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Mike Bassett: England Manager is a 2001 satirical comedy film directed by Steve Barron, following the fortunes of the manager of Division One football (English football's second tier) club Norwich City, Mike Bassett, who having led his side to the 'Mr Clutch Cup', is appointed England manager. It received mixed reviews.
The film takes the form of a fly on the wall fictional documentary (mockumentary) following Bassett (played by Ricky Tomlinson) as he starts his international management career. Martin Bashir, well known as a journalist and presenter in real life, plays the interviewer and provides the voiceover, and the film features cameo appearances from Pelé and Ronaldo.
The film satirises many targets, such as the mysterious figures who run the Football Association, the stereotypical view of an old-fashioned manager, and the tabloid press's unfailing habit of building the England team up so they can knock them down hard. The World Cup being played is referred to in the film as 'World Cup XVII'; the 17th World Cup was the tournament played in 2002. The film was followed by a television series, Mike Bassett: Manager in 2005.
And in 2014, a second film, Mike Bassett: Interim Manager, attempted to get £250,000 funding on the website Kickstarter. After the time limit for the funding expired, the campaign was cancelled, and there has since been no further news of this second film.
Original Release
09/28/2001
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kevin Piper | Norwich Newsreader |
Ricky Tomlinson | Mike Bassett |
Malcolm Terris | Phil Cope |
Philip Dunbar | Sussex Rep |
Lloyd McGuire | Midlands Rep |
Sidney Livingstone | Yorkshire Rep |
Ian Lindsay | Manchester Rep |
Tony Nyland | Derby Rep |
Geoffrey Hutchings | Geoffrey Lightfoot / Gordon Lightfoot |
Danny Tennant | Jason Bassett |
Directors
Writers
Johnny Smith, Rob Sprackling, John R. Smith
Cast
Name | Character |
---|
Kevin Piper | Norwich Newsreader |
Ricky Tomlinson | Mike Bassett |
Malcolm Terris | Phil Cope |
Philip Dunbar | Sussex Rep |
Lloyd McGuire | Midlands Rep |
Sidney Livingstone | Yorkshire Rep |
Ian Lindsay | Manchester Rep |
Tony Nyland | Derby Rep |
Geoffrey Hutchings | Geoffrey Lightfoot / Gordon Lightfoot |
Danny Tennant | Jason Bassett |
Amanda Redman | Karine Bassett |
Martin Bashir | Interviewer |
Iain Rogerson | Ticket Collector |
Angela Curran | Margaret |
Phill Jupitus | Tommo Thompson |
Sean Gilder | Journalist / Independent Journalist |
Nigel Lindsay | Journalist / Mirror Journalist |
Mark Burdis | Journalist / Mail Journalist |
John Smith | Roving Reporter |
Bradley Walsh | Dave Dodds |
Producers
Name | Role |
---|
Charles Finch | Executive Producer |
Nigel Green | Executive Producer |
Robert Halmi Sr. | Executive Producer |
Robert Jones | Executive Producer |
Luc Roeg | Executive Producer |
Rob Sprackling | Producer |
Steve Barron | Producer |
Miara Martell | Producer |
Neil Peplow | Producer |
J.N.R. Smith | Producer |
Johnny Smith | Producer |