1998 British television series debuts]] [[Category:1998 British television series endings]] [[Category:1990s British comedy television series]]