14 Facts About Rick Spleen

Rick Spleen is a short-tempered, impatient comedian who struggles to find worthwhile gigs or appearances.

Rick Spleen spends a lot of his time writing jokes for corporate events with his friend and writer, Marty who always does far more work than Rick.

Rick Spleen is a stubborn, incompetent liar, who often attempts to avoid paying professionals by performing a task himself.

Rick Spleen passes off many of Marty's jokes as his own, and always aims to take credit for other people's work.

Rick Spleen often makes fun and insults his American writer Marty, and Marty returns the gesture.

How much the pair need each other is made especially obvious in the final episode of Season 2, "Lucky", where, after Rick Spleen accuses him of lacking ambition, Marty receives a call from America asking him to write in Hollywood.

Rick Spleen is upset but tries not to let his feelings show.

For example, when Rick Spleen has an argument with Michael, the cafe owner, or with Magda, his Eastern-European cleaner, Marty defends them rather than backing Rick Spleen, which appears to wind him up even more.

Mel, who works as an agent for TV performers, and Rick Spleen are partners and have a teenage daughter, Sam.

Rick Spleen regularly gets into arguments with Magda and blames her often.

Rick Spleen constantly complains of her making noise, filling the fridge with her food and the fact that she has placed a fridgemagnet on the fridge amongst other things.

Rick Spleen often calls Michael mad, especially after he starts therapy.

Rick Spleen is annoyed by the constant loud music coming from Sam's room, as they practice for their band, 'Ben and Sam.

Jack Dee, who plays Rick Spleen, is the co-creator and one of the executive producers of Lead Balloon, therefore he writes his own part with the help of co-writer Pete Sinclair.