When The Whistle Blows
| When The Whistle Blows | ||
 Animated title sequence created by Laurie Peters | ||
| Genre | Sitcom | |
| Runing time | 28 mins. | |
| Creator(s) | Andy Millman | |
| Writer(s) | Andy Millman, Damon Beesley | |
| Starring | Andy Millman, Keith Chegwin and Liza Tarbuck | |
| Country | UK | |
| Network | BBC 1 | |
When The Whistle Blows is the fictional show-within-a-show of Extras, whose creator, co-writer and star is Gervais' character, Andy Millman. It was first mentioned in the series one episode "Kate Winslet", as a script that Andy had written and given to his agent (who neglected to read it). The script was turned into a sitcom on BBC2 on the first season's finale, "Patrick Stewart". Excerpts from the sitcom are featured in the second season, and so far all of Andy's plotlines have revolved around his experiences with the show.
The television show was picked up after Andy gave the script to Patrick Stewart, whose fictional production company, Picard Productions, sent it on to the BBC. It is unknown whether the production company is involved with the sitcom beyond that.
It is set in a factory, mainly in the canteen. The humour is broad and lowbrow in the manner of, for example, Are You Being Served? or Dinner Ladies, in striking contrast to Gervais' real sitcom The Office. It has been suggested that the inclusion of studio audiences/canned laughter, and the reliance on funny wigs, costumes and catchphrases for laughs is a comment on recent comedy hits such as Little Britain and The League of Gentlemen.
The show is apparently unpopular with reviewers but popular with the public. Andy is deeply unhappy with it, feeling that too many people have interfered with his original ideas in the hunt for ratings. Originally, it appears that he set out to do a comedy similiar to The Office, with true to life characters in a work environment. He originally stipulates that he wants it to be without a laughter track and not in front of a studio audience, and to be aimed at people with a sense of humour that will make them think. Of course, the show has turned out to be the opposite of what he originally wanted.
Characters
Ray Stokes
Ray is a manager, played by Andy Millman who is in turn played by Ricky Gervais. His catchphrase is an incredulous "Are you having a laugh!? Is he having a laugh?". The character was based on a man who Andy worked for before deciding to pursue acting full time, and originally, his catchphrase was merely something Andy wrote in because it was something the real Ray used to say. To play the part of Ray, Andy wears oversized glasses and a curly black wig (to add to the 'hilarity'), although the real Ray looked nothing at all like that. His employers seem to laugh at his jokes and say 'Oh, Mr Stokes' alot.
Rita
Rita is played by Liza Tarbuck. She appears to be the centre straight character of the show, as Tim was in The Office. She is a single mother with a daughter.
Gobbler
Gobbler is the least intelligent character on the show, played by Andrew Buckley. His inabilty to understand his co-workers' jokes often prompts his catchphrase, "I don't get it!". He is socially oblivious and is often teased by his co-workers. He appears to have a good relationship with Kimberley. He was in charge of the traditional Japanese entertainment when Japanese investors came to visit, and dressed up in stereotypical Chinese costume with Kimberley (complete with sticky tape pulling their eyes), and sang a song called 'Ching Chang Chinaman', to which the Japanese investors reacted with "Is he having a laugh?"
Kimberley
Kimberley is played by Sarah Moyle, and appears to be an affectionate sort of person who has alot of expositionary dialogue.
Brains
Played by Jamie Chapman, Brains is the stereotypical smart one of the group, sporting glasses and a snobbish voice. He over explains a joke to Gobbler in the pilot.
Keith
Keith is played by TV presenter Keith Chegwin. His name was originally Alfie, but a frustrated Andy changed it when Keith (the actor) became confused at being given an alias to act with. Keith confides in Andy 'Sometimes, I don't know who's talking to who'. Keith, the character, is always late to work. In the pilot episode of When the Whistle Blows his sister died and he attended her funeral causing him to have a legitimate reason to be late for once. Keith also makes racist remarks which make Andy feel uncomfortable.
Theme Song and Title Sequence
The opening titles of When The Whistle Blows were animated by Karl Pilkington's friend Laurie Peters. The theme song, sung by Liza Tarbuck, was premiered in episode three of the second series of Extras.
The lyrics are as follows:
Tick tock, alarm clock, I'm gonna be late,
Porridge, toast, kids, car, bloody school gate.
Factory floor, what a chore, another week's graft,
And fifty times a day I hear "You havin' a laugh?"
Whatever happened to my dreams, is this the life I chose?
The highlight of my ruddy day is when the whistle blows!
When the whistle blows.
When the whistle blows.