Very British Problems
- TV comedy
- Channel 4
- 2015 - 2016
- 7 episodes (2 series)
Just why is it so hard being British? Because we have Very British Problems. Stars Stephen Mangan, Romesh Ranganathan, Bob Mortimer, Catherine Tate, Danny Dyer and more.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 1 - School
Further details
This episode includes James Corden, Jack Whitehall, David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Danny Dyer, Josh Widdicombe, Alex Brooker, Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer, Grace Dent, Francesca Martinez, Rich Hall, Romesh Ranganathan, Javone Prince, Susan Calman and Rebecca Front.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Monday 9th May 2016
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- Channel 4
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
| Stephen Mangan | Self |
| Romesh Ranganathan | Self |
| Bob Mortimer | Self |
| Catherine Tate | Self |
| Danny Dyer | Self |
| Jack Whitehall | Self |
| Rebecca Front | Self |
| Ava Vidal | Self |
| David Tennant | Self |
| Javone Prince | Self |
| Katherine Ryan | Self |
| James Corden | Self |
| Vic Reeves | Self |
| Rich Hall | Self |
| Rob Beckett | Self |
| Grace Dent | Self |
| Francesca Martinez | Self |
| Aisling Bea | Self |
| Susan Calman | Self |
| Alex Brooker | Self |
| Josh Widdicombe | Self |
| Julie Walters | Narrator |
| Adam Kay | Writer (Additional Material) |
| Lorry Powles | Director |
| Suzy Ratner | Series Producer |
| Ruth Wallace | Series Producer |
| Chris Fouracre | Executive Producer |
| Tammy Hoyle | Executive Producer |
| Jim Hillier | Editor |
Press
The new series of Very British Problems began this week but seems to have lost its purpose. The show began life as a very witty, observant Twitter account which would blurt out panicked and appalled little tweets about the difficulties of being a repressed British person who's trying frantically to avoid embarrassment in a world full of boors and idiots.
The humour lay in not knowing who was sending the tweets and so we could imagine it was an uptight Englishman in a suit and bowler hat, catching the 8.09 to Waterloo, perhaps resembling a stern-faced John Cleese. Or maybe it's a kindly old lady who makes jam for the Women's Institute and crochets bootees for the church jumble sale, and is quietly horrified at the manners of today's young people. We could imagine what we liked, or slot ourselves into the situations described. But transferring the concept from Twitter to TV has ruined that. Our imaginary and oh-so-typical Brit has been replaced by celebrities. James Corden, Catherine Tate and David Tennant now share their awkward moments and social embarrassments, and there is no longer room for us. We've become observers not awkward, agonised participants.
We all love Christmas but wouldn't like it every day - contrary to what the song says. The luxury of all that food, wine and excitement would soon wear off and leave us longing for an uneventful day at work or a quiet potter around the supermarket. We can only take so much wonder and joy - and that must be the reason why Charlie Brooker is relatively rare on TV.
If I was in charge, he'd be on TV constantly. BBC News 24 would be Brooker 24 and watching would be mandatory. But, as with too much turkey and Prosecco, maybe we'd soon start to groan and wilt: no more, please. I'm full! I can't take another joke. I'm woozy with these witty observations. Another gag will make me gag.
Julie McDowall, The National (Scotland), 14th May 2016This harmless take on the Grumpy Old Men-style talking heads show enters a second series. The thesis of the series is this: comedians and celebrities celebrate the social awkwardness that is held to be representatively British. This opening episode focuses on school: unfathomably enduring nicknames, playground meanness and the difficulties of fitting in. Stand-up comic Romesh Ranganathan nails the latter with his account of attending a comprehensive school - but doing so with a public school accent.
John Robinson, The Guardian, 9th May 2016