I was just wondering how many people would watch a sitcom on the BBC if most of the cast were foreigners?
Would you be interested in a show where there's more foreign cast/accents than British?
Just wondering because all I see on telly and British cinema is British actors, British accents and British lives...
Really?
You've never seen
Friends
Frasier
Big Bang Theory
30 Rock
Simpsons
Family Guy
3rd Rock From the Sun
etc. etc. ?
Not really sure what you're getting at- Britain has a huge range of native (as well as immigrant and second/third/etc generation) accents and is incredibly culturally diverse, especially in the larger cities. The countries and regions which make up Britain (and the UK) all consider themselves to have distinct, as well as uniting, features. The BBC is the British Broadcasting Corporation which is paid for in this country by British native and immigrant citizens through the TV licence. Their remit is to represent and explore British life.
Not entirely sure who you think the 'foreigners' are or why you feel that the BBC, what with being far from the sole provider of programming, shouldn't have this remit?
'Allo 'Allo was very popular.
What about Mind Your Language?
Some stuff.
Specifically in answer to the original question, I'm interested in whatever's funny. As others have said, it's hardly a surprise that a nation's broadcaster contains just a few programmes from that nation.
To hear non-British accents (whatever that means) in British sitcoms isn't exactly difficult. Not Going Out, Red Dwarf, Mumbai Calling, Peep Show, 15 Storeys High, Love Soup etc.
As long as the characters aren't insulting caricatures, eg. Teenage Kicks, then it isn't a problem.
So far this year the BBC aired an Icelandic sitcom, an Australian one, and an Irish co-produced one without, I believe, a British accent between them.
Whatever a British accent is.
They also had an American co-produced one with more American voices than British ones.
Quote: Michael in London @ September 15 2011, 11:44 PM BSTThey also had an American co-produced one with more American voices than British ones.
Are you thinking of Episodes?
Quote: Ian Wolf @ September 16 2011, 8:10 AM BSTAre you thinking of Episodes?
Indeed. I think Mangan and Greig were the only British accents heard in the series.
And the others were the Night Shift, Angry Boys, and Mrs Brown's Boys.
Four different shows predominantly featuring foreign actors and accents is a pretty good record that I reckon would compare well with mainstream broadcasters in other countries.