About Fonejacker
fonejack / v. 1. to seize control of a telephone conversation by farce esp. to divert it from reason and logic
Such is the definition of fonejacking, which is provided for information purposes at the beginning of each episode. Fonejacker takes elements of hidden camera shows (such as Candid Camera and Beadle's About) and prank shows (such as Trigger Happy TV) and blends them with surreal animations and hidden camera footage to create a show that is modern in terms of style and direction but is very firmly rooted in comedy basics of old.
Fonejacker is an interesting mix and one which has polarised critics and viewers alike, with the show's strongest critics claiming that the format is lazy, tired and unoriginal. Alternatively, fans of the show praise an amusing and irreverent world inhabited by a host of instantly quotable weird and wonderful characters. The show won the BAFTA award for 'Best Comedy Programme' in 2008.
The comedy is the brainchild of Ed Tracy and British born (though of Iranian origin) actor Kayvan Novak. The series started life as a a 2006 Channel 4 Comedy Lab pilot. A five minute Fonejacker Christmas special was then screened in December 2006, and following that a six-part series which first aired on E4 on 5th July 2007. The same series made it's Channel 4 debut on 7th September 2007 and following that, on 20th December 2007 a 2nd Christmas Special (full length this time) was broadcast. A second series followed on E4 (then repeated on C4) in October 2008.
The first series was released on DVD in October 2007 and the second series was released in November 2008. The special features on the DVDs include a look behind the scenes, outtakes and character interviews. The pilot episode and E4 Christmas message are also on the first DVD.