Linda Flint
Encyclopedia
Linda Flint is a fictional character in the television series Little Britain
. She is portrayed by David Walliams
.
Linda is a university counsellor (and lecturer) who is approached regularly by students when they need assistance with aspects of their course, such as essay due dates, or more personal matters, such as ill family members. Linda pleasantly tries to help, but her solution is always to refer them to another (unseen) university staff member called Martin, whom she contacts via phone while the student waits. Each time she always starts the call with the catchphrase "Martin? It's Linda..." and she tells him who is with her and what they're asking about. Martin apparently has difficulty placing students by their name so Linda has to describe the person in question. While she begins with some good qualities and compliments, she will, without even changing the tone of her voice, drop any normal etiquette against racism, equality and general good manners and then come up with insulting descriptions of the student, usually picking on a particular feature of the student, before coming up with an insulting epithet for the student. At this point Martin will recognise the student whom he requests to come up to his office. Before the students leave, Linda insults them even more. She is oblivious to the shock she receives when describing the student and reacts with astonishment when she hears what she has been saying about them later on.
The office in which Linda works looks like a normal office in the beginning of the series, but it slowly changes over the series until the room is filled with Communist paraphernalia (including a bust of Lenin
, several Soviet flags, a coffee mug that reads "I love Moscow" and many "equal rights" posters). This is possibly the greatest irony in the sketches.
All of the above students appeared in protest at the end of the third series, including a previously unseen red, curly-haired young man she apparently had previously described as Mick Hucknall
. Their protest was responded to with casual indifference and another phone call to Martin who was indignantly informed that she had the entire cast of Fraggle Rock
with her.
Also, in a series 3 deleted scene, another student named Andrew is referred to as "Handy Andy", as he noticeably has only one arm, and is also likened to the drummer in Def Leppard
. This scene was removed because David Walliams
, according to his commentary, believed it to be crossing the line in taste. This student also appears in the final sketch with all the other students, but his nickname has been edited out.
Little Britain USA
also featured Linda in an American University, along with Martin. She insulted two students:
Additionally, there is a deleted scene in which an unnamed student enters Linda's office, and Linda, without contacting Martin, greeted her by saying "hello pig!" as she had an upturned nose.
Little Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
. She is portrayed by David Walliams
David Walliams
David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
.
Linda is a university counsellor (and lecturer) who is approached regularly by students when they need assistance with aspects of their course, such as essay due dates, or more personal matters, such as ill family members. Linda pleasantly tries to help, but her solution is always to refer them to another (unseen) university staff member called Martin, whom she contacts via phone while the student waits. Each time she always starts the call with the catchphrase "Martin? It's Linda..." and she tells him who is with her and what they're asking about. Martin apparently has difficulty placing students by their name so Linda has to describe the person in question. While she begins with some good qualities and compliments, she will, without even changing the tone of her voice, drop any normal etiquette against racism, equality and general good manners and then come up with insulting descriptions of the student, usually picking on a particular feature of the student, before coming up with an insulting epithet for the student. At this point Martin will recognise the student whom he requests to come up to his office. Before the students leave, Linda insults them even more. She is oblivious to the shock she receives when describing the student and reacts with astonishment when she hears what she has been saying about them later on.
The office in which Linda works looks like a normal office in the beginning of the series, but it slowly changes over the series until the room is filled with Communist paraphernalia (including a bust of Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
, several Soviet flags, a coffee mug that reads "I love Moscow" and many "equal rights" posters). This is possibly the greatest irony in the sketches.
TV series
- Joanna Harding - Described as a "big fat lesbianLesbianLesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
," as she was overweight, had a tomboyTomboyA tomboy is a girl who exhibits characteristics or behaviors considered typical of the gender role of a boy, including the wearing of typically masculine-oriented clothes and engaging in games and activities that are often physical in nature, and which are considered in many cultures to be the...
ish appearance, and was doing a feminist poetry essay. - Kenneth Laou - Described as " the Ching Chong Chinaman" with "yellowish skin and a slight smell of soy sauceSoy sauceSoy sauce is a condiment produced by fermenting soybeans with Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus sojae molds, along with water and salt...
," since he was of ChineseHan ChineseHan Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
descent. - Paul Roberts - Called "Oompa Loompa", a stereotypical reference to dwarf characters in the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate FactoryWilly Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is a 1971 musical film adaptation of the 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, directed by Mel Stuart, and starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka. The film tells the story of Charlie Bucket as he receives a golden ticket and visits Willy...
, as he was afflicted with DwarfismDwarfismDwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder.... - Robin Dashwood - Played by Matt LucasMatt LucasMatthew Richard "Matt" Lucas is an English comedian, screenwriter and actor best known for his acclaimed work with David Walliams in the television show Little Britain; as well as for his portrayals of the scorekeeping baby George Dawes in the comedy panel game Shooting Stars, Tweedledee and...
(without added make up or costume). Referred to as "BALDY!" Likened to Duncan GoodhewDuncan GoodhewDuncan Alexander Goodhew MBE is a British swimming athlete. After swimming competitively in America as a collegian at North Carolina State University, he was an Olympic swimmer for Great Britain and won Olympic gold and bronze medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow.-Biography:Goodhew...
, a boiled egg and a young Elmer FuddElmer FuddElmer J. Fudd/Egghead is a fictional cartoon character and one of the most famous Looney Tunes characters, and the de facto archenemy of Bugs Bunny. He has one of the more disputed origins in the Warner Bros. cartoon pantheon . His aim is to hunt Bugs, but he usually ends up seriously injuring...
, as he was bald. Before he leaves, Linda pats him on the head. - Nina - Described as Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I.Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
, as she had a slight hint of a moustacheMoustacheA moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
. Linda also described her as "ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
in a bikiniBikiniThe bikini is typically a women's two-piece swimsuit. One part of the attire covers the breasts and the other part covers the crotch and part of or the entire buttocks, leaving an uncovered area between the two. Merriam–Webster describes the bikini as "a woman's scanty two-piece bathing suit" or "a...
". - Steve - An IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n student with a turban, described as "Carmen MirandaCarmen MirandaCarmen Miranda, GCIH was a Portuguese-born Brazilian samba singer, Broadway actress and Hollywood film star popular in the 1940s and 1950s. She was, by some accounts, the highest-earning woman in the United States and noted for her signature fruit hat outfit she wore in the 1943 movie The Gang's...
without the fruit" and called Ali BongoAli BongoAli Bongo was a British comedy magician, and president of The Magic Circle who performed an act in which he was known as the "Shriek of Araby"....
. - Molly Spencer - Described as "Molly the Mole", and as "balancing a Malteser on her face", because she has a large mole on her upper lip.
- Roland Baryl - Described as "Fatty Fatty Boom Boom" and that he was "Not keen on salad" and likened to "Eddie MurphyEddie MurphyEdward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
in The KlumpsNutty Professor II: The KlumpsNutty Professor II: The Klumps is a 2000 comedy film directed by Peter Segal. It is the sequel to the 1996 film The Nutty Professor and stars Eddie Murphy and Janet Jackson. Murphy plays not only the inept but brilliant scientist, Sherman Klump, as in the first film, but also most of Sherman's...
," as he was overweight.
All of the above students appeared in protest at the end of the third series, including a previously unseen red, curly-haired young man she apparently had previously described as Mick Hucknall
Mick Hucknall
Michael "Mick" Hucknall is a British singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the British band Simply Red, and is recognisable for his smooth, distinctive voice and wide vocal range, as well as his red curly hair.-Early life:...
. Their protest was responded to with casual indifference and another phone call to Martin who was indignantly informed that she had the entire cast of Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock is a children's live action puppet television program series created by Jim Henson. The central characters were a set of "Muppet" creatures called Fraggles. The show ran from January 10, 1983, to March 30, 1987, on CBC Television in Canada, ITV in the UK, HBO in the United States,...
with her.
Also, in a series 3 deleted scene, another student named Andrew is referred to as "Handy Andy", as he noticeably has only one arm, and is also likened to the drummer in Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
. This scene was removed because David Walliams
David Walliams
David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...
, according to his commentary, believed it to be crossing the line in taste. This student also appears in the final sketch with all the other students, but his nickname has been edited out.
Little Britain USA
Little Britain USA
Little Britain USA, an American television series, originated as a spin-off of the British BBC's Little Britain show.As in the British series, Matt Lucas and David Walliams play the majority of the characters: originals such as Lou and Andy, Daffyd Thomas,Sebastian Love, Marjorie Dawes and Vicky...
also featured Linda in an American University, along with Martin. She insulted two students:
- Darren Chao - described as "the Lady-boy," as he had a feminine appearance and was doing a dissertation on Feminist poetry. He was also described as "Pen pals with Clay AikenClay AikenClayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
." - Steven Morrow - no epithet, although he was described as "puts you in mind of a hobbitHobbitHobbits are a fictional diminutive race who inhabit the lands of Middle-earth in J. R. R. Tolkien's fiction.Hobbits first appeared in the novel The Hobbit, in which the main protagonist, Bilbo Baggins, is the titular hobbit...
," "would have made a fabulous EwokEwokEwoks originate from the Star Wars films. In the series, they are a species of teddy-bear-like hunter-gatherers that inhabit the forest moon of Endor. The Ewoks live in various tree-huts and primitive dwellings. They first appeared in the film Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
" and "gets his clothes from Baby Gap" before being likened to Gary ColemanGary ColemanGary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars". After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman...
, as he was afflicted with DwarfismDwarfismDwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
.
Additionally, there is a deleted scene in which an unnamed student enters Linda's office, and Linda, without contacting Martin, greeted her by saying "hello pig!" as she had an upturned nose.
Little Britain Live
- Patricia - A student referred to as "ChewbaccaChewbaccaChewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
" and "looks like she has a tarantulaTarantulaTarantulas comprise a group of often hairy and often very large arachnids belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species have been identified. Some members of the same Suborder may also be called "tarantulas" in the common parlance. This article will restrict itself to...
under her arm" as she had hairy armpits. - Dave - Also played by Matt Lucas. Described as "would probably get money off his TV license" and referred to as "Blind Dave" as he was blind. The nickname is a pun on the term, and TV show, Blind DateBlind Date (UK TV series)Blind Date is a British dating game show produced by London Weekend Television. An unscreened pilot was made with comic Duncan Norvelle as presenter but it was eventually hosted by Cilla Black, who already hosted the LWT series, Surprise, Surprise...
. - Unnamed student - dressed as a Hasidic Jew, described by Linda as "Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
" just before he was going to make a request.