There are those times in the world of television comedy and drama that when you hear about a reunion show, a re-boot or a spin-off that you immediately question why or what’s the point. James Corden’s recent announcement that the hit British comedy series, Gavin and Stacey, will return this Christmas for a one-off special is definitely NOT one of those times.
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Sunday night on BBC1, as part of the channel’s Landmark Sitcom Season, it’s Are You Being Served, Again”… again. This time, however, it’s 1988 but we’re not on a farm of any kind. Grace Brothers is re-opening its doors and Young Mr Grace is determined to drag the flagship department store into, well 1988, but he has a […]
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Comedy and drama dominated day 2 at the BBC Showcase in Liverpool. At this point, most everyone on Planet Earth is keenly aware of the BBC’s desire to produce a reboot of the early 70s comedy classic, Are You Being Served?. What has not been known until now is the details with respect to casting and story […]
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The Wrong Mans Rule #1 – After witnessing a horrific car crash on a desolate country road, never EVER answer the dead driver’s ringing mobile. If only Sam Pinkett had read rule #1.
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The big-screen adaptation of the classic BBC wartime comedy, Dad’s Army, is drawing some of the biggest names (outside of Benedict Cumberbatch) together as they begin to assemble the cast. The feature film treatment of the Jimmy Perry, David Croft iconic British comedy has landed one of the greats with the announcement that Bill Nighy, […]
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Even paradise can be hell For two series of BBC One’s Death in Paradise, Ben Miller (Worst Week of My Life, Primeval) was in heaven. Unfortunately, DI Richard Poole, the character that Miller portrays, is in hell. ‘Heaven’ for Miller because the series is filmed on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe. “Hell’ for DI Poole […]
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With the announcement this week that both Gavin & Stacey and Spy have been picked up in pilot stage by U.S. television networks, Fox and ABC, respectively, and the news weeks back that there will now be an ‘American’ Downton Abbey, one can’t help but revisit some past history of comedies trying to head west […]
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What do you get when you come to the intersection of ‘Are You Kidding Me?’ Avenue, ‘This is Getting Ridiculous’ Boulevard and ‘Are There No New Comedy Ideas in America’ Street? The news that Rev, the award-winning BBC2 comedy starring Tom Hollander and Olivia Coleman, has been targeted for an American re-make, of course. Following […]
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With every passing day, the world of British telly just keeps getting better and better. In addition to our recent mentions of new comedies that are hitting the telly as we speak such as Me & Mrs Jones, Moone Boy and Red Dwarf X, along with the commissioning of new series of established brilliance such […]
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Following our 2009 interview with Penelope Keith on the stage of the Theatre Royal in Bath for the PBS special, More Funny Ladies of British Comedy, we spent a bit of down time getting the full understanding of the importance of regional theatre in the UK from one of the grand dames of British comedy. […]
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