Keith Lard
Encyclopedia
Keith Winston Lard, is a fictional fire safety officer from Bolton
, played by Peter Kay
. Lard has appeared in two of Peter Kay's television comedies on Channel 4
, That Peter Kay Thing
(in the episode "Eyes Down") and in the first series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
.
who takes immense pride in his work raising awareness of fire safety through training seminars and safety inspections. He despises people's apathy and seemingly ignorant attitude toward fire safety, often scaring his bored audience with an air horn
.
). In his first appearance in "Eyes Down," Lard is seemingly oblivious to the snide comments made to him by the bingo staff attending his seminar. However, at the end of the episode he is seen being led away by police. When he appears in Phoenix Nights, it is made apparent by Brian Potter
that he was charged with bestiality by the police but not convicted due to lack of evidence ("You try getting an Alsatian to testify!").
Mr. Laird possessed some similarities to the character of Keith Lard, working for Bolton Council as a fire safety officer and even resembling the character in appearance.
Channel 4 and Peter Kay were forced to apologise to Mr. Laird for the embarrassment caused, with a reported payment of £10,000 being split between Mr. Laird and various fire safety organisations. In addition, Channel 4 broadcast a statement at the end of the third episode of the first series stressing that the character of Keith Lard was fictional and not based on Mr. Keith Laird:
This was followed by message inviting viewers to write to Channel 4 for a fire safety leaflet prepared with the cooperation of Laird:
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
, played by Peter Kay
Peter Kay
Peter John Kay is an English comedian, writer, actor, director and producer. His work includes That Peter Kay Thing , Phoenix Nights , Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere , Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and other independent productions which have included two sell out tours.-Early career:Peter Kay...
. Lard has appeared in two of Peter Kay's television comedies on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, That Peter Kay Thing
That Peter Kay Thing
That Peter Kay Thing was a series of six spoof documentaries shown on Channel 4 in January 2000. Set in and around Bolton, these followed the lives of different characters and starred Peter Kay as the subject of each documentary. All of the episodes displayed Kay's penchant for nostalgic humour and...
(in the episode "Eyes Down") and in the first series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights
Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights was a BAFTA-nominated English sitcom about The Phoenix Club, a working men's club in the northern English town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester. The show was written by Neil Fitzmaurice, Peter Kay and Dave Spikey, produced by Goodnight Vienna Productions and Ovation...
.
The character
Keith Lard is portrayed as an overzealous jobsworthJobsworth
A jobsworth is a person who uses their job description in a deliberately uncooperative way, or who seemingly delights in acting in an obstructive or unhelpful manner....
who takes immense pride in his work raising awareness of fire safety through training seminars and safety inspections. He despises people's apathy and seemingly ignorant attitude toward fire safety, often scaring his bored audience with an air horn
Air horn
The air horn is a device designed to create an extremely loud noise. It is usually composed of a pressurized air source coupled to a horn through a valve which allows the device to be turned on and off. Air horns have been installed on large semi-trailer trucks, fire trucks, and some ambulances for...
.
Private life
Lard's private life is the subject of speculation and ridicule regarding his unhealthy relationship with dogs (even with claims of bestialityZoophilia
Zoophilia, from the Greek ζῷον and φιλία is the practice of sex between humans and non-human animals , or a preference or fixation on such practice...
). In his first appearance in "Eyes Down," Lard is seemingly oblivious to the snide comments made to him by the bingo staff attending his seminar. However, at the end of the episode he is seen being led away by police. When he appears in Phoenix Nights, it is made apparent by Brian Potter
Brian Potter
Brian Chelsea Potter, one of many fictional characters played by Peter Kay, is the owner of The Phoenix Club in both That Peter Kay Thing and Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights...
that he was charged with bestiality by the police but not convicted due to lack of evidence ("You try getting an Alsatian to testify!").
Controversy
A real-life fire safety officer, Mr. Keith Laird, complained to Channel 4 about the character of Keith Lard, claiming the character damaged his reputation and personal integrity (in particular Keith Lard's interest in bestiality).Mr. Laird possessed some similarities to the character of Keith Lard, working for Bolton Council as a fire safety officer and even resembling the character in appearance.
Channel 4 and Peter Kay were forced to apologise to Mr. Laird for the embarrassment caused, with a reported payment of £10,000 being split between Mr. Laird and various fire safety organisations. In addition, Channel 4 broadcast a statement at the end of the third episode of the first series stressing that the character of Keith Lard was fictional and not based on Mr. Keith Laird:
This was followed by message inviting viewers to write to Channel 4 for a fire safety leaflet prepared with the cooperation of Laird: