Lenin of the Rovers: The Adventures of a Communist Football Club

Alexei Sayle stars in this comical story of Britain's first Communist football teamA secret descendant of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin, Ricky Lenin is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, fervently committed to overthrowing the decadent world of British football. As a midfield maestro, he's perfectly placed to infiltrate England's top club, Felchester Rovers, where he proceeds to introduce his radical ideas. But there's more to his fellow players than meets the eye, and Ricky soon discovers he's not the only one seeking to foment revolution...In these two series, the tactical mastermind and his teammates lock horns with the gutter press, are drawn against the notoriously hard Crungethorpe United, attempt to use the old boy network to get a sleeper agent into Cambridge, and head to the sunny socialist idyll of El Telvador - only to find themselves in the midst of a war zone. But can they make it through to the FA Cup final?Part parody, part social commentary, this tongue-in-cheek 'penny dreadful of the airwaves' affectionately spoofs everything from Roy of the Rovers and Boys' Own heroes to the British establishment, the North-South divide, Marxist-Leninist ideology and football itself. Among the star cast are Keith Allen, Phil Cornwell, John Sessions, Jim Broadbent and legendary BBC football commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme.Written by Marcus BerkmannProduced by Harry ThompsonCastRicky Lenin - Alexei SayleFrank Lee Brian - Kenneth WolstenholmeStevie Stalin/Mike Frankly - Andrew McCleanBrian Frankly - Jerold WellsRay of the Rovers - Maurice ColbourneThe Colonel - Ballard Berkeley/Donald HewlettTerry Trotsky - Keith Allen/Jonathan Kydd/Phil CornwellFrank Lee Motson/Davies/Robin Hood - Phil CornwellAnnouncer - John WittyDes Frankly - Tony AliasJulian Frankly/Senior Praecucumber - John WellsJeff Frankly - John SessionsCurvy Corinne - Jacqueline AshmanManolo/McCreadie/C Hopper Harris - Jim BroadbentFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 February-9 March 1988 (Series 1), 1-8 April 1989 and 8-15 April 2005 (Series 2)(c) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd