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To celebrate its 25th anniversary, BBC Radio 4’s legendary, multi-award-winning topical satire show Dead Ringers is hitting the road with a full UK tour for the first time.
Featuring much-loved long-standing cast members Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, and Duncan Wisbey, the live show promises a hilarious journey through a quarter century of classic sketches, uncanny impressions, and the cutting-edge political and cultural satire that has defined the series.
With stops including Brighton, Tunbridge Wells, Richmond, Canterbury and London, the tour serves as a tribute to Dead Ringers creator and producer Bill Dare, who passed away suddenly in March. Bill was a legendary figure in radio & TV comedy having also been behind such classic series as The Now Show, Spitting Image and The Mary Whitehouse Experience among many others, and the entire team is honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate his work in this way.
Audiences can expect the trademark Dead Ringers mix of wit, mischief, and the sharpest impressions in the business, all delivered live by the show’s masterful cast.
The Dead Ringers radio show returned in all its topical glory this month on BBC Radio 4, as part of Friday Night Comedy. This tour is a special event and will not be for broadcast.
Cast
Jan Ravens
Jan Ravens is a regular contributor across BBC Radio 4, on programmes such as Just A Minute and I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, and current affairs programmes such as Broadcasting House, The Week in Westminster and Today. Jan has acted in countless R4 dramas and comedies including The Charles Paris Mysteries, Alexei Sayle’s The Absence of Normal, Jo Brand’s spoof obituary show V.I.P R.I.P. Her stage work includes seasons at Chichester Festival Theatre, playing Hoyden opposite Richard Briers as Lord Foppington, Birmingham Rep, as Viola in Twelfth Night, Sophia in Tom Jones and Talking Heads at Watford Palace Theatre, The Children’s Hour, 5@50 at Manchester Royal Exchange, and Pentecost and After Easter at the RSC. TV acting credits include Hebburn, Big Bad World, Skins, Carla Lane’s Luv and Janet Grimley in The Grimleys, ITV1’s Stand-up Sketch Show… and Midsomer Murders.
Something of a game-show star, Jan has won Mastermind, two Pointless trophies, come first place on Richard Osman’s House of Games and beaten the Eggheads. As well as her acting and comedy work, Jan has authored and presented several radio and TV documentaries. Jan achieved rave reviews and broke box office records with her solo show Difficult Woman, followed by a sellout tour with Rory Bremner.
Jon Culshaw
Jon Culshaw is widely regarded as Britain’s best impressionist, and is also an accomplished actor and presenter. Notable credits include Dead Ringers, Spitting Image, The Impressions Show and The Secret World. As an actor, Jon has played a wide variety of roles and delivered performances to much critical acclaim, including The Final Take: Bowie in the Studio for the BBC, Unseen Academicals a Terry Pratchett audio drama for Audible, a portrayal of the great Alan Whicker for The Other Side of the World and Billy and Me, part of the ‘Barnes' People’ series for The Original Theatre Company and Perfectly Normal Productions. Last year, Jon received widespread critical acclaim for his solo performance in Les Dawson: Flying High, taking the show from a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to a sell-out national tour at the end of 2022. He is just completing another sell-out tour of his own show, Imposter Syndrome.
Lewis MacLeod
Lewis MacLeod is an actor, comedian and mimic whose various major production appearances include Netflix’s The Crown, ITV’s Endeavour. Disney FX’s Better Things and C4’s Toast of London. Feature Films include The Lost King, Minions, Sixteen Years Of Alcohol and Last Days On Mars, as well as the voice of Sebulba in iconic Star Wars franchise. Lewis partnered with national treasure Steve Wright and became the voice of many characters on his BBCR2 afternoon show, famously fooling listeners as the voice of Jeremy Vine live on air. Comedy connoisseurs will also know him for his prominent roles in Private Eye and Spitting Image. Lewis is the voice of Postman Pat in addition to a number of other characters on the series. Gumball, Mr Men and Love Monster are just a few of the other animated series’ he has also worked on.
Duncan Wisbey
Duncan Wisbey’s wide range of credits span radio, television, and theatre. In addition to his long standing role in Dead Ringers, Duncan has been heard and seen on titles including Alistair McGowan’s Big Impression, The Legend Of Dick And Dom (CBBC), Hard Cell (Netflix), Close To The Enemy and The Impressions Show With Jon Culshaw And Debra Stephenson. Whilst his theatre credits include As You Like It (RSC), A Winter's Tale (RSC), London Road (National), Allelujah!, Young Marx, (Bridge Theatre) and most recently KYOTO (@sohoplace).
Dead Ringers: The 25th Anniversary Tour comes to Brighton Dome on Thurs 18 Sept, Tunbridge Wells Assembly Hall on Tues 23 Sept, Richmond Theatre on Fri 26 Sept, Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre on Sun 28 Sept and London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre on Mon 13 Oct 2025.
www.atgtickets.com/venues/richmond-theatre
www.lwtheatres.co.uk/theatres/gillian-lynne
Images by Steve Ullathorne
SALT Staff Writer
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