Captain Butler

Captain Butler
Title screen for Captain Butler.
Created by	John Smith & Rob Sprackling
Written by	John Smith & Rob Sprackling
Directed by	Ian McLean
Starring	Craig Charles Roger Griffiths Shaun Curry Lewis Rae Sanjeev Bhaskar
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	6
Production
Producer	Christopher Skala
Running time	6x30mins
Original release
Network	Channel 4
Release	3 January – 7 February 1997

Captain Butler was a British sitcom; starring Craig Charles as Butler, the captain of a motley crew of pirates which included Roger Griffiths, Shaun Curry, Lewis Rae and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Created by John Smith and Rob Sprackling, the series only ran for six episodes on Channel 4 during 1997. Its theme tune was The Sex Pistols version of "Friggin' In The Riggin'".

Plot

The series is set during the 18th century, sometime between the period known as the "Golden Age of Piracy" and the Napoleonic Wars, and follows the adventures of a misfit band of pirates led by Captain Butler (Craig Charles). The setting intentionally introduces historical anachronisms however, as both Blackbeard and Admiral Horatio Nelson are portrayed in the series, and is difficult to determine the specific time period.

Characters

• Captain Butler (Craig Charles) -
• Cliff (Roger Griffiths) -
• Bosun (Shaun Curry) -
• Roger (Lewis Rae) -
• Adeel (Sanjeev Bhaskar) -

Episodes

#	Title	Writers	Original airdate	Series No.
01	"Series One Episode One (Death Is Just Another Word)"	TBA	3 January 1997	#1.01
There is not much of a plot in this series. This show is about a bunch of Pirates who don't do much while out at sea, then one day while bobbing around Rodger Lewis Rae throws his stuff on board and asks if he can join the crew. The Captain Craig Charles says its not as easy as that and Rodger almost gets his throat cut by Bosun Shaun Curry, until he offers the Captain quite a lot of money. Rodger tells the crew about a Spanish slave ship heading across the Atlantic then once the crew arrive with the Captain dressed as a Admiral. Bosun cuts a hole in the side of the boat, after finding out there is no slaves, resulting in everyone drowning.
02	"Series One Episode Two (Nelson)"	TBA	10 January 1997	#1.02
This episode starts off with Rodger Lewis Rae reading a girly magazine "Susie" when Butler Craig Charles comes along and asks Rodger what he's reading. While reading "Susie" Rodger reads a Article about Nelson. A while later a ship is in the distance, then the crew panic once they find out its Nelson's ship. Adeel Sanjeev Bhaskar spreads come dips and wine about to make it look like they have been attacked. Everyone goes and hides then Nelson Robert Llewellyn come aboard to see the ship. The Captain then finds out everyone is in the Cupboard with the result of the Captain being pushed out right into Nelson's arms, Butler pretends to be dead until Nelson suggests to throw him over the side. Butler makes this Hocus Pocus story about his crew dyeing while battling the French. While Nelson is communicating with his ship the crew dress as French and beat Nelson up (Chinese Burn and Poked Eye) then while Hardy is rowing back to the ship comes the famous line "Kiss me Hardy, on the lips".
03	"Series One Episode Three (The Mermaid)"	TBA	17 January 1997	#1.03
The episode starts with 4 of the lads playing snap then shot moves to Butler Craig Charles who's looking out at sea with a telescope talking about how the sea is lifeless and empty. Then a while later the ship hits a reef and the crew end up on a uncharted island. Butler tells the crew about a mermaid who carried him to safety, Bosun Shaun Curry says that when a mermaid saves you, you get cursed with a love spell. The next day then find an old man on a hill who does not speak English, Adeel Sanjeev Bhaskar says he can understand him but this turns out to be a lie, only Cliff Roger Griffiths can talk to this old man. Then Butler finds the mermaid who saved him called "Tray-Sea" or Tracy. Rodger Lewis Rae has heard from Bosun how to break the curse but this does not work. But then the crew (Except Butler) leave and Butler gets married unknowingly that his upper body would be a fish. End result he hears the only way to turn back is to stop loving her, then he swims back to the ship and joins the crew again.
04	"Series One Episode Four (The Curse)"	TBA	24 January 1997	#1.04
The episode starts as Cliff Roger Griffiths tells a story about a chocolate cottage and a monster then Rodger Lewis Rae gets sent to bed. Then Bosun Shaun Curry tells the story about a curse that if you killed an albatross you would be cursed then Rodger kills one by sending a arrow straight though the heart and landing on deck the next day the weather is hot "Its the forces gathering" Bosun says. Then whist in the cabin a shock on thunder and lightning is heard and Rodger is gone just his hat left on the wheel. Then Butler Craig Charles is in bed when the monsters voice is heard saying "Rodger is dead. then Adeel then its you Butler You!" then after an Eclipse then Adeel Sanjeev Bhaskar is gone then a note is left on the sails "Adeel is dead your next Butler"
05	"Series One Episode Five (Kidnap)"	TBA	31 January 1997	#1.05
The crew threaten to mutiny when Butler doesn't start some real pirating but his salvation comes in the unlikely form of sweet innocent Lucy.
06	"Series One Episode Six (Jail)"	TBA	7 February 1997	#1.06
Butler and his crew are finally caught and tried for piracy. But is this the end of their adventure?

External links

• Template:Tv.com
• Captain Butler at IMDb
• British Comedy Guide: Captain Butler
• TV Timewarp: Captain Butler