| Playhouse Presents | |
|---|---|
 Season two title card | |
| Starring | Various |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 33 |
| Production | |
| Production location | UK |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Sky Arts |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sky Arts 1 |
| Release | 12 April 2012 (2012-4-12) – 19 June 2014 (2014-6-19) |
Playhouse Presents is ananthology series of self-contained TV plays, made by British broadcasterSky Arts. The series started airing on 12 April 2012, on Sky Arts. Each episode is written by a different writer and stars a different cast.[1] The second series began airing in April 2013.[2] A third season began airing 1 May 2014.[3]
Sky Arts announced that they were ordering a five-part spin-off of the third play,Nixon’s The One. They said the full cast, includingHarry Shearer asNixon andHenry Goodman asKissinger, were slated to return for the series run, which was to be filmed in September 2012. The series was scheduled to broadcast in 2013.[4]
The four-part adaptation ofA Young Doctor's Notebook starringJon Hamm andDaniel Radcliffe was also broadcast as under thePlayhouse Presents banner in December 2012. It became the most successful series in the history ofSky Arts and a second series was commissioned, airing in late 2013.[5]
Sky Arts announced two films,Foxtrot andNightshift, for thePlayhouse Presents strand in late 2013.[6] While it initially appeared that these would be broadcast as one-offs, they ended up being aired as part of the third season.[7] A Christmas special titled "Marked",[8] starringKiefer Sutherland,Stephen Fry, andKevin McNally, was broadcast in December 2014.
| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 11 | 12 April 2012 (2012-4-12) | 21 June 2012 (2012-6-21) | |
| 2 | 14 | 18 April 2013 (2013-4-18) | 4 July 2013 (2013-7-4) | |
| 3 | 8 | 1 May 2014 (2014-5-1) | 19 June 2014 (2014-6-19) | |
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Minor Character" | Richard Curson Smith | Will Self | 12 April 2012 (2012-4-12) | |
David Tennant stars as Will, a cynical writer whose reminiscences about a dinner party with his group of friends leads him to make some startling realisations about himself, his friends, his life, and his place in it.[9] | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Nellie & Melba" | Christine Gernon | Paul O'Grady andSandi Toksvig | 19 April 2012 (2012-4-19) | |
Set in 1979, it centres around a 51-year-old man named Neville (Paul O'Grady) and his mother Melba (Sheila Hancock) who perform as a double act and dream of stardom.[10] | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Nixon's The One" | Ed Bye[12] | Judith Owen[13] | 26 April 2012 (2012-4-26) | |
| 4 | 4 | "King of the Teds" | Jim Cartwright | Jim Cartwright | 3 May 2012 (2012-5-3) | |
StarringTom Jones as Ron,Alison Steadman as Tina, andBrenda Blethyn as Nina. Aging singer Ron is troubled by the failure of his musical career, and his fading marriage to Tina. When their old friend Nina visits for the first time in 40 years, fond reminiscences soon give way to explosive revelations.[14] | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "City Hall" | Richard Loncraine | Rhashan Stone | 10 May 2012 (2012-5-10) | |
Olivia Williams stars as Dorothy Green, a working-class mum who lands the job of London Mayor after her defiant stand against rioters becomes an internet hit. Co-starringRhashan Stone,Lucy Punch andMartin Shaw.[15] | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Care" | Amanda Boyle | Chloe Moss | 17 May 2012 (2012-5-17) | |
Middle class and middle aged, district nurse Natalie (Gina McKee) has become trapped in an existence of meaningless routine until she’s drawn into the lives of two very different women - Elsie (Margaret Jackman), an elderly lady nearing the end of her life and Sammy (Aimee Kelly), the 12-24v in-car power adapter girl next door, who seemingly has everything to live for.[16] | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Snipist" | Matthew Holness | Matthew Holness | 24 May 2012 (2012-5-24) | |
In this black drama starringDouglas Henshall, we follow a lone sniper struggling to maintain sanity in a dystopian, rabies-ridden alternate 1970s Britain ruled over by an ominous Ministry of Information. Ordered to watch and protect stranded survivors, the Snipist must fend off attacks from rabid dogs and protect what remains of his own humanity, but is reality exactly as he sees it? In a dark journey through the recesses of the human mind, he rediscovers the grim reality of mankind's own animalistic instincts.[17] | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Walking the Dogs" | Jeremy Brock | Helen Greaves | 31 May 2012 (2012-5-31) | |
In this comedy drama based on a real life incident, known as theMichael Fagan incident of 1982, we follow theQueen (Emma Thompson), one of her staff (Russell Tovey) and an intruder (Eddie Marsan) over the dramatic half hour which he spends in her bedroom.[18] | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "The Man" | Iain Softley | Sandi Toksvig | 7 June 2012 (2012-6-7) | |
Stephen Fry,Zoë Wanamaker,Stellan Skarsgård andHayley Atwell star inSandi Toksvig’s chilling look at how an unelected few decide the fate of the masses.[19] | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Other Woman" | Mike Barker | Joshua St Johnson | 14 June 2012 (2012-6-14) | |
Trevor Eve,Geraldine James,Richard E Grant andTom Ellis get caught in the blurred lines between real life and fiction.[20] | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "Psychobitches" | Jeremy Dyson[22] | Jeremy Dyson | 21 June 2012 (2012-6-21) | |
This comedy puts history’s most famous women into the psychiatrist’s chair. StarringRebecca Front as the therapist, and featuringCatherine Tate asEva Braun andÉdith Piaf,Sharon Horgan asJane Austen andFrida Kahlo,Katy Brand asJoan of Arc andGeorge Eliot,Sheila Reid asMother Teresa,Samantha Spiro asMary Whitehouse andJudy Garland,Selina Griffiths asBeatrix Potter,Andy Nyman asSarah,Abraham’s wife andKathy Burke asThe Mona Lisa.[21] | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1 | "Hey Diddly Dee" | Marc Warren | Marc Warren | 18 April 2013 (2013-4-18)[24] | |
A dark comedy-drama about the tension during rehearsals for a West End play about Andy Warhol, starringKylie Minogue,Mathew Horne,Peter Serafinowicz,David Harewood,Paul Kaye andLee Boardman.[23] | ||||||
| 13 | 2 | "Snodgrass" | David Blair | David Quantick | 25 April 2013 (2013-4-25)[24] | |
Based on a novella by Ian R MacLeod, the story follows a fifty-year-oldJohn Lennon, played byIan Hart, and explores what his life would have been like if he had walked out onThe Beatles in 1962.[25] | ||||||
| 14 | 3 | "The Call Out" | Carlo Gabriel Nero | Carlo Gabriel Nero | 2 May 2013 (2013-5-2)[24] | |
Based on a short story by Leonard B. Francavilla, it follows Policeman Len (Stephen Graham) as he discovers the loneliness of the city when he meets widowSamantha Bond and elderly womanVanessa Redgrave during a call to a disturbance on the seventh floor of a block of flats.[26] | ||||||
| 15 | 4 | "Pavement Psychologist" | Idris Elba | Idris Elba | 9 May 2013 (2013-5-9)[24] | |
A drama about the relationship between an accountant (Anna Friel), and a charismatic homeless man (Nonso Anozie).[27] | ||||||
| 16 | 5 | "Mr Understood" | Kate Hardie | Kate Hardie | 16 May 2013 (2013-5-16)[24] | |
Tom Brooke plays Gary, a young transvestite battling with issues of self-doubt, portrayed through the personification of his inner voice, Frank (Tommy McDonnell). An encounter with fellow transvestite Jim (Neil Dudgeon) helps Gary accept himself, as Jim's inner voice Linda (Claire Skinner) displays his own insecurities.[28] | ||||||
| 17 | 6 | "Stage Door Johnnies" | Catherine McCormack | Catherine McCormack and Laura Power | 23 May 2013 (2013-5-23)[24] | |
Filmed in a 'mockumentary' style, the story follows five local enthusiasts as a production of Romeo and Juliet starringSuranne Jones and John Nettles arrives in their town. The fans consist of Marco (Alex MacQueen), an amateur critic, Tony (Steve Evets) a man who makes gifts for the stars, Susan (Anna Calder-Marshall) and Meg (Felicity Montagu), two women who John Nettles has a restraining order against and Ralph (Tom Davis), the quiet observer of the group.[29] | ||||||
| 18 | 7 | "Psychobitches Part One" | Jeremy Dyson | Jeremy Dyson, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Ali Crockatt, David Scott,Lucy Montgomery,Kathy Burke,Derren Litten,Holly Walsh and Freddy Syborn | 30 May 2013 (2013-5-30)[24] | |
The first of a five-part series starringRebecca Front as a therapist, who talks to various iconic women from history includingJulia Davis asSylvia Plath,Sharon Horgan asEva Peron,Samantha Spiro asAudrey Hepburn,Mark Gatiss asJoan Crawford,Frances Barber asBette Davis,Kathy Burke asMona Lisa,Katy Brand asMary Shelley andKaty Brand,Selina Griffiths andSarah Solemani as theBrontë family.[30] | ||||||
| 19 | 8 | "Cargese" | Matt Smith | Simon Stephens | 30 May 2013 (2013-5-30)[24] | |
A drama about two teenagers stuck on a council estate. Carl (Craig Roberts) is about to go to college leaving Stephen (Joe Cole) alone to look after his dying mother and mentally challenged brother resulting in Stephen's behaviour to become erratic.[31] | ||||||
| 20 | 9 | "Psychobitches Part Two" | Jeremy Dyson | Jeremy Dyson, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Ali Crockatt, David Scott,Lucy Montgomery andJessie Cave | 6 June 2013 (2013-6-6)[24] | |
The second of a five-part series starringRebecca Front as a therapist, who talks to various iconic women from history. In this episode the patients are played byJulia Davis,Sharon Horgan,Samantha Spiro,Frances Barber,Mathew Baynton,Katy Brand,Sharon D. Clarke,Selina Griffiths andSteve Pemberton. The episode includesDiana Dors,Marilyn Monroe,Doris Stokes,The Virgin Mary,Virginia Woolf,Gala Dalí,Cleopatra,Bessie Smith,Dian Fossey,Enid Blyton andBeatrix Potter.[30] | ||||||
| 21 | 10 | "Ragged" | Johnny Vegas | Andrew Lynch andJohnny Vegas | 6 June 2013 (2013-6-6)[24] | |
StarringRicky Tomlinson andStephen Walters, this story is based on Ricky’s true experiences campaigning for justice in an effort to overturn a verdict which sent him to jail for 2 years in the early 1970s. During his time in prison and on hunger strike, Ricky’s life is changed forever by a prison governor who encourages him to readRobert Tressell’s bookThe Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.[32][33] | ||||||
| 22 | 11 | "Psychobitches Part Three" | Jeremy Dyson | Jeremy Dyson, Bert Tyler-Moore, George Jeffrie, Ali Crockatt, David Scott,Lucy Montgomery,Julia Davis, Jamie Lennox,Holly Walsh and Louis Waymouth | 13 June 2013 (2013-6-13)[24] | |
The third of a five-part series starringRebecca Front as a therapist, who talks to various iconic women from history. In this episode the patients are played byJulia Davis,Sharon Horgan,Samantha Spiro,Selina Griffiths,Joanna Scanlan,Reece Shearsmith andJack Whitehall. The episode includesElizabeth Taylor,Amalia Freud,Barbara Woodhouse,Old Mother Shipton,Joy Adamson,Diana Spencer,Leni Riefenstahl,Marie Curie andMadame de Pompadour.[30] | ||||||
| 23 | 12 | "Gifted" | Marc Evans | Angela Pell | 13 June 2013 (2013-6-13)[24] | |
Rhys Ifans plays Chris, an outsider with a secret ability, who falls in love for the first time with Mona (Sarah Smart). Eventually learning to accept and embrace his unusual 'gift'.[34] | ||||||
| 24 | 13 | "Psychobitches Part Four" | Jeremy Dyson | Jeremy Dyson, Ali Crockatt, David Scott,Derren Litten and Freddy Syborn | 20 June 2013 (2013-6-20)[24] | |
The fourth of a five-part series starringRebecca Front as a therapist, who talks to various iconic women from history. In this episode the patients are played byJulia Davis,Sharon Horgan,Samantha Spiro,Katy Brand,Tamsin Egerton,Michelle Gomez andTed Robbins. The episode includesEmmeline Pankhurst,Barbara Castle,Helen of Troy,Lot's Wife,Mary Queen of Scots,Nancy Spungen,Eve andMary Shelley.[30] | ||||||
| 25 | 14 | "Psychobitches Part Five" | Jeremy Dyson | Jeremy Dyson,Kathy Burke, Ali Crockatt, David Scott,Derren Litten,Lucy Montgomery, Bert Tyler-Moore and George Jeffrie | 27 June 2013 (2013-6-27)[24] | |
The last of a five-part series starringRebecca Front as a therapist, who talks to various iconic women from history. In this episode the patients are played byJulia Davis,Sharon Horgan,Samantha Spiro,Zawe Ashton,Frances Barber,Kathy Burke,Harry Enfield,Sheila Reid,Sarah Solemani and Tom Stuart. The episode includesBoudica,Jackie Kennedy,Mary Pickford,Eartha Kitt,Mona Lisa,Anne Frank,Catherine the Great,Betty Ford,Alfred Hitchcock andQueen Victoria.[30] | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 1 | "The Dog Thrower" | Jon Ronson | Jon Ronson | 1 May 2014 (2014-5-1)[36] | |
Lonely man Jonah (Tim Key) begins throwing his dog in the air and catching him after witnessing a charismatic man (Matthew Perry) doing the same in a local park. His actions make him popular with the locals but after a photographer becomes interested in the performances the publics opinion becomes much more negative.[35] | ||||||
| 27 | 2 | "Nosferatu in Love" | Peter Straughan | Peter Straughan | 8 May 2014 (2014-05-08) | |
While on location in the Czech Republic for a remake of the vampire classic , our tormented lead (Mark Strong) flees the set in full Dracula costume. Teaming up with petty crook Fonso , his revenge against his director and his wife will involve his best acting talents - and twelve thousand rats.[37] | ||||||
| 28 | 3 | "The Cruise" | Stewart Sugg | Stewart Sugg | 15 May 2014 (2014-05-15) | |
Mobile Hairdresser Jacky is one week from her silver anniversary dream cruise. But is husband Andys hesitation just simple concern - or are darker forces at play? StarringJane Horrocks &Jason Watkins.[38] | ||||||
| 29 | 4 | "Nightshift" | Bruce Goodison | Jimmy Gardner | 22 May 2014 (2014-05-22) | |
Daniel Mays andAshley Walters star as contrasting police officers getting through a long nightshift in South-East London. | ||||||
| 30 | 5 | "Foxtrot" | Polly Stenham | Polly Stenham | 29 May 2014 (2014-05-29) | |
Billie Piper and Alice Sanders star as kidnappers whose boss (Lindsay Duncan) and victim (Ben Whishaw) disrupt their plans. | ||||||
| 31 | 6 | "Space Age" | Lawrence Gough | Nick Moran andRalf Little | 5 June 2014 (2014-06-05) | |
Richard Wilson andSimon Callow star as two ageing men who gain a new lease of life thanks to a voluntary space mission. | ||||||
| 32 | 7 | "Damned" | Natalie Bailey | Jo Brand andMorwenna Banks | 12 June 2014 (2014-06-12) | |
Jo Brand andAlan Davies star as stressed social workers struggling to keep control of their private lives and chaotic office. | ||||||
| 33 | 8 | "Timeless" | Tony Smith | Tim Firth | 19 June 2014 (2014-06-19) | |
Cara Delevingne andSylvia Syms star in a touching drama about the burgeoning relationship between aWorld War II widow and her great-granddaughter. | ||||||
Playhouse Presents premiered on 4 January 2015 onBBC First.[39]
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