Famalam

Sketch about London street gangs goes viral

A parody sketch of two rival London gangs threatening each other in a series of escalating videos has gone viral on Twitter and Reddit.

It was first seen on BBC Three earlier this year but this black British sketch show gets a deserved airing on BBC Two. As with all such enterprises, not every idea lands. But the likes of thwarted Nigerian philanthropist Prince Alyusi, forever trying to give away his money to suspicious strangers - make it well worth a look.

Famalam (BBC3): a sublime achievement of satire

Sean O'Grady enjoys another great BBC3 comedy.

Famalam's stars: 'We're the rap mixtape of comedy!'

Why are black sketch shows such a rarity in British comedy? As Famalam hits the screen, its team reveal why their show is perfect for the age of social media.

Famalam, review

All hail Moses 'Motherf***in' Mountree of Midsomer.

Famalam interview

'We've a licence to talk about things other sketch shows don't because we've an all-black cast'.

Famalam: New sketch comedy with funny young actors

It confirmed for me what creative writing students learn at the start of every new term. Write what you know about.

I don't think there's been an interesting new sketch show since Cardinal Burns. The genre itself is tired; so that if one is to work, to be original and fresh, it needs something more - sketch plus. CB brought surreality, a glorious bonkersness. What does Famalam have that most others unfortunately don't? Black talent in its cast, that's what, including Tom Moutchi and John Macmillan. And a lot of the subject matter of its sketches is about black Britishness too.

It's hit and miss - of course it is, it's a sketch show. I haven't seen enough Nollywood for pastiche Shola Settles the Score: Part 29 to mean a lot, even though I enjoyed it and it made me want to see more Nigerian cinema.

Sometimes it hits a nerve, like a (laughable) attempt to improve the diversity of Midsomer Murders. And all the black characters getting killed off first in an alien movie. Sometimes it's just hilarious, like Black British History, brought to you by Scribbler P, in a UK garage style. "And this started time ago / when brothers were still in black and white / and places like Jamaica hadn't developed yet / like no Buju, no Sean Paul, no Vybz Kartel, Bounty Killer, no dancehall full stop ... "

Oh, and I love the real Nigerian prince, who really does have $44m worth of gold bullion, which he really does need to transfer. And yet none of the people he emails believe him, oddly. Poor Nigeria, it gets a bit of a kicking.

Preview - Famalam

The latest comedy pilot from BBC Two is a sketch show, which these days is somewhat rare. A sketch show with an all-black cast is even rarer.