British Comedy Guide
Panto!. Image shows left to right: Tamsin Taylor (Sheridan Smith), Lewis Loud (John Bishop). Credit: Baby Cow Productions, Lola Entertainment
Panto!

Panto!

  • TV comedy drama
  • ITV1
  • 2012
  • 1 episode

Comedy drama about life behind the scenes at a local theatre's Christmas pantomime production. Created by John Bishop. Stars John Bishop, Ami Metcalf, Samantha Spiro, Lisa Jackson, Kaye Wragg and more.

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Press clippings

TV Review: Panto!

Panto! did have its moments, with some neat one-liners as well as a couple of admittedly very funny scenes, most notably the aforementioned 'Like a Virgin' segment. Ultimately though, it was rather rushed, clumsy and uneven with the end result being instantly forgettable.

Jonny Dockett, TV Jam, 3rd January 2013

John Bishop wrote and stars in this comedy drama, inspired by his own experiences on the pantomime circuit. He plays Lewis Loud, a Morecambe FM DJ making his stage debut as Jack the Lad in a run of Dick Whittington in Lancaster.

The production is in chaos because Lewis is romantically involved with Tamsin, a soap actress who's playing principal boy Dick (Mrs Biggs' and Gavin & Stacey's Sheridan Smith). Not only that, but old ham Johnny Darby (Michael Cochrane) is a very reluctant pantomime Dame and The One and Only 90s chart star Chesney Hawkes is a walking disaster.

Jane Rackham, Radio Times, 27th December 2012

Right now, John Bishop feels like the most inescapable presence on British TV. But that doesn't mean he hasn't paid his dues - this comedy drama, co-written with Jonathan Harvey probably represents the last leg of J-Bish's journey from the showbiz margins to centre stage. Fittingly, it's inspired by his own adventures on the pantomime circuit - here, he plays Lewis Loud, a Morecambe FM DJ making his debut in a run of Dick Whittington. Look out for supporting turns from the equally hardworking Sheridan Smith and the slightly less prolific Chesney Hawkes, whose career has followed an almost geometrically opposite trajectory to that of Bishop. No preview material was available as we went to press, but we'd confidently stick our money on a cheerful, rough-around-the-edges but essentially good natured romp which might well slip down easily in Christmas week.

Phil Harrison, Time Out, 27th December 2012

Review: Panto!

Comedian's co-written comic drama follows festive conventions flawlessly.

Lisa-Marie Ferla, The Arts Desk, 27th December 2012

John Bishop and Sheridan Smith interview

John Bishop and Sheridan Smith talk about serving up perfect Christmas fare from the wings of Dick Whittington.

James Rampton, The Scotsman, 23rd December 2012

No relation to the Simon Nye-scripted ITV offerings from the turn of the millennium, this John Bishop-devised comedy drama peeks behind the scenes of a provincial panto. Radio jock Lewis Loud (Bishop) is preparing for his stage debut while wooing co-starring soap actor Tamsin (Sheridan Smith), while ex-wife Gina has plans to disrupt any backstage harmony. Whatever you may think of Bishop, a cast including Samantha Spiro and (yes!) Chesney Hawkes suggests this may be a decent accompaniment to the annual search for that elusive final Quality Street fudge.

Mark Jones, The Guardian, 21st December 2012

Sheridan Smith & John Bishop interview

Comic John Bishop teams up with actress Sheridan Smith for the festive comedy-drama Panto!

TV Choice, 11th December 2012

John Bishop writes and stars in ITV Christmas comedy

John Bishop has written and is co-starring in Panto!, a one-off comedy drama for ITV this Christmas.

British Comedy Guide, 12th November 2012

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