The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gunbarrel
| The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gunbarrel | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Stephen Frears |
| Produced by |
Elaine Taylor Executive Producer: Michael White |
| Written by |
Keith Allen Peter Richardson |
| Starring |
Keith Allen Peter Richardson Robbie Coltrane |
Running time | 40 minutes |
The Bullshitters: Roll Out The Gunbarrel was a spoof of The Professionals, first broadcast in 1984 on Channel 4. Although it was made by many people behind The Comic Strip, it did not feature the Comic Strip logo and is not considered by some to be part of the series. However, it was included in the Comic Strip DVD box set (2005), and its lead characters Bonehead and Foyle reappeared in a later Comic Strip episode, Detectives on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown. It was also represented as an episode of the show on 30 Years of The Comic Strip.
Synopsis
When Commander Jackson (Robbie Coltrane), head of DI5, hears that his daughter Janie has been kidnapped and held for ransom, he has to call in ex-agents Bonehead (Keith Allen) and Foyle (Peter Richardson) to save her. Since being kicked out of DI5, Bonehead works at a TV Tough Guys School, teaching others the "rules" of being a TV tough guy (such as not locking your car because you need to get straight back into it), and Foyle is now an actor on stage. Jackson blackmails the two into working together. It's time for Bonehead and Foyle - the flashiest, fastest and most under-dressed detectives to be kicked out of DI5 to get back to work. With a Magnum in one hand and a bus pass in the other, the Bullshitters set out to track down the criminals and get some good close-ups. However, as every good TV cop knows, not all is as it seems, especially Bonehead and Foyle's relationship with each other - is there a reason they wear so little clothing around each other?
Cast
- Keith Allen as Bonehead
- Peter Richardson as Martin Foyle
- Robbie Coltrane as Commander George Jackson
- Alana Pellay as Herself
- Jimmy Fagg as Himself
- Fiona Hendley as Janie Jackson
- Al Matthews as Admiral
- George Khan as Thompson
- Kevin Allen as KNOBS Student Chuck
- Gary Martin as KNOBS Student Stig
- John Sarbutt as KNOBS Student Dean
- David Farrington as KNOBS Student David Farrington
- Anthony Sharp as West End Play Father
- Michael White as Himself
- Elvis Costello as Stone Deaf A&R Man
Gay themes
Bonehead and Foyle spend the latter half of the episode bare chested or with their shirts undone revealing their chests - in fact, as soon as they start working together again. During a chase scene, both of them are wearing undone jackets, briefs, and shoes - and nothing else. They put on jeans later on and then discard the jackets as they try to save Jackson's daughter.
Near the end of the episode, they hear a gunshot and hug each other in fright, before they declare their love for each other and kiss passionately. It turns out they have loved each other secretly for years.