Show makes a good impression

Radio impressions show Dead Ringers is to transfer to TV.

Jon Culshaw's mimcry of BBC announcer Brian Perkins, former Dr Who Tom Baker and William Hague have made the show one of Radio 4's biggest comedy hits in tears,

And now the BBC is making a pilot show to be aired in the spring.

"Just getting the prosthetics and make-up on takes hours - but seeing the finished product is wonderful," told Radio Times.

"Really distinctive voices, like Brian Sewell, are relatively easy but with others, like Robbie Williams, you have to study tapes and look a lot harder for the idiosyncrasies."

The pilot will also star Jan Ravens, Mark Perry and Kevin Connelly, who make up the radio show's cast.

Mr Culshaw famously impersonated William Hague in order to conduct a hoax telephone interview with the prime minister, Tony Blair.

Published: 26 Nov 2001