Whatever I Want
{{short description|2000 British television sketch show}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image = WhateverIWant.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption =
| genre = Sketch show
| creator =
| developer =
| writer = {{Plainlist|
- Leigh Francis
- Richard Preddy
- Gary Howe
- Gavin Claxton
}}
| director = Gavin Claxton
| creative_director =
| presenter =
| starring = Leigh Francis
| theme_music_composer =
| open_theme =
| end_theme =
| composer = {{Plainlist|
- Claudio Giussani
- David Blair
}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = 1
| num_episodes = 6
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = John Noel
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Johnny Lowry
- Gavin Claxton
}}
| editor = Alex Hutchinson
| location =
| cinematography = Rupert Wyatt
| camera =
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = Bellyache Productions
| channel = ITV
| first_aired = {{Start date|2000|01|7|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2000|02|11|df=y}}
| related =
}}
Whatever I Want is a six-part British television sketch show, written by and starring Leigh Francis, that first broadcast on ITV on 7 January 2000. Commissioned by Bellyache Productions, and overseen by Gavin Claxton, the series featured early prototypes of the characters of Keith Lemon and Avid Merrion, as well as a human version of The Bear known as Barry Gibson, who had previously appeared as a roving reporter during the early series of Channel 4's Popworld.{{cite web |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/whatever_i_want/ |title= Whatever I Want - ITV Sketch Show |website= British Comedy Guide|accessdate=18 January 2019}}
The series broadcast at 11:30pm on Fridays in LWT regions only, and has never been repeated since broadcast, nor released on DVD. Each episode featured a number of celebrity guests, including Davina McCall, who first discovered Francis performing in-role stand-up comedy in a southern comedy club, and encouraged him to pursue a career in television.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Reworked versions of Keith Lemon and Avid Merrion would later go on to appear as characters in Francis' Channel 4 sketch show Bo' Selecta!.
Characters
- Barry Gibson; a budding television presenter & antique aficionado.
- Avid Merrion; a Transylvanian-celebrity "stalker".
- Keith Lemon; a failed former businessman-of-the-year.
Episodes
{{Episode table |total_width=73 |background=#00A1D7 |overall=5 |title=20 |Aux1=55 |Aux1T=Guest(s) |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1
|Title= Episode 1
|Aux1= Davina McCall{{cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b83fb9e45 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021135910/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b83fb9e45 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 October 2020 |title= Whatever I Want [07/01/2000] |website= BFI|accessdate=18 January 2019}}
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|01|07|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=2
|Title= Episode 2
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|01|14|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=3
|Title= Episode 3
|Aux1=
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|01|21|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=4
|Title= Episode 4
|Aux1= Davina McCall, Claudia Winkleman{{cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b84351196 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174250/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b84351196 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2019 |title= Whatever I Want [28/01/2000] |website= BFI|accessdate=18 January 2019}}
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|01|28|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=5
|Title= Episode 5
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|02|04|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=6
|Title= Episode 6
|Aux1= Mandy Smith, Cleo Rocos, Sarah Cawood, Kate Thornton{{cite web |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8436f339 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174227/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b8436f339 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2019 |title= Whatever I Want [11/02/2000] |website= BFI|accessdate=18 January 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHwROUnlFsg |title=Early Keith Lemon & Avid Merrion - 'Whatever I Want' - Leigh Francis Before 'Celebrity Juice'|website=YouTube|date=26 January 2012|accessdate=18 January 2019}}
|OriginalAirDate= {{Start date|2000|02|11|df=yes}}
|ShortSummary= Keith Lemon enlists the help of Mandy Smith to redecorate an elderly woman's lift. Cleo Rocos helps Keith to give city office manager Brian a taste of the countryside. Avid Merrion stakes out a car park in the hope of bumping into Nicolas Cage. Barry Gibson tries his hand at abstract art, before inviting two close friends, Sarah Cawood and Kate Thornton, round for pizza.
|LineColor=00A1D7
}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}