Bedsitcom

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GenrePage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Created byPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Written byPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Directed byJustin Bradley
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Narrated bySadie Frost
Template:Pluralize from text of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageTemplate:Pluralize from textEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
ProducerTemplate:Pluralize from textPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • Matt Crook
  • Kirsty Smith
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time22-26 minutes per episode
Production Template:Pluralize from textObjective Productions
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
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Bedsitcom is a British reality television hoax series that was broadcast on Channel 4 in December 2003. Pitched as "somewhere between a sitcom and a reality TV show",[1] the show documented the lives of six young people living in a loft flat in London. Its hook was that its TV audience was aware that three of the participants—named Mel, Paul and Rufus—were actually actors being directed by a trio of "writers" in a garage on the ground floor.

Bedsitcom was commissioned by the Channel Four Television Corporation and produced by Objective Productions. Producers auditioned thousands of people to be the show's genuine subjects and selected from them six young adults to live in the flat with the three actors. These six participants were told that they would be starring in a new reality TV series called Making Friends, and featured on the show three at a time over a period of eight weeks. The programme ran for a single series of eight episodes and featured various storylines, involving dead goldfish, dodgy dealings, promiscuous mothers and telephone psychics.

The show received largely negative feedback from television reviewers, who criticised the show's premise as a "deeply offensive" idea.[2] It received a viewership peak of 1.2 million with its final episode, giving it an audience share of 8.9 per cent. Bedsitcom was not recommissioned for a second series and is currently not available either on DVD or on Channel 4's on demand service, 4oD.

Production

Concept

Bedsitcom was created by Peter James and Andrew O'Connor,[3][4] and was conceived as a parody of both reality television and the traditional sitcom.[1] It combined these two elements by featuring three members of the public being unknowingly placed in extraordinary situations by three actors being directed by writers.[5]Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. After being commissioned for Channel 4 by Danielle Lux, Bedsitcom was produced by Matt Crook and Kirsty Smith of Objective Productions.[6][7]

The show was pitched as "somewhere between a sitcom and a reality TV show"[1] and was promoted as "an entirely new genre of television programme".[6] Its title is a portmanteau of the words "bedsit"—a British term referring to a form of rented accommodation consisting of a single room and shared bathroom—and "sitcom". The title is technically a misnomer: as the accommodation's bedroom and sitting area were separate, it was not a bedsit.[8]

Casting

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File:Bedsitcomcast1.jpg
File:Bedsitcomcast2.jpg
The two generations of cast in Bedsitcom.
Top, l-r: Paul, Rufus, Bob, Shirine, Dave and Mel.
Bottom, l-r: Paul, Mel, David, Barrington, Rufus and Jessica.

Melanie Ash, Paul Gibbon and Rufus Jones were selected as the three actors to feature in Bedsitcom.[9] Jones had previously portrayed the part of Crispin in the 2002 drama White Teeth;[10] Gibbon had played the lead role of Link in the series Stone Cold.[11] To avoid breaking character, all three used their real names while living in the flat and went through weeks of rehearsals. O'Connor described the entire process as "exhausting".[1]

To find suitable candidates to live with the three actors, producers auditioned roughly 10,000 people, who were told that they would be taking part in a new reality television programme in London called Making Friends.[12] Six members of the public, named Barrington, Bob, Dave, David, Jessica and Shirine, were selected to feature on the show.

Writing and filming

The plots for Bedsitcom were devised by a team of writers (led by Rob Gibbons, Neil Gibbons and producer Matt Crook) located in a garage on the ground floor of the apartment building that the contestants were staying in. The writers would often appear on screen and explain to the TV audience what their intention for each episode was.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. They communicated with Ash, Gibbon and Jones either by ringing them on their mobile phones, or by calling them downstairs to speak to them in person.[13] They would occasionally change their plans for an episode—in "Worst Case Scenario", for example, the writers altered their storyline from having Mel bring various animals into the flat to having the group kill Mel's goldfish after only one night.[1]

Among the team of writers were Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, who had created the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show with O'Connor earlier that year, plus Rob Gibbons and Neil Gibbons.[14] Filming of Bedsitcom began in May 2003 and lasted for approximately eight weeks.[12] The flatmates were filmed for 12 hours a day, with this footage then being edited down to roughly 25 minutes per week of filming.[1]

Episodes

Bedsitcom documented the lives of six young adults living in a loft flat in London.[15] Eight episodes in total were created, which were divided into two distinct halves.[7] The first four episodes centred on the lives of Mel, Paul and Rufus, the three actors, as they lived in the flat with Bob, Dave and Shirine, the three unaware members of the public who believed they were taking part in a genuine reality TV show. After Bob, Dave and Shirine had learnt the true nature of the show at the end of episode four, they moved out and were replaced by three new members of the public named Barrington, David and Jessica. These three new cast members remained on Bedsitcom for the final four episodes.[16][17]

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Reception

Critical reception

Reviewers gave Bedsitcom generally negative feedback. Some were critical of the storylines that had been devised by the writers, calling them unimaginative and clichéd.[6] Others were critical of the premise of the show itself, describing it as "deeply offensive and manipulative"[2]—all three actors, particularly Jones, received criticism for their acting abilities.[2][6][15] Frances Traynor of The Daily Record called the show "about as funny as sharing a flat with that German cannibal"[18] and Paddy Sherman of The Liverpool Echo branded the show "intensely irritating".[19] Paul Hoggart of The Times called it "a show that seemed to have nothing to recommend it whatsoever",[20]—after watching the first episode, Charlie Catchpole of The Daily Star simply stated: "It isn't funny."[21] Critics on Newsnight Review also spoke harshly about the programme, with Tom Paulin calling it "a disgraceful piece of television" and Jeanette Winterson describing it as "incredibly dull".[22]

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"Bedsitcom might have worked as a 90-minute one-off with the unveiling at the end. By spinning out the encounter over almost eight hours, this punningly titled series suggests that a more honest title would have been: Flat."

— Mark Lawson, writing in The Guardian[13]

A slightly more positive review came from Joe Joseph of The Times, who suggested that "if [the format] works, [it] could be profitably franchised around the world".[5] Deborah Bull said that, while it was "a terrible programme", there were "some funny lines".[22] Chris Wilson, editor of Collective, similarly wrote that "while the end results are often amusing and tackle some interesting storylines, the whole project smacks of lazy, cruel television".[23]

In a 2005 interview, series creator Andrew O'Connor spoke about Bedsitcom and the critical reaction that it had received. He said that he felt that the premise of the show was a "great idea", but that it did not make "great television".[4] He also remarked: "We didn't cast it right and the public didn't take to the series."[4]

Ratings and awards

Given the level of exposure and promotion that it had been granted, Channel Four were disappointed by ratings for Bedsitcom. The pilot, shown on 8 December 2003, generated 1 million viewers, but this figure had fallen to 700,000 by 10 December. The ratings rose to 1.1 million viewers for the fourth episode, "Fag Ends".[24] On average, the series attracted an audience share of less than 6 per cent.Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. The final episode, "P.I.G", gained a viewership of 1.2 million with a market share of 8.9 per cent, which was its highest audience for the series.[24] Bedsitcom was nominated for a single award at the 2004 Rose d'Or festival, a European awards show that commemorates achievement in entertainment television. The programme was submitted in the Best Situation Comedy category, but was beaten by Peep Show.[25][26]

Year Award Category Result
2004 Rose d'Or[25] Best Situation Comedy Nominated

Distribution

Bedsitcom was distributed by the Channel Four Television Corporation, who broadcast the show on its eponymous channel. It premiered in the UK at 10:40 p.m. on 8 December 2003.[13] Bedsitcom's eight episodes were 'stripped' over two weeks:Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found. the first four were broadcast nightly until 11 December and the remaining four were shown each night from 15 December.[5] There are currently no plans to revive the series, and it is not available either on DVD or on 4oD, Channel 4's on demand service.[27][28]

See also

References

Primary sources

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Secondary sources

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilkes, Neil (2 December 2003). "How real is reality TV?". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Palmer, Alun (9 December 2003). "LAST NIGHT'S TV: New low hit by reality sickcom". Daily Mirror. London. OCLC 223228477.
  3. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Charters, David (29 August 2008). "A professional approach to murder". Liverpool Daily Post. Liverpool. OCLC 500344194. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009.
  4. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Duff, Oliver (27 July 2005). "Andrew O'Connor: My Life in Media". The Independent. London: Independent News & Media. ISSN 0951-9467. OCLC 185201487. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Joseph, Joe (9 December 2003). "The future looks bright for the boy who gave birth to his twin, but the same cannot be said for the new reality show Bedsitcom". The Times. London: News Corporation. ISSN 0140-0460. OCLC 6967919. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  6. ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lewis-Smith, Victor (9 December 2003). "Bedsit comedy falls flat". Evening Standard. London: Associated Newspapers. OCLC 123896151.
  7. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bedsitcom". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Smith, Rupert (9 December 2003). "Double jeopardy". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bedsitcom Cast and Crew". TV.com. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."White Teeth Cast and Credits". Public Broadcasting Service. Archived from the original on 13 November 2012. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Stone Cold". Internet Movie Database. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  12. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Knapton, Sarah (26 December 2003). "My flatmates are acting a bit weird". Evening Chronicle. Newcastle upon Tyne. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  13. ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lawson, Mark (8 December 2003). "Saint Mum, Saint Doctor and the evil MMR". The Guardian. London: Guardian News and Media. ISSN 0261-3077. OCLC 60623878. Archived from the original on 2 May 2014.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."The Peep Show team are Magicians". Total Film. 11 August 2006. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2011. ... The team who make Channel 4's Peep Show – actors Robert Webb and David Mitchell, alongside director Andrew O'Connor and writers Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong. ...
  15. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Lappin, Tom (8 December 2003). "Live feed. The day TV turned on its audience". The Scotsman. Edinburgh: Johnston Press. ISSN 0307-5850. OCLC 614655655.
  16. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bedsitcom Season 1 Episode Guide". TV.com. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bedsitcom – Episode Guide". LocateTV. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Traynor, Frances (11 December 2003). "FRANCES TRAYNOR: DID YOU SEE...?". The Daily Record. Glasgow. ISSN 0956-8069. OCLC 500344244. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012.
  19. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Sherman, Paddy (9 December 2003). "Paddy Shennan: A real honour?". Liverpool Echo. Liverpool. ISSN 1751-6277. OCLC 500165464.
  20. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hoggart, Paul (12 December 2003). "Bedsitcom". The Times. London: News Corporation. ISSN 0140-0460. OCLC 6967919.
  21. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Catchpole, Charlie (9 December 2003). "Bedsitcom". The Daily Star. London: Northern & Shell. OCLC 53210766.
  22. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Bedsitcom". BBC News. London. 8 December 2003. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  23. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilson, Chris (28 November 2003). "Reality TV gets desperate". Collective. Archived from the original on 6 April 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  24. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Campbell, Lisa, ed. (19 December 2003). "Bedsitcom ends with just 1.2m". Broadcast. OCLC 60625607.
  25. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Rose D'OR". London: Objective Productions. Archived from the original on 25 March 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011. ... Bedsitcom Nominated for Best Situation Comedy, Rose d'Or Lucerne 2004 ...
  26. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Welch, Andy (21 September 2009). "Peep Show: A sneaky peep at the show". Flintshire Chronicle. Llandudno. ISSN 1751-3146. OCLC 500164467. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011. ... the show has managed to scoop a prestigious Rose d'Or award for Best European Sitcom ...
  27. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Wilkes, Neil (17 August 2006). "I'm sorry". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2010.
  28. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."4oD: All programmes". London: Channel 4. 2010. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
Bibliography

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