Taking The Flak

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Taking the Flak
Genre Sitcom/Comedy drama
Created by Tira Shubart
Sandra Jones
Jon Rolph
Directed by Rhashan Stone
Starring Martin Jarvis
Doon Mackichan
Bruce Mackinnon
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Lloyd Owen
Mackenzie Crook
Ruby Wax
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 6
Production
Running time 30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel BBC Two
First shown in Early 2008
Chronology
Related shows Drop the Dead Donkey
External links
IMDb profile

Taking the Flak, sometimes misspelled as Taking the Flack, is a forthcoming sitcom appearing on BBC Two in early 2008. It is set in a small African country that is the middle of a war. The action takes place between a team of BBC journalists sending back news to BBC News at Ten.[1] The series has been described as, "a bit like Drop the Dead Donkey meets The Constant Gardener."[2]

The series is written by Tira Shubart, Sandra Jones and Jon Rolph. It stars Martin Jarvis, Doon Mackichan, Bruce Mackinnon, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lloyd Owen, Mackenzie Crook and Ruby Wax.[1][2]

[edit] Production

A pilot for Taking the Flak was filmed in January 2007 in Kenya, originally entitled The Calais Rules.[3][1] The BBC later commissioned the series, filmed in the Kenyian city of Nakuru.[3] Two of the writers, Shubart and Jones are journalists, and the series was filmed by an award-winning news cameraman. The show also features guest appearances from famous BBC journalists such as George Alagiah, Sophie Raworth and Dermot Murnaghan.[4][5]

Most of the storylines are based on Shubart's experiences working with John Simpson, who she worked with for eleven years. One of the show's main characters, David (played by Jarvis), is based partly based on him. Simpson met Jarvis to give him tips on how to prepare for his part.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Taking the Flak. British Sitcom Guide. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  2. ^ a b c Dowell, Ben (2007-12-30). Simpson's wars get the comic treatment. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2007-12-31.
  3. ^ a b Shubart, Tira. Comedy. Tria Shubart. Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  4. ^ News - Details on the new BBC2 sitcoms for 2008. British Sitcom Guide (2007-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
  5. ^ BBC Two Winter/Spring 2008: Programmes T-W. BBC Press Office (2007-11-20). Retrieved on 2007-12-22.
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