15 Storeys High
- TV Series
- 2002–2004
- 30m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
The lives of two men sharing a flat in South London.The lives of two men sharing a flat in South London.The lives of two men sharing a flat in South London.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total
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After his sad and untimely passing, the BBC decided to return Sean Lock's cult sitcom to the iPlayer, to allow it to find a new audience. I watched "15 Storeys High" at the time, and my recollection was that I liked it, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to watch it again. After a couple of shaky episodes, the show really finds its feet and has some great comedic ideas.
Two men, the brusque Vince (Sean Lock) and naïve Errol (Benedict Wong) share a flat in a South London complex. Their interactions, with each other and their neighbours, form the basis of the sitcom, but each episode shows us the lives of other people living around the complex and the increasing idiosyncratic way that these people live their lives.
The first couple are, admittedly, a bit shaky. The first episode has a scene recreating "Jim'll Fix It" which has unintentionally become a lot more shocking since the revelations about Saville came out and I'm perhaps a bit surprised that the BBC didn't decide to edit this out of the re-release. Once you reach the third episode though, it settles down into the right rhythm and tone and the last four episode of this run are really good.
There's a lot of actors across this season who would go on to become regular faces in comedy across the next twenty years, Cavan Clerkin, Michael Smiley, Martin Trenaman, Toby Jones, Peter Serafinowicz, and Paul Putner are just some of the names who would appear.
It's a very funny show and makes it even sadder than during Sean's time he didn't write more narrative based comedy.
Two men, the brusque Vince (Sean Lock) and naïve Errol (Benedict Wong) share a flat in a South London complex. Their interactions, with each other and their neighbours, form the basis of the sitcom, but each episode shows us the lives of other people living around the complex and the increasing idiosyncratic way that these people live their lives.
The first couple are, admittedly, a bit shaky. The first episode has a scene recreating "Jim'll Fix It" which has unintentionally become a lot more shocking since the revelations about Saville came out and I'm perhaps a bit surprised that the BBC didn't decide to edit this out of the re-release. Once you reach the third episode though, it settles down into the right rhythm and tone and the last four episode of this run are really good.
There's a lot of actors across this season who would go on to become regular faces in comedy across the next twenty years, Cavan Clerkin, Michael Smiley, Martin Trenaman, Toby Jones, Peter Serafinowicz, and Paul Putner are just some of the names who would appear.
It's a very funny show and makes it even sadder than during Sean's time he didn't write more narrative based comedy.
Having been a fan of Sean Lock's comedy for many years I looked forward to this series and it did not disappoint. It is hilarious! To anyone who hasn't seen it, buy the BBC DVD right now. To summarise Vince, a swimming pool attendant, and his jobless flatmate, Errol, live in a block of flats. And, as in most sitcoms, hilarious adventures ensue. However, the brilliance comes from Lock's surreal writing. The two characters are flatmates but not friends, the adventures range from the problems of being addicted to a cheap energy drink (Blue Rat), trying to get your flat decorated when you use Readers' Wives for style tips ("You can't have sex in a living room. That's where you have Christmas") or simply the problems that come from killing a swan. Each episode is broken up by short glimpses of what is going on in the other flats. These vary each week and go from the sublime to the ridiculous (the man who wants "dick, dick, dick, dick, dick, spot!" for his spotted dick is fantastic.
If you like comedy- give it a go. If you want a change from canned laughter filled colourful sitcoms - give it a go.
If you like comedy- give it a go. If you want a change from canned laughter filled colourful sitcoms - give it a go.
Okay, I just bought the DVD of the first series because the reviews suggested that this was the type of humour that I like best (Black Books!!Yeah!!). After watching the first episode, I was left with mixed feelings. My mistake....
A couple of days later I decided to give the second show a shot. No mixed feelings now-this one's a gem! Lock & the rest of the cast's deadpan delivery is enhanced by the lack of canned laughter, & the bizarre situations are played out almost a la reality TV. Also, as an ex-pat Londoner, while these situations may seem genuinely odd to a few people, I was reminded of a whole slew of people from way back when. Which is probably why I moved as far away as possible.
To summarize, a top-notch show which may need to be given a couple of viewings. I can't wait for the second series to get a DVD release..
A couple of days later I decided to give the second show a shot. No mixed feelings now-this one's a gem! Lock & the rest of the cast's deadpan delivery is enhanced by the lack of canned laughter, & the bizarre situations are played out almost a la reality TV. Also, as an ex-pat Londoner, while these situations may seem genuinely odd to a few people, I was reminded of a whole slew of people from way back when. Which is probably why I moved as far away as possible.
To summarize, a top-notch show which may need to be given a couple of viewings. I can't wait for the second series to get a DVD release..
I only managed to catch one episode so far but what an episode! It's one of those underrated comedies you hear nothing about, but the script is hillarious, and the straighter-than-straight acting just suits it to a T. Stylistically, it's a cross between league of gentlemen, the office, and something else all of it's own. From what I can tell, it charters the lives of the inhabitants of a block of flats in anytown UK. Watch if you're after something different.
15 Storeys High is the tale of Vince and his slightly ditzy flatmate Errol as they bugger through life.
It's slightly rough for the first few episodes but it defintiely gets better, and I did like some of the more surreal and out-there moments (like Vince's nude loving father). A stand out to me was the Airport episode, if mainly due to how ridiculous it got. It's sad that the main player is dead now, although it hopeully means that more love can be given to this show.
It's slightly rough for the first few episodes but it defintiely gets better, and I did like some of the more surreal and out-there moments (like Vince's nude loving father). A stand out to me was the Airport episode, if mainly due to how ridiculous it got. It's sad that the main player is dead now, although it hopeully means that more love can be given to this show.
Did you know
- TriviaAfter creator and writer Sean Lock's death on 18 August 2021, the BBC announced via Twitter on August 28 that the series would become available to view on BBC iPlayer for the first time since its creation in 2002.
- GoofsAll exterior shots in the first season show that Vince and Errol's flat is in fact on the fourteenth floor, not the fifteenth as depicted by the floor number on the landing wall in interior shots. In the second season, exterior shots show the flat on the fifteenth floor.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Screenwipe: Episode #1.2 (2006)
- How many seasons does 15 Storeys High have?Powered by Alexa
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- Fifteen Storeys High
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