..: Lenin of the Rovers :..

The story of one man's fight to establish Britain's first communist football club. Alexei Sayle plays Ricky Lenin, the Communist midfield maestro of Felchester FC, with the rest of the cast including Donald Hewlett, Ballard Berkeley, Kenneth Wolstenholme, Keith Allen & Andrew McClean. Written by Marcus Berkmann and produced by Harry Thompson.

Alexei Sayle describes Ricky as a 'balding Marxist - a two-dimensional Russian stereotype', and reckons he's a cross bewteen the real Vladimir Ilyich and roy of the Rovers. The programme's scatter-gun comic assault takes in Boy's Own' heroes, Marxist-Leninist ideology and, of course, football itself.

:: Series 1

First broadcast on Radio 4 of a Saturday at 11.30pm

Tx. Date Rec. Date Tape No. Details

13.2.88 15.1.88 T96530 The art of leadership consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention". Ricky Lenin joins Felchester Rovers and attempts, with the help of Terry Trotsky and Stevie Stalin, to establish it as Britain's first communist football club.

20.2.88 2.2.88 T96531 Frankly admitting a mistake, ascertaining the reasons for it, analysing the conditions which led to it, and thoroughly discussing the means of correcting it - that is the earmark of a serious party, that is the way it should perform its duties." Will communism continue to triumph at Felchester Rovers.

27.2.88 15.1.88 T96532 If we succeed, then the revolutionary conflagration will spread. The revolutionary wave will convert an epoch of a few revolutionary years into an epoch of several revolutionary decades." Felchester Rovers defeat Cambridge due to their large numbers of communist sympathisers.

5.3.88 22.1.88 T96533 Before everything else we must save the revolution, and we can save it only by signing peace terms with the Germans. Better a split than the danger of an overthrow of the revolution." Felchester Rovers play the Germans and Lenin considers defecting.

:: Series 2

First broadcast on Radio 4 Saturday at 11.00pm with repeats the following Wednesday evening at 7.45pm.

Tx. Date Rpt. Date Tape No. Details

1.4.89 5.4.89 Ghosts and Goolies: Ricky writes a column for a tabloid, and learns a few lessons about life, love and Gloria Hunniford.

8.4.89 12.4.89 The Felchester Firm: Can the so-called Felchester Firm protect Ricky and the team?

15.4.89 19.4.89 Apocalypse Des: Where better to go for a sunny pre-cup-final break than newly communist El Telvador? Anywhere, if Des Frankly is interpreter. So begins a terrifying journey into the very heart of darkness itself.

22.4.89 26.4.89 The Final Solution.

Tx. Date	Rec. Date	Tape No.	Details
13.2.88	15.1.88	T96530	The art of leadership consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention". Ricky Lenin joins Felchester Rovers and attempts, with the help of Terry Trotsky and Stevie Stalin, to establish it as Britain's first communist football club.
20.2.88	2.2.88	T96531	Frankly admitting a mistake, ascertaining the reasons for it, analysing the conditions which led to it, and thoroughly discussing the means of correcting it - that is the earmark of a serious party, that is the way it should perform its duties." Will communism continue to triumph at Felchester Rovers.
27.2.88	15.1.88	T96532	If we succeed, then the revolutionary conflagration will spread. The revolutionary wave will convert an epoch of a few revolutionary years into an epoch of several revolutionary decades." Felchester Rovers defeat Cambridge due to their large numbers of communist sympathisers.
5.3.88	22.1.88	T96533	Before everything else we must save the revolution, and we can save it only by signing peace terms with the Germans. Better a split than the danger of an overthrow of the revolution." Felchester Rovers play the Germans and Lenin considers defecting.

Tx. Date	Rpt. Date	Tape No.	Details
1.4.89	5.4.89		Ghosts and Goolies: Ricky writes a column for a tabloid, and learns a few lessons about life, love and Gloria Hunniford.
8.4.89	12.4.89		The Felchester Firm: Can the so-called Felchester Firm protect Ricky and the team?
15.4.89	19.4.89		Apocalypse Des: Where better to go for a sunny pre-cup-final break than newly communist El Telvador? Anywhere, if Des Frankly is interpreter. So begins a terrifying journey into the very heart of darkness itself.
22.4.89	26.4.89		The Final Solution.