British Comedy Guide
Inside No. 9. Reece Shearsmith. Copyright: BBC
Reece Shearsmith

Reece Shearsmith

  • 55 years old
  • English
  • Actor and writer

Press clippings Page 17

What a laugh Adrian Dunbar has in Inside No 9. He plays himself, playing a cop. Not that cop - not Ted Hastings - but a detective in a true crime drama shooting in a dreary caravan park.

The crime in question is a baby-snatch from 20 years before, hardly ready-made gag material, but you know these No 9 boys - they love a macabre challenge. This week's episode, Hurry Up and Wait, is creepy enough to remind me of those old Alfred Hitchcock Presents until Dunbar bursts into the green room in a truly hideous jacket. The man has just been in Line of Duty, the biggest show around, and yet is as insecure as the next actor. Reece Shearsmith is a bit-parter playing alongside him. Dunbar nicks all of his dialogue, leaving him with just a head-nod, face unseen, and proceeds to ham it up something terrible: "I really think we've got the bastard!"

Aidan Smith, The Scotsman, 5th June 2021

Review: Inside No. 9 - Hurry Up And Wait

A claustrophobic and unsettling watch.

Luke, The Custard TV, 1st June 2021

TV: Inside No 9, Hurry Up And Wait, BBC Two

The world of TV criticism is in danger of running out of superlatives when it comes to Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton's Inside No 9.

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 31st May 2021

Inside No 9: Hurry Up And Wait review

This week's episode of Inside No 9 hit that sweet spot between spookiness and humour that Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton are so good at finding. And a large part of that is down to the very game guest stars, playing against type.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 31st May 2021

Inside No. 9 review: Hurry Up And Wait

Line Of Duty's Adrian Dunbar plays himself in a deliberately uncomfortable blend of comedy and true crime drama that plays with Inside No. 9's twist tradition. Spoilers.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 31st May 2021

Inside No. 9 review: Adrian Dunbar was an absolute hoot

The Line Of Duty star sent himself up marvellously in an episode that had strong echoes of The League Of Gentlemen.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 31st May 2021

A League Of Gentlemen encounter inspired Episode 4

The true story of how an encounter on the set of The League Of Gentlemen inspired this week's episode of Inside No. 9.

Lauren O'Neill, BBC, 31st May 2021

Inside No. 9 series 6 episode 3 review: Lip Service

Do not disturb? Too late. Fleabag's Sian Clifford joins Inside No. 9 for a slippery episode that repeatedly sheds its skin. Spoilers.

Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 24th May 2021

Inside No. 9 review

Lip Service continues a run of classic episodes.

Sophie Davies, The Custard TV, 24th May 2021

Inside No 9, episode 3, review

Brimming with bent coppers, this gripping episode satirised corruption and the deep state. If only Andrew Scott's Hot Priest had showed up.

Ed Power, The Telegraph, 24th May 2021

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