The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle

Infobox Television
show_name = The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle


caption = Opening titles
genre = Sitcom
camera =
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Jennifer Saunders
Tanya Byron
starring = Jennifer Saunders
Miranda Richardson
Conleth Hill
Jason Watkins
Antonia Campbell-Hughes
Christopher Ryan
executive_producer = Jon Plowman
country = United Kingdom
channel = BBC Two
first_aired = 4 October 2007
last_aired = present
num_episodes = 6 (as of 4 October 2007)
imdb_id = 0917429
website = http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/viviennevyle/

"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" is a British sitcom that has aired on BBC Two since 2007. The programme was written and created by Jennifer Saunders and Tanya Byron.cite news|url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117955046.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|title=BBCA taps 'Fabulous' team|first=Denise|last=Martin|publisher=Variety|date=4 December 2006] The first series aired in 2007 and a second series is being made.cite news|url=http://www.greenbee.com/wcsstore/Greenbee/upload/pdfs/9_PROFILE.pdf|title=Double Trouble|first=Richard|last=Barber|publisher=Greenbee.com|date=January 2008]

"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" sees Saunders play a talk show host called Vivienne Vyle, a caricature of Jeremy Kyle and other talk show hosts. The programme also stars Miranda Richardson as the talk show's producer.

Background

"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" is described as a black comedy and a show-within-a-show, following both the on-screen and off-screen life of fictional TV host Vivienne Vyle, played by Jennifer Saunders. The programme follows the life of Vyle as she tries to balance her newly-ascendant fame with her personal life. The BBC described the show as "Ab Fab" meets "The Larry Sanders Show" with quite a bit of "Ricki Lake" and "Oprah" thrown in" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2006/12_december/jennifer_saunders.shtml Press release] . BBC". Retrieved 16 December 2006.] . In a similar vein to confessional-style shows such as "The Jerry Springer Show" and "Trisha", Vyle's show has episodes dedicated to raunchy and sensationalistic themes such as "My son calls the wrong man daddy" and "I want a vagina but can't kick the crack!" [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=422383&in_page_id=1773 British press article] . "Daily Mail". Retrieved 16 December 2006.] . Vyle's name is a spoof on Jeremy Kyle, whose mannerisms and style of show are both parodied by Saunders' portrayal of Vyle.

The series is co-written with psychologist Tanya Byron, who originally came up with the idea and approached Saunders. Producer Jo Sargent stated: "She presented the idea for a comedy on the subject to Jennifer, the aim being a black comedy with pop psychology at the root".

Cast

*Jennifer Saunders - Vivienne Vyle
*Miranda Richardson - Helena De' Wend
*Conleth Hill - Jared
*Jason Watkins - Dr Jonathan Fowler
*Antonia Campbell-Hughes - Abigail Wilson
*Helen Griffin - Carol
*Dave Lamb - Des
*Lawry Lewin - Damien
*Christopher Ryan - Miriam
*Brian Conley - Chris Connor

Plot

"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" revolves around Vivienne Vyle, a television presenter who was formerly a weather presenter and worked on "TV-am", and now has her own talk show. Desperate for success, she is encouraged by the show's ambitious producer Helena De 'Wend, who also owns her own production company. Helena is always trying to improve ratings, and her child only speaks Spanish as the nanny spends more time with him than Helena.Martin, Denise. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1970783,00.html British newspaper article about the show] . "The Guardian". Retrieved 16 December 2006.] Vivienne's gay and supportive husband is Jared, who loves karaoke. Her PR adviser is the transexual Miriam, who Jared has an intense dislike for. Vivienne's main rival is Chris Connor, who unlike Vyle has a good rapport with his audience.

"The Vivienne Vyle Show"'s new psychotherapist is Dr. Jonathan Fowler, who constantly protests that many of the show's guests are too mentally unstable to appear on the show. The floor manager is the organised Carol and the director is Des. Abigail is the runner and Damien the researcher, who also builds up tension with the guests before they appear on the show.

Episodes

eries One (2007)

Worldwide broadcast

"The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle" will air on Showcase in Canada, Sundance Channel in the United States, [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117988765.html?categoryid=14&cs=1] . "Sundance launches comedy block'Ab Fab's' Saunders stars in 'Vivienne Vyle'". Stuart Levine. 10 July 2008.] yes stars 3 in Israel, Comedy Central in The Netherlands, GNT in Brazil, RTP2 in Portugal and UKTV in Australia.

References

External links

* [http://www.sitcom.co.uk/vivienne_vyle/ "The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle"] at the British Sitcom Guide