John Landis

Radio Times review

The 37th best TV show of 2011 according to the Radio Times.

Manna for lovers of the macabre - a shudder one minute, a cackle the next. Series two had no qualms about meting out grisly ends to its lead personae, at a rate of roughly one bloodbath per episode. At least psycho-mum Maureen got to appal us all with her terrifying Tina Turner karaoke before carking it. Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton invested even their vilest creations with flashes of pathos; new to this run were extreme fag hag Hattie, shackling a gay Iranian man in her boudoir, and beyond-anal librarian Jeremy Goode, haunted by the Silent Singer. Add to the brew a glam Imelda Staunton, Eileen Atkins at her most severe and a cameo from cult horror director John Landis, and this show left you scared and scarred.

There are few laughs in John Landis's ghoulish historical comedy - perhaps only one proper when Paul Whitehouse stumbles on. Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis are desperately unfunny as they try to make a go of the corpse-collection business for their patron, Dr Knox (Tom Wilkinson). Disappointing, given Pegg's comic flair and a fine cast including Isla Fisher.

This is manna for lovers of the macabre - a shudder one minute, a cackle the next. Steve Pemberton's new character Hattie (surely a blood relation of The League of Gentlemen's Pauline) seizes her opportunity at a sham wedding, while Pemberton's Benidorm chum Sheila Reid shows up as another witchy gran, with designs on poor Tommy. The Sowerbutts plan a dinner party from hell, willing anaphylaxis upon shifty, peanut-sensitive Robin (David Bamber); Maureen (Reece Shearsmith) also subjects her guests to a party piece, which is, well, "simply the best!" Shearsmith is great too, without all the hideous make-up, as beyond-anal librarian Jeremy who sees David Lynch-ian phantoms between the bookcases - and stay alert for a cameo from another cult movie director, John Landis.

More Burke & Hare Cast Announced

Details of the full cast have been announced for John Landis' Burke And Hare, and if you thought you were excited by the casting of Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis, prepare to do geeky cartwheels at the news that Jessica Hynes, Bill Bailey, Reece Shearsmith and Sir Christopher Lee are all on board.