About Moving Wallpaper
Moving Wallpaper is a cutting-edge comedy project from ITV. It's a sitcom about the making of a TV show... paired up with a genuine TV show that is presented as if it is the result of the work of the writers seen in this sitcom. Confused? Quite likely, as television well and truly collapses in on itself in this inter-related drama/comedy project created by Kudos Productions' Tony Jordan (Hustle, Life On Mars).
Moving Wallpaper stars Ben Miller (The Armstrong & Miller Show) as hapless, ecotistical producer Jonathan Pope. He is joined by Raquel Cassidy (Lead Balloon), James Lance (Teachers), Sarah Hadland (That Mitchell And Webb Look), Elizabeth Berrington (Drop Dead Gorgeous), Lucy Liemann (The IT Crowd), Dave Lamb (The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle) and Sinead Keenan (Being Human).
Series one of Moving Wallpaper was linked to Echo Beach, a soap set in the coastal town of Polnarren in Cornwall. It followed the lives of Daniel (Jason Donovan), Susan (Martine McCutcheon) and Mark (Hugo Speer), and their families and friends. Mark and Susan are married with children but their loyalties are put to the test when her ex-lover, and Mark's ex-friend, Daniel, turns up in town after 20 years to set up a surf-shop-cafe. The show reveals secrets, rivalries, passion and surfing, all set against a beautifully romantic Cornish backdrop.
Series one of Moving Wallpaper was a fictional depiction of this soap's production office; going behind-the-scenes to expose the antics, arguments and backbiting of the show's staff, helmed by the irrepressible producer and 'mastermind' Jonathan Pope (played with relish by Ben Miller). The comedy aims to poke fun at the TV industry and its players. The cast of the soap regularly appear as versions of themselves; throwing diva strops and pestering writers for more lines, providing plenty of in-jokes and cross-over stories when viewed alongside Echo Beach.
In hindsight it is obvious to see that Moving Wallpaper, which became a big critical hit when it was first broadcast in 2008, was going to completely undermine the integrity of its sister show. In real life, whilst Moving Wallpaper flourished, Echo Beach badly flopped (viewers chose to watch just the comedy, they ignored the drama). As a result, the decision was taken by ITV to keep Moving Wallpaper but axe the soap.
This real-world decision was seamlessly weaved into the plot for series two of Moving Wallpaper. The second season picks up where the last series ended - with Jonathan and his team awaiting their fate at the hands of the merciless Head of Continuing Drama at ITV1, Nancy Weeks.
The story is that, despite the end of Echo Beach, a clause in Jonathan's contract means ITV must now offer him a new pilot to produce - much to Nancy's annoyance. ITV's audience must therefore brace themselves for Jonathan's new project: Renaissance, a terrifying one off zombie drama starring Kelly Brook and Alan Dale.
In an attempt to make the living dead 'sexy', the team must keep the stars happy - whilst covering up Jonathan's blazing trail of faux pas from Nancy, the ITV Head of Drama who is desperate for the producer to fail so she can finally fire him. Stunts, sex, cringes, and clashes with American execs follow as they attempt to create their zombie masterpiece.
Will Jonathan's complete lack of subtlety or tact but occasional genius be enough to make it work? And more importantly will the world be ready for another Jonathan Pope production?
