Top Gear….say it isn't so

One of the greatest shows on television, Top Gear, is, in the immortal words of Graham Chapman, has been tagged as “being too silly” and is being asked by the BBC to tone it down this year. This translates to the show cutting back on the comedy stunts and giving the series a more serious […]

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Sir Humphrey enters the 21st century

We’ve talked many times here how Yes Minister is either just as relevant or more relevant today than it was 30 years ago when it premiered in 1980. Obviously, the original producers agree as original co-writer, Sir Antony Jay, has written three special election sketches, titled Memo to the Minister, for the BBC to air […]

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British comedy gospel according to Dave

I thought we’d revisit our earlier post regarding the Top 10 British films of all-time and compare now that a recent post has come out from our friends at Dave, the UK digital channel that is brilliantly billed as “the home of witty banter”. Owned by UKTV, the channel was relaunched in 2009 and rebranded […]

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Just how does a British comedy get on the air?

Fresh from the 2010 BBC Showcase and back on this side of the pond, I thought it might be interesting to everyone who has asked the question at one time or another, “how in the world did that get made” or “I have a great idea for a show, what do I need to do”, […]

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Can a show jump the shark before it premieres?

The term “jumping the shark” has become synonymous with a point in the life of a television program or series where the plot spins off into a totally ridiculous scenario. It could be something as simple as having a wedding between two unlikely characters, having the main character miraculously kidnapped by their previously unknown evil […]

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A Christmas Story with Ozzy Osbourne

Before we leave the holidays behind for 2009, this was too good to pass up. Narrated by our very own Geoffrey Palmer, the BBC’s Grumpy Guide to Christmas was broadcast on BBC Two this past week. How can you go wrong with a show that’s billed as “middle-aged celebrities bring tales of festive humbug”. Got […]

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From Doctor Who to Hamlet – all in a days work

In case you thought that David Tennant was sitting around idly after his run as the Tenth Doctor on the long-running science fiction series, Doctor Who, ended, think again. Tennant, earlier this year, ended a Stratford-Upon-Avon, then London, run of the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet. If that wasn’t enough, Tennant reprised the role recently, […]

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