News

Pete Dillon-Trenchard Sep 29, 2016

Samsara simultaneously harks back to classic Red Dwarf while trying something new, resulting in some outstanding comedy moments...

This review contains spoilers.

11.2 Samsara

The television landscape has changed a lot since Red Dwarf made its debut back in 1988. One of the more interesting developments of the 21st century has been that, thanks in no small part to shows like Lost, non-linear storytelling is now as much a part of the language of television as the cliff-hanger or the third-act twist. In a series that has, with rare exceptions, always featured at least one of its regulars in any given scene, Samsara breaks with Red Dwarf convention in a major way.

The Epg description for Samsara will tell you that it’s a story in which the crew find an escape pod which leads them to a crashed space ship (the titular Samsara), and the Cat and...

Filth, Pride and Philomena among film nominees; awards take place on Jan 19 in London.

Sandi Toksvig will present the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain annual Awards at Riba, in London, on Jan 19, 2015.

In the two film categories, Pride (Stephen Beresford), The Selfish Giant (Clio Barnard) and Starred Up (Jonathan Asser) are up for Best First Screenplay, while Filth (Jon S Baird), Metro Manila (Sean Ellis & Frank E Flowers) and Philomena (Jeff Pope & Steve Coogan) will compete for Best Screenplay.

TV programmes up for awards include Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight), The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall) and House of Fools (Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer).

A special award for outstanding contribution to writing and writers will be presented on the night.

Full shortlist

TV Drama – Long Form

Line of Duty (Jed Mercurio), Happy Valley (Sally Wainwright), Peaky Blinders (Steven Knight)

TV Drama – Short Form

The Great Train Robbery (Chris Chibnall), Turks & Caicos (David Hare), [link...

Seann Walsh is to front a new BBC One comedy pilot.

The stand-up comic will star in Monks - co-created by Mongrels actor and writer Dan Tetsell, Broadcast reports.

In the studio sitcom, Walsh will play a former benefits cheat who decides to reform and become a monk.

James Fleet (The Vicar of Dibley) and Mark Heap (Green Wing, Friday Night Dinner) will also star in the pilot, co-written by Danny Robins.

Edinburgh Comedy Awards nominee Walsh previously starred in Comedy Central sitcom Big Bad World and an episode of Sky1's Little Crackers.

Monks will be shot at Elstree Studios later this month.

Seann Walsh on Seann Walsh World: 'Three girls, one jug? Bigger, badder'

Watch a clip of Seann Walsh on BBC One's Live at the Apollo below:...

Mongrels creator Adam Miller has announced via Twitter that the BBC3 comedy puppet show will not be returning for a third season, after disappointing viewing figures spelled an end to the show’s run on the channel.

Slightly earlier, Mongrels voice-actor Dan Tetsell had used his own account to announce that BBC3 controller Zai Bennett had let the axe drop on the show. The actor, who plays Marion the cat – broke the news with the following tease:

“If you were (like me) hoping Mongrels would get a 3rd series, I’ve got some bad news…”

When asked whether the show has indeed been canned, Tetsell didn’t pull any punched with his reply: “Yeah, we’ve all been sacked now.”

Miller then posted the following message this afternoon…

Mongrels friends, it is my unbearably sad duty to announce that we will not be returning for a third series on BBC Three,...

Mongrels star Dan Tetsell has announced that the series has been axed. The puppet comedy, created by Adam Miller, began on BBC Three in 2010 and recently concluded its second run. Voice actor Tetsell - who plays idiotic cat Marion - broke the news of the show's cancellation on Twitter. "If you were (like me) hoping Mongrels would get a 3rd series, I've got some bad news..." he wrote. When a fan enquired if he was being serious, Tetsell replied: "Yeah, we've all been sacked now." In August 2010, Tetsell also broke the news of Mongrels being picked up for a second series. (more)...