Miranda (TV series)

Miranda
Miranda title card
Genre	Situation comedy
Created by	Miranda Hart
Written by	Miranda Hart James Cary Simon Dean Dan Gaster Jason Hazeley Richard Hurst Will Ing Paul Kerensa Joel Morris Paul Powell Georgia Pritchett Tony Roche
Directed by	Juliet May
Starring	Miranda Hart Sarah Hadland Tom Ellis Patricia Hodge Sally Phillips James Holmes
Theme music composer	Alex Eckford
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	12 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Jo Sargent
Producer(s)	Nerys Evans (Series 1) Emma Strain (Series 2)
Running time	30 minutes
Production company(s)	BBC
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC Two (2009–10) BBC One (2011—)
Picture format	1080i
Original run	9 November 2009 (2009-11-09) – present
External links
Website

Miranda is a BBC television series co-written by and starring comedienne Miranda Hart, which first aired on BBC Two on 9 November 2009. The situation comedy also features Sarah Hadland, Tom Ellis, Patricia Hodge, James Holmes and Sally Phillips. The series is based on Hart's semi-autobiographical writing and followed a television pilot and the BBC Radio 2 comedy Miranda Hart's Joke Shop.

Described as an "old-fashioned" sitcom, it received positive comments from critics and Hart won the 2009 Royal Television Society award for comedy performance for her role in the first series. A second series was commissioned and filming started in mid 2010. The series began airing on BBC Two and BBC HD on 15 November 2010. A third series and Christmas special has been commissioned and will air on BBC One.

Situation

Main article: List of Miranda episodes

Miranda (Miranda Hart) is 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and gets called 'Sir' once too often. She has never fit in with her old boarding school friends, Tilly (Sally Phillips) and Fanny (Katy Wix), and finds social situations awkward, especially around men. She is a constant disappointment to her mother Penny (Patricia Hodge), who is desperate for her to get a proper job and a husband. Although Miranda owns and lives above her own joke shop, she lacks any real capacity for business, so it is managed by her childhood friend Stevie Sutton (Sarah Hadland). The restaurant next door is run by Clive (James Holmes), who also works as a waiter. He has employed a chef - Gary Preston (Tom Ellis), a university friend whom Miranda fancies. The various episodes revolve around this set-up.

Production

Abigail Wilson, who worked for comedians Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, suggested Hart pitch a show to the BBC after seeing her perform in 2003.^[1] Following a read-through of her script with Saunders and BBC executives,^[1] a television pilot, based on her semi-autobiographical writing, was filmed in early 2008,^[2] and the series was then developed into a sitcom for radio;^[1] Miranda Hart's Joke Shop aired on BBC Radio 2 in August and September 2008.^[3] A television series was commissioned in August 2008 and began filming in June 2009.^[4][5] Outdoor shots for Series one were filmed in Hounslow, West London.^[6]

In an interview with the BBC's Writersroom, Hart said of the semi-autobiographical basis for the series:^[7]

Well I developed this stand-up persona, and that's where it all started from. I realised I was getting laughs being a version of me, and that's what ended up in the sitcom. You do ultimately start from yourself but I'm pleased to say I did have to exaggerate for comedic effect. It wasn't entirely autobiographical. I'm not quite that mad.

Each episode begins with a 'Previously in my life ...' segment, and Hart says a joke shop is the "right place" as the setting after being asked to consider an office to "normalise" the character.^[7] Her love of 1970s comedy programmes, such as Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, is the influence for Miranda. The episodes end with a 'You have been watching ...' credits section where each cast member waves goodbye, as seen concluding Jimmy Perry and David Croft sitcoms like Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi!.^[8] Quoted in The Times, Hart says "I'm saying this is what I'm doing and I'm not scared to do it. Some of my comedy peers do slightly fear being a mainstream figure, as if it's slightly uncool. Well, I thought I'm going to embrace it."^[1] Throughout each episode, Hart breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly, a technique described as a "simple creative decision [that] makes this infectious comedy sing";^[9] another critic stated "this is hard to pull off, but it works well".^[9]

Following the conclusion of the first series, the BBC commissioned a second series for BBC Two in 2010.^[10] Of this, Hart said "I am not only relieved but totally overwhelmed by the response and thrilled that people have enjoyed the series. I am very grateful for all the support and to the BBC for giving me the chance to do another series next year."^[11] Filming started during the first weeks of summer, and the new series began broadcast in November 2010.^[10][12][13] The second series comprises six episodes and will see the return of Miranda's mother and friends, Stevie, Gary and Tilly.^[14] For the BBC broadcast, following the end of each episode viewers could press the red button, or go online, to watch Hart interview a guest who had inspired her during the writing of the show.^[15] Hart's friend Clare Balding was the first guest and they discussed how Balding influenced the character of Tilly.^[16][17] Frank Skinner was interviewed for the second episode.^[18] Following the end of episode five, which is a two-hander between Miranda and Penny, the red-button feature saw Hart interview her real-life mother.^[19]

In late 2010, Hart announced that she would be filming a special edition of Miranda for Comic Relief.^[20] The sketch saw Miranda team up with dancers from Pineapple Dance Studios.^[21]

Miranda was recommissioned for a third series by Comedy commissioner Cheryl Taylor in January 2011.^[22] Hart revealed that the third series might not be ready until 2012, but she may write a Christmas special.^[23] The following month it was announced that the third series of Miranda would be shown on BBC One.^[24] In April 2011, Hart announced on The Graham Norton Show that she had set herself to start writing the third series the following month.^[25] However, Hart revealed in November she had still not started writing the series.^[26]

Reception

The first series was picked as one of the top 10 forthcoming TV shows for Autumn 2009 by The Sunday Times.^[27] Ahead of the first episode airing, Dominic Maxwell in an article for The Times described it as an "old-school" sitcom and said that "It’s good fun, if you buy into it. And if you do, it’s because of Hart."^[1] Also describing it as "old-fashioned", Vicky Frost for The Guardian said of the slapstick physical comedy that "It's not clever – but it is funny. And that, I think is at the heart of Miranda's appeal."^[28] Mark Wright for The Stage said that Hodge gives a "brilliant, brilliant performance" and that "what sets Miranda out as something special is Hart herself, and the rest just gels around her."^[29] The first series opened with 2.5 million viewers (10% audience share), rising to 3 million viewers (12% share) for the fourth episode.^[30][31]

The second series opened with 3.19 million viewers, rising to 4.01 million viewers for the third episode.^[32][33] Rachel Tarley from the Metro said Miranda is an acquired taste and that an episode can be a mixed bag.^[34] However, Tarley enjoyed the festive episode of series 2, saying "Hart got away with a lot of the more irritating qualities of her work, with help from the fantastic Patricia Hodge and Sally Phillips. Tonight was also the first we saw of Miranda's father, played by Tom Conti, who filled most of the episode's falling-over quota, so that Miranda finally remained pretty vertical throughout the episode."^[34] She added that Hart is "a great observer of everyday dilemmas" and the best thing of all is she left the door open for a third series.^[34] Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph called Miranda "the sitcom of the year",^[35] while Chris Harvey of the same newspaper said "The truth is, pretty much every time Miranda turns and looks at the camera, I burst out laughing. And even when her slapstick is so obvious it wouldn't confuse a small child [..] I still laugh. Even when I'm trying not to. Even when I really, really don't want to."^[36] Meanwhile, Catherine Gee said the show was a flop and listed six reasons why, which included unoriginal jokes, Hart's asides to the camera and the show retaining "the worst aspects of the sitcoms of yesteryear."^[36]

Awards and nominations

In March 2010, Hart won the comedy performance prize at the 2009 Royal Television Society Awards for her role; the series was also nominated for the scripted comedy and comedy writing (for Hart, Cary and Hurst) awards.^[37][38] The series also gained two nominations at the 2010 British Academy Television Awards: scripted comedy and female comedy performance for Hart.^[39] Both Hart and Hodge received "Best Actress" nominations at the 2010 Monte Carlo Television Festival.^[40]

In November 2010, Miranda was nominated for "Best Comedy Programme" at the Broadcast Awards.^[41] In January 2011, the show won "Best New British TV Comedy" at the British Comedy Awards, while Hart won "Best TV Comedy Actress" and the "People's Choice Award For The King Or Queen Of Comedy 2010".^[42] Miranda was also nominated for "Best Sitcom".^[43] Hart won "Best Comedy Performance" and Miranda was named "Best Scripted Comedy" at the Royal Television Society Awards in March 2011.^[44] Juliet May received a nomination for best director at the 2011 British Academy Television Craft Awards.^[45] Hart and the show received nominations from the British Academy Television Awards for Female Performance in a Comedy Role and the YouTube Audience Award respectively.^[46]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Maxwell, Dominic (2 November 2009). "Miranda Hart stands head and shoulders above the rest". The Times. News International. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6898506.ece. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
2. ^ Hart, Miranda (9 November 2009). "BBC Comedy Blog: Get ready for Miranda". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/11/get-ready-for-miranda.shtml. Retrieved 21 December 2009. 
3. ^ "Miranda Hart's Joke Shop". BBC Online. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d3hzr. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
4. ^ "New BBC Two comedy: In My Country starring Omid Djalili, Miranda Hart's Joke Shop and Rab C Nesbitt returns". BBC Press Office (BBC). 22 August 2008. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/08_august/22/comedy.shtml. Retrieved 10 December 2009. 
5. ^ "Miranda starts filming with an all-star cast for her new sitcom on BBC Two". BBC Press Office (BBC). 18 June 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/06_june/18/miranda.shtml. Retrieved 3 November 2009. 
6. ^ Hart, Miranda (9 November 2009). "Comedy Blog: Get ready for Miranda". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2009/11/get-ready-for-miranda.shtml. Retrieved 4 November 2011. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Miranda Hart". BBC Writersroom. BBC. December 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/miranda_hart1.shtml. Retrieved 10 December 2009. 
8. ^ Welch, Andy (9 November 2009). "Miranda Hart harks back to TV golden age". Chester Chronicle (Trinity Mirror). http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/chester-cinema-film-tv/2009/11/09/miranda-hart-harks-back-to-tv-golden-age-59067-25124626/. Retrieved 4 December 2009. 
9. ^ ^{a b} "Miranda - Reviews and Articles - British Comedy Guide". The British Comedy Guide. http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/miranda_hart_sitcom/press/. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 
10. ^ ^{a b} French, Dan (15 December 2009). "BBC hands second series to Miranda". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a191479/bbc-hands-second-series-to-miranda.html. Retrieved 15 December 2009. 
11. ^ "Miranda to return for Series 2". Last Broadcast. http://www.lastbroadcast.co.uk/comedy/previews/v/10182-miranda-to-return-for-series-2.html. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
12. ^ "Miranda is recommissioned for BBC Two". BBC Press Office. BBC. 16 December 2009. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/12_december/16/miranda.shtml. Retrieved 21 December 2009. 
13. ^ "Miranda - The New Me". Radio Times. BBC Magazines. http://www.radiotimes.com/ListingsServlet?event=10&channelId=105&programmeId=142158654&jspLocation=/jsp/prog_details_fullpage.jsp. Retrieved 3 November 2010. 
14. ^ "BBC Two Autumn and Winter 2010/2011". BBC Press Office. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2010/07_july/14/funandlaughter.shtml. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
15. ^ Dawson, Lisa (5 November 2010). "What's On BBC Red Button 6th - 19 November". BBC Internet Blog. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcinternet/2010/11/whats_on_bbc_red_button_6th_-.html. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
16. ^ Simon, Jane (15 November 2010). "Miranda - BBC2, 8.30pm". Daily Mirror (Trinity Mirror). http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/columnists/todays-tv/2010/11/15/miranda-bbc2-8-30pm-115875-22717841/. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
17. ^ Thair, David (12 November 2010). "Precision Engineered Comedy on BBC Two". BBC Comedy. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/comedy/2010/11/precision-engineered-comedy-bbc-two.shtml. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
18. ^ "Miranda Hart interviews Frank Skinner". Chortle. 22 November 2010. http://www.chortle.co.uk/video/2010/11/22/12204/miranda_hart_interviews_frank_skinner. Retrieved 24 November 2010. 
19. ^ "Network TV BBC Week 46 - BBC Red Button feature". BBC Press Office. BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/2010/wk46/feature_red_button.shtml. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
20. ^ "Comic Relief 2011". MirandaHart.com. http://mirandahart.com/?p=111. Retrieved 14 December 2010. 
21. ^ "Comic Relief 2011: viewers' guide". The Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). 18 March 2011. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8390705/Comic-Relief-2011-viewers-guide.html#. Retrieved 18 March 2011. 
22. ^ Love, Ryan (13 January 2011). "BBC hands 'Miranda' a third run". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a297773/bbc-hands-miranda-a-third-run.html. Retrieved 13 January 2011. 
23. ^ Love, Ryan (24 January 2011). "http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a299722/miranda-new-series-could-air-in-2012.html". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a299722/miranda-new-series-could-air-in-2012.html. Retrieved 26 January 2011. 
24. ^ Deans, Jason (10 February 2011). "Upstairs Downstairs gets second series as Miranda moves to BBC1". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/10/upstairs-downstairs-miranda-bbc1. Retrieved 10 February 2011. 
25. ^ "Episode 3". Norton, Graham, Hart, Miranda, Adele, Whitehall, Jack. The Graham Norton Show. BBC. BBC One. 29 April 2011.
26. ^ "04/11/2011". Evans Chris, Jones, Alex, Hart, Miranda. The One Show. BBC. BBC One. 4 November 2011.
27. ^ Kinnes, Sally (16 August 2009). "The best television for autumn 2009". Sunday Times (News International). http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6794548.ece. Retrieved 8 December 2009. 
28. ^ Frost, Vicky (24 November 2009). "Miranda: you are awful, but I like you". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2009/nov/24/miranda-funny. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
29. ^ Wright, Mark (24 November 2009). "Why We Love Miranda". The Stage. http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2009/11/why-we-love-miranda/. Retrieved 9 December 2009. 
30. ^ Plunkett, John (10 November 2009). "TV ratings: Collision watched by nearly twice as many as Life". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/nov/10/tv-ratings-collision-life. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
31. ^ Plunkett, John (1 December 2009). "TV ratings: FlashForward pauses with nearly 2 million". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/dec/01/flashforward-tv-ratings. Retrieved 23 November 2010. 
32. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes - BBC2 w/e 21 Nov 2010". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
33. ^ "Weekly Top 30 Programmes - BBC2 w/e 5 Dec 2010". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. http://www.barb.co.uk/report/weeklyTopProgrammesOverview. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
34. ^ ^{a b c} Tarley, Rachel (20 December 2010). "Miranda was such fun". Metro (Associated Newspapers). http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/851041-miranda-was-such-fun. Retrieved 22 December 2010. 
35. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (21 December 2010). "Miranda: 'I'm the friend you can laugh at'". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8209865/Miranda-Im-the-friend-you-can-laugh-at.html. Retrieved 22 December 2010. 
36. ^ ^{a b} Gee, Catherine; Harvey, Chris (21 December 2010). "Miranda: love her or hate her?". The Daily Telegraph (Telegraph Media Group). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8215227/Miranda-love-her-or-hate-her.html. Retrieved 22 December 2010. 
37. ^ "Miranda show leads TV nominations". BBC News Online (BBC). 1 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8543624.stm. Retrieved 1 March 2010. 
38. ^ "BBC triumphs at Royal Television Society awards". BBC News Online (BBC). 17 March 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8543887.stm. Retrieved 13 May 2010. 
39. ^ Frost, Vicky (10 May 2010). "Bafta TV awards 2010: what's your pick of the bunch?". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/may/10/bafta-awards-nominations-2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010. 
40. ^ "Nominees - Actresses". Monte-Carlo Television Festival. http://www.tvfestival.com/content/Presentation-Nominees/presentation_nomineesUK.php?menu=smenu2&trk=nom&typeN=2&ER=TC. Retrieved 1 July 2010. 
41. ^ WightmanSperling, Catriona (30 November 2010). "In Full: Broadcast Awards 2011 nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a290639/in-full-broadcast-awards-2011-nominations.html?rss. Retrieved 1 February 2011. 
42. ^ Bell, Amy (22 January 2011). "Live: British Comedy Awards - Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a299572/live-british-comedy-awards-winners.html. Retrieved 22 January 2011. 
43. ^ Sperling, Daniel (15 January 2011). "British Comedy Awards the nominations". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a298153/british-comedy-awards-the-nominations.html. Retrieved 16 January 2011. 
44. ^ Tobin, Christian (16 March 2011). "In Full: RTS Awards for 2010 - The Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a309195/in-full-rts-awards-for-2010-the-winners.html. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
45. ^ Wightman, Catriona (9 May 2011). "In Full: BAFTA TV Craft Awards 2011 - Winners". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a318464/in-full-bafta-tv-craft-awards-2011-winners.html. Retrieved 9 May 2011. 
46. ^ "Television Awards Nominees in 2011". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 26 April 2011. http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/winners-nominees-2011,1766,BA.html. Retrieved 30 April 2011. 

External links

• Miranda at BBC Programmes
• Miranda at the British Comedy Guide
• Miranda at the Internet Movie Database
• Miranda at TV.com