Barking | |
---|---|
Genre | Sketch comedy |
Directed by | Peter Boyd Maclean |
Starring | |
Composers | Pete Baikie Rowland Lee |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Producers | Alan Marke David Spicer |
Editor | Mykola Pawluk |
Original release | |
Network | Channel 4 |
Release | 24 June 29 July 1998 | –
Barking is a late-night sketch comedy show broadcast on Channel 4 in the summer of 1998. It starred and was written by David Walliams, Catherine Tate, Peter Kay, Omid Djalili, Mackenzie Crook, Marcus Brigstocke and more up-and-coming comedians, most of whom went on to successful careers.[1][2]
No. | Title | Directed by | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 24 June 1998 | |
This first episode features a guided tour of Buckingham Palace, a WI meeting that goes horribly wrong and introduces us to Mr. Bagshaw (Mackenzie Crook): bully, sadist, social misfit, and maths teacher. There is also a special guest appearance from an Airfix Matthew Kelly blowing up a block of flats. | ||||
2 | "Episode 2" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 1 July 1998 | |
Britain's most unsuccessful actor tries to get a job as a dolphin, a team of blasphemous vicars has a crisis moving into their new parish and a desperately right-on couple host a dinner party 'ethnic style'. Dialogue from this episode, voiced by Marcus Brigstocke, was sampled in the 2000 UK hit single "I Don't Smoke" by DJ Dee Kline. | ||||
3 | "Episode 3" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 8 July 1998 | |
Two old school friends have a very bad night in the pub, a society wedding arranges takes a blushing bride firmly in hand and a pair of jealous lovers set out to prove their devotion to each other is deep, true, and surprisingly violent. | ||||
4 | "Episode 4" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 15 July 1998 | |
We meet Liz, the leader of a fascist slimming group, Dr. Killthere-There, chief consultant at the Brave Little Soldier Hospital, and Steve and Alfie try to make their mute monkeychild Danson into the Heavyweight Champion of the World. | ||||
5 | "Episode 5" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 22 July 1998 | |
Roy the custody Dad makes his weekly visit to see his daughter, Mr. Bagshaw has an unfortunate gym lesson and a Nigerian therapist fails to cure his own psychosis. | ||||
6 | "Episode 6" | Peter Boyd Maclean | 29 July 1998 | |
Peter Piper has a breakdown, a Hi-de-Hi! star becomes a suspect in a series of serious crimes and a camping trip turns into a night of the living Dansons. |
Despite the impressive array of future successful comedy stars, the show was not a ratings hit. In the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy (1998), critic Mark Lewisohn said, "the ideas with good potential were buried under a mountain of mediocrity... the show's clash of styles, pacing and mood worked heavily against them".[5] However, he cited Marcus Brigstocke's psychotic airline pilot and David Walliams's insane royal watcher as standout characters.[3]
Brian Donaldson of The List described the show as "something of a mixed bag" and noted that "there's a healthy amount of decent moments". He concluded, "Barking was never as mad as it thought it was and the show's bite was largely toothless".[6]