Massive

Best mates Danny (Ralf Little) and Shay (Carl Rice) fritter away the dismal hours of their council jobs dreaming of signing bands and pressing vinyl. Both Manchester born-and-raised, both inspired by their city’s musical heritage – Tony Wilson, Joy Division, Oasis - the lads’ lifelong ambition is to set up a record label. Just when it looks like they’re on the road to nowhere, Danny’s gran dies and leaves him £10,000. “Shady Music” is born. With the help of music aficionado Lou, and wannabe rapper Swing, the lads find a label headquarters and hold auditions. After an almighty row and an eventful Battle of the Bands, Shady Music makes its first signing.

Shady Music has made its first signing in the form of bun-shop divas HearKittyKitty. The next step is to record a single. Girl band HearKittyKitty weren’t quite what the lads had in mind, but Danny’s certain they’ve got talent. All they need now is a single to prove it. After a big night’s clubbing, Lou hooks them up with celebrity DJ Manny Westside. Miraculously, he agrees to produce the track and the Shady team go into the studio. The session starts well, but soon descends into mayhem when the girls offend Manny, Tina makes a play for Danny and Shay gets embroiled in one of Tony’s (Johnny Vegas) dodgy schemes.

HearKittyKitty are riding high in the charts and ask the lads for a music video. Danny and Shay can’t believe their luck when the HearKittyKitty single is played on BBC Radio 1. Determined to keep them on their toes, the girls demand a music video. But while the lads argue about a concept, slippery A and R scout, Ricky Lisberg starts sniffing round Superb’uns bakery. He takes the girls for a pie, fills their heads with ideas of stardom and points out Shady Music’s shortcomings. The lads are going to have to raise their game. After a kick up the a**e from Lou, they hire a video camera, Shay designs a CD cover and Danny contacts the press. Will a terrible mix-up with the BBC scupper their plans? Meanwhile, Swing’s got worries of his own: it seems Nancy has a new boyfriend. With the help of Tony, a box of vibrators and some antlers, he hatches a plan to win her back.

When HearKittyKitty enter the charts at no.12, the lads decide the pop princesses need a make-over. Danny books a session with renowned photographer Nico, and Tina and Marie prepare for their transformation. Only problem is: Shady Music are skint. Luckily Tony steps in with a job to tide them over - it pays well as long as there are no questions asked. However, Danny and Shay are worried when they’re directed to illegal immigrant Zora and ordered to handcuff her to the radiator. Matters are further complicated by Swing still mooning over Nancy, the girls demanding tickets to Manchester’s social event of the year, and Danny putting Nico in hospital. What’s more, Ricky Lisberg’s still on the scene. When he can’t tempt the girls with tickets to the party, he devises a new plan to discredit Danny and Shay.

Just when it seemed Danny and Shay’s luck couldn’t get any worse, American lawyer Tommy Sadowski appears in Manchester. He’s been instructed by Eminem to sue Shady Music for using the name of his company. The lads can’t even afford the rent on the office, where are they going to find 123 million dollars?

Just when it seemed Danny and Shay’s luck couldn’t get any worse, American lawyer Tommy Sadowski appears in Manchester. He’s been instructed by Eminem to sue Shady Music for using the name of his company. The lads can’t even afford the rent on the office, where are they going to find 123 million dollars?