Moving Wallpaper

We seem to be making rather a habit of recommending shows that are about to get canned - for that surely will be the fate of this ambitious satire that is pulling less than 2 million viewers in prime scheduling real estate. It's a shame: it's no 30 Rock, but because we're London media twots, we always like the concept of a behind-the-scenes TV show. Then again, the trials of making a terrible series about zombies is... less good. But, hey, Jim from Neighbours pops up, and Ben Miller is great value as the despicable TV producer. Kelly Brook, though, seems to struggle to play herself in real-life, let alone a version of herself, and is amusingly bad. Thanks for popping in, Moving Wallpaper.

It's wrap party time at last for the pilot of zombie thriller Renaissance and, as ever, discontent and bitchiness continue to bubble under the surface. Punch-ups, misunderstandings and a visit from the police punctuate this last episode of the savagely funny parody of the TV business.

I caught the last episode of Moving Wallpaper last night, having missed the middle three episodes. It was quite enjoyable, too. Ben Miller's the main reason to watch as egomaniac producer Jonathan Pope (even if he plays it all much, much broader than everyone else), but that's a small complaint.

It's just a shame ITV didn't have the confidence to follow Moving Wallpaper's finale with a full-length, televised pilot with decent production values.

Ofcom investigates Moving Wallpaper 'transphobia' row

Ofcom is investigating more than 50 complaints alleging that ITV1 comedy Moving Wallpaper was offensive to transsexuals.

Moving Wallpaper takes zombie show to itv.com

ITV1 comedy Moving Wallpaper will "take over" the itv.com homepage at the climax of the series, with 12 minutes of the show-within-a-show, Renaissance, debuting online.

Ben Miller stars as put-upon producer Jonathan Pope in this satirical sitcom. Well, we don't care much for the portrayal of the writers on Jonathan Pope's new project, zombie thriller Renaissance, because they're little more than quivering bags of ego and paranoia. So much so, that when a new writer on higher pay joins the team, they down tools like French truckers on a Friday. You wouldn't catch us... What's that, our Hob Nob budget's been slashed again? Everybody out!

Friday-night comedies are on a winning streak at the moment, thanks in large part to a move away from those dire gag-driven sitcoms with their deafening laughter tracks that are so beloved at the BBC. Tonight's episode of Moving Wallpaper is as funny as ever, with the producer (Ben Miller) trying to convince American moneymen to co-fund ITV's first-ever zombie series.

I was thoroughly disappointed to see the ratings for last week's opening episode in this new series of the highly watchable sitcom. A rating of 2.12 million doesn't bode well for tonight's ratings or a third series. Shame really, as it's great fun and always worth it for Ben Miller as TV producer Jonathan Pope.

While definitely entertaining, this comedy just seems to lack the kick, insight and inventiveness that similar shows (like 30 Rock) achieve much easier. I'm also not sure a traditional ITV audience will get the joke (or be that interested in zombies), while the audience tuning in for Kelly Brook and horror-tinged comedy will probably find Moving Wallpaper rather toothless. Still, for an ITV comedy, this is already their best attempt in years.

TV can be a cruel business. Just look at the fate of dismal soap Echo Beach after its disastrous forced marriage to the sitcom Moving Wallpaper. The latter was quite good, the former was awful and thus the two divorced, with Echo Beach cut adrift for good. And so Moving Wallpaper returns, all on its ownsome, to resume its comic behind-the-scenes tales of fictional television folk. With the death of Echo Beach, brutally and quite truthfully dismissed because it was "s**t and nobody watched it", according to venal producer Jonathan Pope (Ben Miller), the neurotic production team anxiously awaits news of its future. The first series of Moving Wallpaper was too TV-insidery for a broad audience, and the second will probably look just as smug, or impenetrable because it's full of in-jokes. It has its moments, though, even if it too often descends into farce.