Kilntime
SUGGESTIONS OF WITCHCRAFT ARE SOON SET TO ONE SIDE
Dead Set
Brian Donaldson peers into the autumn drama and comedy schedules to find string-vested philosophers, Burns-recital champions and flesh-eating zombies
ritain is in utter chaos. The dead have returned to life and are attacking the living who. once deceased. then get tip and do some more killing. The only people unaware of this horrendous
phenomenon are the occupants of the Big Brother
household. But not for long . . . Don't worry. this isn‘t the credit crunch‘s worst case scenario. it‘s only the synopsis for a new telly show. llaving sat through acres of small screen sewage. (iaardian TV critic and Nat/tan Barley co-creator (‘harlie Brooker has let his imagination gambol free for Dead Set (ii-1). a zombie comedy—drama starring Ray's little girl. Jaime Winstone. and featuring a swathe of cameos including. obviously. Davina McCall.
The Pour drama slate gets some heavyweight history action going on with .S'ideii'avs man Paul (iiamatti in the title role of John Adams (More—1). an epic seven- parter about the man who was elected as America‘s first vice president and second president while The Devil's ill/tore (Channel 4) features the linglish (‘ivil War seen through the eyes of a spirited anti-monarchist aristocrat. Andrea Riseborough. John Simm. Peter (‘apaldi and Dominic The Wire West star.
Over on lTV. they‘re keeping it contemporary with Wired (l'l‘Vl) a fast-paced thriller set in the murky world of bank fraud and starring Laurence Pox. Toby Stephens and (‘harlie Brooks (liastlz'nders‘ nasty Janine). Brooks' fellow ex-Albert Square pal Michelle Ryan chucks off the shackles of the awful Bionie Woman to play a lass whose love life is ruled by her obsession with numbers in Mr lilei‘en (lTVl). The
Beeb. meanwhile. are going for their standard mix of
92 THE LIST YB 80;) Q ()(2'. 2008
classic adaptations and modern dramas. Little Dorrit (BBCI ) is the latest Andrew Davies affair. starring Tom Courtenay. James Fleet and limma Pierson while the l‘)7()s Terry Nation series Survivors (BBCI) is resurrected in a let century post—apocalyptic setting with Max Beesley and Preema Agyeman trying to stay alive. Moses .lones (BBCZ) begins with a wave of violence hitting London after the discovery of a bizarrely mutilated body. Suggestions of witchcraft are soon set to one side as the dark reality dawns.
(‘hances are you might need a bit of a laugh after all that death and devastation. so the return of Govan‘s ‘prodigal bastard' Rab C Nesbiff (BBCZ) for a one-off special can only be welcomed while a new type of Glaswegian mirth-maker arrives when Limmy's Show (BBCZ) has the internet sensation getting his weird characters and mad sketches on the box. No Holds Bard (BBCZ) has Ashley Jensen and Bill Paterson preparing to vie for the 2009 Cup ()‘Kindness. the trophy awarded to the Burns recital champion.
But if you‘re after blockbuster British comedy names. Matt Lucas and David Walliams give us Little Britain USA (BBCl) fresh from its American airing with new characters such as astronaut Bing Gordyn. a spaniel called Mr Doggy and cute little pottymouth Iillie— Grace. And whether Peter Kay's new Channel 4 show is any good or not hardly matters as it has the most arresting title of this or any other year: Britain 's (iot the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus (‘ltrist Soapstar .S‘iqierstar Striet/y on lee.
www.bbc.co.uk; www.channel4.com; www.itv.com
www.list.co.uk/tv
LIST
THE BEST TV OF 2009
=l= Mad Men The Golden Globe-winning drama returns for more smokin’ storylines amid the murky doings of sneaky ad exec Don Draper. 8804.
=I= Margaret Lindsay Duncan sticks on the blonde wig to play the Iron Lady with Ian McDiarmid as loyal hubbie Denis. 8802.
* Peep Show It’s the sixth series of Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain’s comedy with Mitchell and Webb. Channel 4. =l= Science and Islam Professor Jim AI-Khalili explores the contribution of early Islam to the development of scientific knowledge. 8804.
3!: Wipeout An eight-part UK version of the global hit game show in which contestants compete in demanding yet oddball obstacle courses. 8807.
* Blind Date A revamped version of the cult game show with Davina McCall, Dermot O’Leary and Ant 8. Dec all being tipped as the new Cilia. ITV7.
=1! In My Country Dubbed as ‘8/‘sing Damp meets Goodness Gracious Me’. this comedy stars Omid Djalili, Stephen K Amos and Amelia Bullmore. 8802.
=i= Skelling Tim Roth, Kelly Macdonald and John Simm star in the adaptation of David Almond’s novel about a man who finds a half-owl half-angel creature in his shed. Sky One. =I= Collision Co—written by Anthony Horowitz, this five- parter features the biggest car crash ever shown on British telly and focuses on the human stories and sinister aftermath. /TV7.
=l= Horne and Garden Have Come The funny blokes from Gavin & Stacey get their own sketch show. 8803.
* ER Hankies out folks as the 15th and final series of the US hospital drama rolls our way. Channel 4.