King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys are a British jazz band shown on the early 1997 episodes of the Teletubbies television series. They love to play Nursery Rhymes for children and for the Teletubbies. They are in episodes that usually are titled with a Nursery Rhyme. They made five episode appearances.

Episode Appearances

The Grand Old Duke of York (first appearance)
See-Saw
Humpty Dumpty
Hey Diddle Diddle
Hickory Dickory Dock (last appearance)
Nursery Rhymes (The Grand Old Duke of York and Hickory Dickory Dock)
Bedtime (Hey Diddle Diddle)

Episode Appearance Settings

Birmingham Botanical Gardens (first four appearances)
Chuckery Primary School (fifth and last appearance)

Gallery

Trivia

King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys are also shown performing in concerts off of Teletubbies.
King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys along with the Funny Lady are the best known Teletubbies TV Event.
When King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys sing a Nursery Rhyme, they come up with original lyrics to avoid repeating the same verse over and over again.
On episodes featuring King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys, the Pupils of Chuckery Infants School applause at the end of the video segment.
The first four episodes featuring King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys featured the longest running Biscuit Boy, Chris Shirley, and previous members, Al Gare and Jonny Boston. In addition, their trademark black and white spectator shoes were shown. They also wore trademark double breasted suits.
Since the year 2002, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys stopped wearing the double-breasted suits and the black and white spectator shoes, which was their wardrobe trademark from the 1990s to 2002. However, in the early days of the 2001-2006 lineup, the band wore blue double-breasted suits previously worn in the 1999-2001 lineup, but three musicians, Mark Skirving, Chris Shirley and John Battrum wore black and white spectator shoes, while the other three musicians wore black leather shoes. (See pic above)
Their first four appearances were filmed at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, their last appearance was filmed at Chuckery School in Walsall, England.
Former band members Paul Allin, Paul Martin, and the band's then-drummer Dean Beresford (who left the band between 1996 and 2001) were the only three former members not seen on their appearances in the television series, and the only member who appeared in the episodes featuring the band was former member Danny McCormack. Their musical instruments, consisted of Cootie Alexander's trumpet, P. Popps Martin's alto and baritone saxophones, and Bam Bam Beresford's drums were also not seen on the show, in addition to the music instrument stands. Although never shown in the final version of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens episodes, the setup featuring the music instrument stands were only possibly shown in either the screen tests or bloopers.
King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys featuring the current Biscuit Boys John Battrum, Craig Sunderland, Matt Foundling, and Gary Barber (who joined the band between 1999 and 2008) performed at Birmingham Botanical Gardens with the remaining two founding members on July 15, 2012 as a part of the 2012 Brum Jazz Festival. A series of photographs as well as two short videos are shown online.
At the time of their Teletubbies appearances, the band was consisted of seven Biscuit Boys, being an eight member lineup between the early 1990s and 2001. Now, the band is consisted of five Biscuit Boys, being a six member lineup. Also, on their first four appearances, four of the seven Biscuit Boys were seen, on their last appearance, only one was seen. Although three of the eight members never appeared in the final version of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens episodes, the eight members appearing together were only possibly shown in either the screen tests or bloopers.
King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys have also performed their nursery rhymes off of the TV series, with Christopher Finnes's 18th birthday as one example. In addition, they have made appearances in other television shows, such as somewhat bizarrely, the BBC Pebble Mill Studios in 1993, which closed in 2004 and was torn down in 2005. A part of the site now consists of a dental hospital and school of dentistry, owned by the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, and another part of the site now consists of Circle Health Ltd, a British healthcare company. The now demolished BBC Pebble Mill Studios ran for 33 years after it opened in 1971. The land that contained the now demolished BBC Pebble Mill Studios was once a fulling mill in the 16th century (1500s).
In addition to the early 1997 episodes of the Teletubbies TV series and the now demolished BBC Pebble Mill Studios in 1993, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys have also appeared on What's That Noise? and Blue Peter in 1992, the unseen Non Stop Nosh TV pilot and Cork Jazz in the 1995-1996 television season, Central News and ABC News USA in 1990, BBC Wales in the 1995-1996 television season and again in 2000, Central TV Premier in 1995, Scene Today and Challenge Anneka in 1989, and Live and Kicking in 1994. They also made 75 radio broadcasts that have established them as the Kings of Swing, in addition to their more than 50 television appearances, as well as dazzling musicianship and riveting stage performances.
In some shots of their first four episode appearances, camera persons with cameras and their other equipment were visible, which is considered a production goof on their first four appearances. In one shot of their last episode appearance, Mark Skirving's shoes were partially visible. Also, on their first four episode appearances, patrons of Birmingham Botanical Gardens were also visible, but seen from far away. On their last episode appearance, people were visible walking in the hall outside the room containing the piano. On their first episode appearance, a voice from off camera was heard.
King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys was established in 1986. Since the mid-2000s decade, their wardrobe trademark is the blue single-breasted suits and the black leather shoes. On some occasions, they wear different outfits. From the 1990s to 2002, the band's wardrobe trademark was consisted of the double-breasted suits (different colors such as red, yellow, black, or tan prior to 1996, but blue since 1996) and the black and white spectator shoes. In early months of the 2001-2006 lineup, the band still wore blue double-breasted suits where Mark Skirving, Chris Shirley, and John Battrum still wore black and white spectator shoes.
Before their appearances on Teletubbies, previous members featured Pete Prince, Lisa Lee, Paul Skan, and Al Nicholls.
After their appearances on Teletubbies, previous members featured Martin Winning, Mike Burney (deceased), Julian Greaves, Ray Butcher, Mally Baxter, Steve Tromans, and Dave Wilkes.
As of 2008, the lineup is consisted of Mark Skirving, Chris Shirley, John Battrum, Craig Sunderland, Matt Foundling, and Gary Barber.
The children on their appearances were identified as the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School, who were approximately 4, 5, 6, or 7 years old.
The following musicians who appeared on the Teletubbies TV series were Mark Skirving, Chris Shirley, Al Gare, Danny McCormack, and Jonny Boston. Paul Allin, Paul Martin and Dean Beresford were supposed to appear on Teletubbies with them, but never did. The three absent former band members were, for some unknown reason, never appeared in the final version of the episodes featuring King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys filmed at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, but only possibly appeared in either the screen tests or bloopers.
To commemorate the band's 30th anniversary in December 2016, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys sang Hickory Dickory Dock to a Teletubbies fan named Christopher Finnes, in honor of his 18th birthday. The video is shown online.
The band's 15th anniversary was in the year 2001, the same year as the September 11 attacks on the United States of America. That same year, three musicians were replaced and two musicians were removed, being a total five departures. The only two founding musicians left since 2001 are Mark Skirving and Chris Shirley, and they were the only two musicians who were part of the band for its entire run. The only other musician remaining since the 1999-2001 lineup is John Battrum, who joined the band in 1999.
King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys notably performed at Birmingham Botanical Gardens in the years 1995, 2012, and 2019. They performed there to entertain the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School while filming their nursery rhyme music video selections. They then performed at the same location as part of the 2012 Brum Jazz Festival. Nearly seven years later, they performed at the same location as part of the 2019 Swingamajig Music Festival.
On April 9, 1994, the band (1993-1994 lineup) performed at a wedding where Mr. and Mrs. Francis Bigg married. The video is shown online.
On May 5, 2019, nearly seven years after the Brum Jazz Festival, the band performed at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens as part of the Swingamajig Music Festival, 24 years after they had filmed their nursery rhyme music video selections. However, saxophonist Chris B. Aldridge in a black single breasted business suit filled in for John Battrum.
Sometimes, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys perform featuring a substitute musician, filling in for one of the band's usual members. In addition, at a concert in July 2017, Mike Powell, a double bassist in a black single-breasted business suit filled for Craig Sunderland. On another occasion, when the band wore black dinner jackets in April 2017, Paul Corry, a saxophonist filled in John Battrum, with Craig Sunderland wearing a straight tie instead of a black bow tie. On different occasions, the band play featuring honorary Biscuit Boys, who are guest Biscuit Boys wearing the band's wardrobe trademark consisted of the blue single-breasted suits and the black leather shoes.
Although the band's episode appearances at Birmingham Botanical Gardens were filmed in 1995, the music video selections were not shown on TV until 1997.
In rare videos filmed at the 2002 Riverboat Jazz Festival in Silkeborg, Denmark, Mark Skirving had his baritone saxophone stand onstage, alongside his tenor saxophone on its own stand, also onstage. In later years since 2004, Mark Skirving's tenor saxophone and its stand, alongside his baritone saxophone stand were absent, replaced by his baritone saxophone case with the baritone saxophone laid down on top of the case (open lid since 2011), for some unknown reason. The videos are shown online. At Mark Skirving's wedding in summer 2017, King Pleasure had both his baritone and tenor saxophones on stands, which made a rare scenario.
In rare photographs of King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys wearing black dinner jackets performing in the United Kingdom city of Norwich, England, Mark Skirving played his tenor saxophone with his baritone saxophone on a stand onstage, and played the baritone saxophone with his tenor saxophone on another stand, also onstage, meaning Mark Skirving had rotated between the baritone and tenor saxophones. However, in later years since 2004, the scenario had been increasingly scarce, with Mark Skirving only having a baritone saxophone case onstage for some unknown reason. In the first few years of the Craig Sunderland's tenure alone, there were a total of four saxophone stands.
In November 2014, British music fans mourned the death of music legend Mike Burney, a former King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys member who performed with the band in 1997.
The only former King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys member to have since died in history was the late Mike Burney on November 13, 2014.
According to an interview featuring Mark Skirving in March 2002, King Pleasure rewrote the first four nursery rhymes, The Grand Old Duke of York, See Saw (alternately known as See Saw Marjorie Daw), Humpty Dumpty, and Hey Diddle Diddle with a swing style by adding more lyrics, which were then filmed in 1995 (although not shown on TV until 1997) with the band performing them featuring the Pupils of Chuckery Infant School at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
Sometimes, Mike Powell, a double bassist who fills in for Craig Sunderland wore black and white spectator shoes, the shoes that the band used to wear as their wardrobe trademark from the 1990s to 2002.
Some concerts featuring King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys feature saxophonists Chris B. Aldridge and Paul Corry, who sometimes fill in for John Battrum's usual role. As well, different musicians sometimes fill in for the roles usually occupied by John Battrum and Craig Sunderland.
In concerts since 2012 or 2013, Matt Foundling wore the blue double breasted suit instead of the single breasted suit, a double breasted suit that the band used to wear as their wardrobe trademark from the 1990s to 2002.
In March 2020, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys announced that all of their gigs would be suspended until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than one year later on April 12, 2021, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys announced that the 2021 World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival was going to be one of their first gigs after the COVID-19 pandemic, where they would have been lining up alongside a great mix of bands from international countries on July 23, 2021. Their performance in the United Kingdom town of Solihull, England at The Core Theatre on July 3, 2021 was the first time since March 2020 where King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys are shown performing in a concert, but only at limited capacity.
- However, on June 15, 2021, the World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival team announced that they were unable to confirm the festival without understanding the realistic level of government support in the event of a forced COVID-19 cancellation, and the basis on which large scale events are going to be allowed to proceed caused by the pandemic that began on March 11, 2020.
- On June 18, 2021, the World of Music, Arts and Dance festival team announced that the 2021 World of Music, Arts and Dance festival was confirmed to occur July 23, 2021, after the festival team understood about the realistic level of the United Kingdom government support in the event of a forced COVID-19 cancellation, based on which large scale events are allowed to proceed caused by the pandemic.
- On June 28, 2021, Peter Gabriel, the founder for the World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival, cancelled the 2021 festival due to the founder blaming a lack of support from the United Kingdom government. As a result, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys' performance at the 2021 World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival was cancelled altogether due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result of the 2021 World of Music, Arts and Dance Festival cancelled completely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys' next gig was at the Powder Monkey Brewing Company in the United Kingdom town of Gosport, England, which took place August 14, 2021.
At some point in 2021, King Pleasure and The Biscuit Boys will be celebrating its 35th anniversary, with more details to come in the future.
The tables shown are Band Members at the top, and Previous Members at the bottom.

Band Members


Band member	Years Served	Musical Instrument	Facts About The Band Members
Mark Skirving (better known as King Pleasure)	1986-present	vocals, baritone and tenor saxophones	Acquired the vocalist role when Lisa Lee dropped out in 2001, then acquired the baritone saxophone role when Paul "P. Popps" Martin dropped out.
Chris Shirley (professionally known as Bullmoose K. Shirley)	1986-present	guitar (double bass in 1986 and 1987)	Moved from double bass to guitar in 1987, when Pete Prince was replaced by previous member Al Gare, who played double bass. Longest running Biscuit Boy.
John "Boysey" Battrum	1999-present	alto and tenor saxophones	Acquired the alto saxophone role when Paul "P. Popps" Martin dropped out. Only other Biscuit Boy remaining since the 1999-2001 lineup.
Craig Sunderland (professionally known as Shark Van Schtoop)	2001-present	double bass	Succeeded Al Gare in 2001.
Matt "Mighty" Foundling	2006-present	piano	Succeeded Steve Tromans in 2006.
Gary "The Enforcer" Barber	2008-present	drums	Succeeded Dave Wilkes in 2008.

Previous Members


Previous Member	Years Served	Musical Instrument	Role Following Departure
Pete "Dixie" Prince	1986 and 1987	guitar	Guitar role was passed to Chris Shirley, who acquired the role moving from double bass. Replaced by Al Gare (served 1987-2001), who played double bass.
Paul "P. Popps" Martin	1986-2001	alto and baritone saxophones	Alto saxophone role was passed to John Battrum, who also plays tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone role was passed to Mark Skirving, who also plays tenor saxophone.
Lisa Lee	1987-1990	vocals	Vocalist role was then passed to saxophonist Mark Skirving.
Paul Skan	1987-1992	piano	Succeeded by Danny McCormack (served 1992-2001).
Paul Allin (better known as Cootie Alexander)	1987-1996	trumpet	Succeeded by Ray Butcher (served 1996).
Al Gare (better known as Slap Happy)	1987-2001	double bass	Preceded by Pete Prince (served 1986 and 1987) who was a guitarist, succeeded by Craig Sunderland (professionally known as Shark Van Schtoop), serving since 2001. Played a bass guitar in his career featuring singer Imelda May.
Dean "Bam Bam" Beresford	1987-2001	drums	Succeeded by Dave Wilkes (served 2001-2008). Also worked with singer Imelda May.
Danny McCormack (professionally known as Ivory Dan McCormack)	1992-2001	piano	Preceded by Paul Skan (served 1987-1992), succeeded by Steve "Crab Claw" Tromans (served 2001-2006). Also worked with singer Imelda May.
Al Nicholls	1993 and 1994	tenor saxophone	Succeeded by Jonny Boston (served 1994 and 1995).
Jonny Boston	1994 and 1995	tenor saxophone	Preceded by Al Nicholls (served 1993 and 1994), succeeded by Martin Winning (served 1995-1997).
Martin Winning	1995-1997	tenor saxophone	Preceded by Jonny Boston (served 1994 and 1995), succeeded by (now the late) Mike Burney (served 1997).
Ray Butcher	1996	trumpet	Preceded by Paul Allin (served 1987-1996), succeeded by Mally Baxter (served 1996-2001).
Mally Baxter	1996-2001	trumpet	Preceded by Ray Butcher (served 1996), was the last trumpeter until 2001, when the role was disestablished.
Mike Burney (deceased)	1997	tenor saxophone	Preceded by Martin Winning (served 1995-1997), succeeded by Julian W. Greaves (served 1997-1999), died November 13, 2014. Was notable for his tenure in the early 1970s glam rock band, Wizzard (ran from 1972 to 1975).
Julian W. Greaves	1997-1999	tenor saxophone	Preceded by (now the late) Mike Burney (served 1997), succeeded by John "Boysey" Battrum, serving since 1999.
Steve "Crab Claw" Tromans	2001-2006	piano	Preceded by Danny McCormack (served 1992-2001), succeeded by Matt Foundling, serving since 2006.
Dave "Dangerous" Wilkes	2001-2008	drums	Preceded by Dean Beresford (served 1987-2001), succeeded by Gary "The Enforcer" Barber, serving since 2008.