- Radio Times
- Review by:
- Jane Rackham
John Bishop wrote and stars in this comedy drama, inspired by his own experiences on the pantomime circuit. He plays Lewis Loud, a Morecambe FM DJ making his stage debut as Jack the Lad in a run of Dick Whittington in Lancaster.
The production is in chaos because Lewis is romantically involved with Tamsin, a soap actress who’s playing principal boy Dick (Mrs Biggs’ and Gavin & Stacey’s Sheridan Smith). Not only that, but old ham Johnny Darby (Michael Cochrane) is a very reluctant pantomime Dame and The One and Only 90s chart star Chesney Hawkes is a walking disaster.
About this programme
The pantomime world comes under the spotlight in this festive comedy drama co-written by and starring stand-up star John Bishop. The funnyman plays Lewis Loud, Morecambe FM's cheeky DJ, who is about to make his stage debut as Jack the Lad in Dick Whittington, alongside token soap star Tamsin (Sheridan Smith), who he has fallen for during rehearsals. But when Lewis's ex-wife delivers his son to the stage door, he realises he must take his fatherly duties very seriously - which is easier said than done when you're surrounded by chaos and ego, in the shape of veteran actor Johnny, ambitious actress-producer Di and accident-prone 1990s chart star Chesney Hawkes, keen to prove there is more to him than The One and Only. Co-starring Samantha Spiro, Mark Benton, Kaye Wragg, Michael Cochrane and Ami Metcalf. Co-scripted by Jonathan Harvey (Coronation Street, Gimme Gimme Gimme).
Cast and crew
Cast
- John Bishop
- Sheridan Smith
- Samantha Spiro
- Mark Benton
- Kaye Wragg
- Michael Cochrane
- Ami Metcalf
- Chesney Hawkes
- Daniel Bishop
Crew
- Director
- Christine Gernon
- Executive Producer
- John Bishop
- Executive Producer
- Lisa Thomas
- Executive Producer
- Lindsay Hughes
- Executive Producer
- Henry Normal
- Producer
- John Rushton
- Writer
- John Bishop
- Writer
- Jonathan Harvey
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