The Real McCoy

The Real McCoy

"The real McCoy" is an idiom and metaphor used in much of the English-speaking world to mean "the real thing" or "the genuine article", e.g., "he's the real McCoy"...

was a BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 Television comedy show which ran from 1991 to 1996, featuring an array of black and Asian comedy stars performing material aimed at an across-the-board black audience.

UK comedy stars that featured in the series included: the comedy double-act of Curtis and Ishmael, Collette Johnson, Llewella Gideon, Indian standup Meera Syal

Meera Syal

Meera Syal MBE is a British comedienne, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress. She rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and became one of the UK's best-known Indian personalities portraying Sanjeev's grandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No...

, Perry Benson

Perry Benson

Perry Benson is an English character actor best known for his regular roles in British television sitcoms You Rang, M'Lord? , Oh, Doctor Beeching! and Operation Good Guys .-Movie career:...

, Sanjeev Bhaskar

Sanjeev Bhaskar

Sanjeev Bhaskar, OBE is a British Indian comedian, actor and broadcaster, best known for his work in the BBC Two comedy series Goodness Gracious Me and as host of The Kumars at No. 42...

, Leo Chester, Felix Dexter

Felix Dexter

Felix Dexter is an actor, comedian, and writer living in the U.K..-Early life:Dexter was born in St Kitts in the Caribbean, and moved to London with his family at the age of seven.-Radio:...

, Robbie Gee

Robbie Gee

Robbie Gee is a British actor, best known for his Desmond's character "Lee Stanley", and for appearing in Guy Ritchie's crime caper Snatch. He also appeared in the movie Mean Machine playing "Trojan".-Hosting:...

, Kulvinder Ghir

Kulvinder Ghir

Kulvinder Ghir, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is a British actor, comedian and writer of South Asian ancestry, best known for his roles in Rita, Sue & Bob Too, Blood & Peaches, Bend It Like Beckham and the sketch show Goodness Gracious Me...

, Judith Jacob

Judith Jacob

Judith Jacob , is a British actress best known for her role as the health visitor Carmel Roberts in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, a role she played from 1986 to 1989. During her stint in Albert Square, her character suffered from severe marital abuse and her husband's attempted murder and eventual...

, Rudi Lickwood, Eddie Nestor

Eddie Nestor

Eddie Nestor is an English actor, stand up comedian, TV and radio presenter, who is best known for his starring roles in The Real McCoy and Desmonds, as well as playing a small role in Trainspotting.He hosted...

, Marcus Powell, Junior Simpson

Junior Simpson

Junior Simpson is a British stand up comedian, from Jamaican descent. He was born in Leagrave, a suburb of Luton, and was educated at Beechwood Primary School and Challney High School for Boys....

 and Curtis Walker

Curtis Walker

Curtis Walker is a British actor and writer. He starred in BBC comedy shows Paramount City, CBBC Sitcom Kerching!, The Real McCoy and Blouse and Skirt.-External links:*...

 and Jo Martin

The producer of the first two series, Charlie Hanson

Charlie Hanson

Charlie Hanson is a critically acclaimed British producer and director.Charlie Hanson's work as a producer spans over two decades of television drama and comedy...

, was the co-founder of the Black Theatre Co-operative and had produced No Problem! and Desmond's

Desmond's

Desmond's is a British television situation comedy broadcast by Channel 4 from 1989 to 1994. The first series was shot in 1988, with the first episode broadcast in January 1989...

before creating The Real McCoy. He was working with Curtis and Ishmael on the 291 Club at the Hackney Empire and suggested making a television version, but instead, the BBC opted for a totally new sketch series, launching The Real McCoy.