Only four entries this time round in the S outing of the A-Z of British TV. This article is about the pop culture-tastic Spaced, the best British drama to be given one of the worst American remakes in State of Play, top satire in ITV comedy (that is not a typo) Spitting Image and those British spies who just can’t stay alive in Spooks.
Spaced (Channel 4: 1999-2001)
Spaced, for those who have been hiding under a rock, was a hilarious comedy from the minds of Simon Pegg and Jessica Stevenson (now Hynes). In a way Spaced is not so much a sitcom as a barrage of pop culture references tied together by the surreal happenings. Still good though, as not only is it wonderfully written to the point that the 20-somethings on screen are more like the people you know but it’s fun to spot the obscure references that come thick and fast.
Despite rumours to the contrary Pegg has stated that there won’t be another series. Which is fine, as Spaced said everything it needed to within its 14 episodes. As it stand it was a landmark in dragging a new style of comedy into the 20th century. Plus it’s got Mark Heap it (as bizarre artist Brian) and pretty much any comedy from this era with his name attached is worth your time and money.
State of Play (BBC One: 2003)
One of, if not the, greatest drama serials of the last decade, State of Play still holds up as an example of how to weave together a fantastic political thriller. A researcher who works for MP Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) dies after what is perceived to be an accident on the London tube but due to an investigation by journalist, and Collins’s former campaign manager, Cal McCaffrey (John Simm) and his team they uncover that her death might be connected to a corrupt oil lobbying firm.
State of Play is superbly written and keeps the tension running right until the finale, where things become a tiny bit more clear. It also helps to have one of the best ensemble casts selfishly brought together for the viewers entertainment (including, but not exclusive to, Kelly MacDonald, Bill Nighy, Polly Walker, James McAvoy and Philip Glenister). What it didn’t need what a clichéd and watered down US film adaptation.
Spitting Image (ITV: 1984-1996)
Satire has long since been one of Britain’s best institutions and the rather grim 1980s political environment was the perfect setting for a puppet-based comedy called Spitting Image. Whether it was Thatcher’s tyrannical reign or Roy Hattersley’s, well, spitting, Spitting Image showed the funny side of Westminster, the barking mad Royal Family and any famous type who deserved to be taken down a peg.
It would be unfair to single out some of the great voice actors and writers on Spitting Image but that’s how life is, they are Steve Coogan, Harry Enfield, John Sessions, Hugh Dennis, Jan Ravens, Kate Robbins, Alistair McGowan, Chris Barrie, Doug Naylor, Rob Grant, Ian Hislop, Richard Curtis, Andy Parsons and someone called Ben Elton (nope, no idea either). Who would have thought that a pointless list is a good way of taking up space?
Spooks (BBC One: 2002-)
Spooks was bound to be successful and interesting considering that it’s about spies, there’s very little room for mistake in that genre in the Bourne age. Spooks centres on an interchangeable group of MI5 officers investigating anything from terrorist plots to right wing extremists, and unlike 24 doesn’t feel old and bloated.
Very few dramas have a total disregard for their characters that many are willingly killed off or leave in the middle of a series, and for that alone Spooks should be commended. Still, this has given the producers the opportunity to lure in almost every decent British actor since bread (sliced or unsliced, not the awful Carla Lane sitcom).
Steven Cookson - Steven Cookson is a writer and attempted journalist based in Howden. Originally from Chester, that Hollyoaks place in North-West of ...
