What is "down the line"

adv. (context idiomatic English) Further along, in terms of time or progress.

Down the Line is a British radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4, which satirises populist radio phone-in shows. The show, hosted by "Gary Bellamy" ( Rhys Thomas), is semi-improvised and is written and performed in a style of heightened realism.

Down the Line was first broadcast in May 2006. The pre-show publicity did not indicate that the show was a pre-recorded comedy, describing it as a live phone-in featuring "award winning" DJ Gary Bellamy, and led to many complaints from listeners who apparently failed to spot it was a spoof, generating considerable publicity for the programme. It was subsequently revealed that the show is written and performed by several familiar figures in British comedy, including Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson.

Regular 'callers' include:

• Christopher Nibbs from Pevensey Bay; a jokey character who refers to himself as 'Nibbsy' or 'The Nibbster'. Bellamy finds him amusing.
• Khalid, who only repeats topics of the show followed by the phrase 'what is point?' and responds to any subsequent remarks by Gary with the same question. Bellamy's attitude changes towards him as the series progresses.
• The Pearly King, a cheery cockney who talks about the 'pearly way'.
• Humphrey Milner, an elderly gentleman who uses endless examples to illustrate his point.
• Graham Downs, a morbidly obese man who has a sinus problem and is an archetypal loser. Often says he would "really like to get married".
• Chuck Perry, who laughs continuously and maniacally at his own feeble jokes.
• The military man, who responds to every topic stating that he is from a military background and that he would drive a van packed with explosives into the "issue" be it education or global warming.
• Early D begins his calls speaking with a very 'street' sounding "Jafaican" accent which gradually morphs into full-blown, barely decipherable Jamaican dialect. Bellamy never seems to notice.

Recording for the third series commenced on Monday 12 November 2007 and transmission began on 10 January 2008.

A television spinoff on BBC Two was announced on 2 April 2009. in which Gary Bellamy goes to the streets of the UK to meet 'real' people and get their opinions on a wide range of topics. The series is entitled Bellamy's People and was inspired by "all the television series of ‘famous people exploring Britain' that have been made over the last few years". The series features improvisation by the cast.

Down the Line may refer to:

• Down-The-Line, a shooting sport
• "Down the Line" (José González song), a song by José González
• Down the Line (radio series), a British radio comedy series
• " Go Go Go (Down the Line)", a 1956 song written by Roy Orbison
• The first name of the group that became Zoot (band)

"Down the Line" is a single from José González's second album In Our Nature. The single was released as the first single in the UK on September 10, 2007. The song was also the third single in Sweden, released on February 20, 2008. José's cover of " Smalltown Boy" by Bronski Beat was featured as a B-side. It was featured on an episode of the highly successful Australian drama series Packed to the Rafters and then featured on the platinum selling soundtrack, as well as Ministry of Sound's Chillout Sessions 10 compilation album. The song reached #72 on Triple J Hottest 100, 2007.