Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe

Last updated

Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe
Weekly Wipe Title Card.png
Genre Review
Cultural critic
Created by Charlie Brooker
Presented byCharlie Brooker
Theme music composer Nathan Fake
Opening theme"You Are Here" (FortDax Remix) by Nathan Fake [1]
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes23
Production
Running time30 minutes
Production companiesZeppotron
House of Tomorrow
Original release
Network BBC Two
Release31 January 2013 (2013-01-31) 
29 December 2016 (2016-12-29)
Related
Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe
Newswipe with Charlie Brooker
Charlie Brooker's Gameswipe

Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe was a British television review programme created and presented by Charlie Brooker. The programme was an amalgam of the earlier Wipe series, with reviews of current television programmes, news events, games, and films.

Contents

The programme was commissioned by the BBC in November 2012, with six episodes ordered. [2] It began airing on 31 January 2013, and was broadcast on BBC Two. Two more series followed in 2014 and 2015. [3] [4] [5] A special edition of the show entitled Election Wipe was broadcast on 6 May 2015, the day before the UK general election. [6]

In May 2020 a new one-off episode entitled Antiviral Wipe was broadcast, which was filmed in lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [7]

Format

Weekly Wipe follows a format similar to Brooker's earlier works. It features Brooker commenting on a range of recent programmes, events, games, and films. Brooker presents the programme from both his living-room and a presenters' desk, similar to Newswipe . Brooker also narrates news footage, and other VTs, commenting humorously on their content. Whilst covering the most prominent events of the week, Weekly Wipe also satirises more commonplace or minor occurrences.

Weekly Wipe features Al Campbell as "Barry Shitpeas" and Diane Morgan as "Philomena Cunk" (Cunk being portrayed as a deliberately dim-witted/ill-informed interviewer), and segments by comedians Doug Stanhope, Tim Key, Limmy, Jake Yapp, Catriona Knox as reporter "Emily Surname" and Morgana Robinson. [2] In the first series, alongside these contributors, guest stars such as Richard Osman and Susan Calman joined Brooker in a chat show segment, discussing recent events of interest. [8]

The programme includes segments used by Brooker in his year-in-review wipes, such as the "World of Bullshit" section; these short clips cover the more mundane elements of otherwise newsworthy events. Brooker also regularly links news stories together to make them more humorous, and satirises popular opinions to make light of otherwise serious events. In a similar section, "World of Shitverts", Brooker satirises popular adverts. As with much of Brooker's work, Weekly Wipe openly mocks other shows, people, and news events.

Weekly Wipe comments on media, public reaction, and how the two influence each other.

Reception

Weekly Wipe has received generally positive reviews from critics, who praise Brooker's return to the original Wipe format. [9] The studio-based chat show element of the first episode was criticised, with its jarring change of pace separating it from the rest of the monologic episode. [10]

Weekly Wipe received a nomination in the Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme category at the 2015 British Academy Television Awards. [11]

Episodes

Episode ratings from BARB. [12]

Series 1

No.

overall

Episode No.AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two weekly ranking
1131 January 2013
227 February 2013
3314 February 20131.57
4421 February 2013
5528 February 2013
667 March 2013

Series 2

No.

overall

Episode No.AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two weekly ranking
719 January 20141.6426
8216 January 20141.6620
9323 January 2014
10430 January 2014
1156 February 20141.7525
12613 February 2014

Series 3

No.

overall

Episode No.AirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two weekly ranking
13129 January 20151.4621
1425 February 20151.3521
15312 February 20151.7811
16419 February 20151.5017
17526 February 20151.6113
18612 March 20151.3415

Specials

EpisodeAirdateViewers
(millions)
BBC Two weekly ranking
2013 Wipe28 December 2013
2014 Wipe30 December 20142.219
Election Wipe6 May 20152.276
2015 Wipe30 December 20152.0311
2016 Wipe29 December 20163.043
Antiviral Wipe14 May 20202.923

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Morris (satirist)</span> English comedian

Christopher J. Morris is an English comedian, radio presenter, actor and filmmaker. Known for his deadpan, dark humour, surrealism and controversial subject matter, he has been praised by the British Film Institute for his "uncompromising, moralistic drive".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Brooker</span> English writer, television presenter, and producer

Charlton Brooker is an English writer, television presenter, producer and satirist. He is the creator, writer, and an executive producer of the sci-fi drama anthology series Black Mirror, and has written for comedy series such as Brass Eye, The 11 O'Clock Show, and Nathan Barley.

<i>Charlie Brookers Screenwipe</i> Television series

Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe is a British television review comedy programme created and presented by Charlie Brooker and broadcast on BBC Four. The programme contains reviews of current shows, as well as stories and commentary on how television is produced.

Dead Set is a British satirical zombie horror television miniseries written and created by Charlie Brooker. The show takes place primarily on the set of a fictional series of the real television show Big Brother. The five episodes, aired over five consecutive nights, chronicle a zombie outbreak that strands the housemates and production staff inside the Big Brother House, which quickly becomes a shelter from the undead.

<i>Newswipe with Charlie Brooker</i> British news review comedy programme

Newswipe with Charlie Brooker is a British news review comedy programme broadcast on BBC Four during 2009 and 2010 which was written and presented by Charlie Brooker. It is similar to Brooker's Screenwipe series which is also shown on BBC Four. A first series of six episodes ran between 25 March 2009 and 29 April 2009. A second series began on 19 January 2010 and concluded on 23 February 2010.

<i>Russell Howards Good News</i> British television series

Russell Howard's Good News is a British comedy and topical news television show which was broadcast on BBC Three between 2009 and 2014, and on BBC Two between 2014 and 2015. Hosted by comedian Russell Howard, it offered his commentary on the news of the week through mostly stand-up, along with sketches and humorous video clips, whilst also having guest appearances from people who have been featured in the media recently. It was made by independent production company Avalon Television and produced by Mark Iddon, Robyn O'Brien and David Howarth. Repeats of earlier episodes are also broadcast on Comedy Central, Dave and W. The show also made an appearance on Children in Need 2011 and Red Nose Day 2013, featuring a number of sketches from recent episodes, as well as a new segment of "It's Not All Doom and Gloom". In February 2013, users of Digital Spy voted Good News as the Best Show Ever on BBC Three in the run-up to the channel's tenth anniversary.

<i>Bellamys People</i> 2010 British TV series or programme

Bellamy's People, also known as Bellamy's People of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, is a British comedy show first broadcast on BBC Two as an eight-episode series. The show is a spin-off from the BBC Radio 4 show Down the Line. The show stars Rhys Thomas as the eponymous Gary Bellamy and the supporting cast features Charlie Higson, Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day, Felix Dexter, Amelia Bullmore, Lucy Montgomery, Adil Ray, Daniel Kaluuya and Robert Popper.

Morgana Robinson is an Australian-born British comedian, impressionist, writer and actress. She has appeared in her comedy sketch programme The Morgana Show, Morgana Robinson's The Agency, House of Fools and Very Important People.

<i>10 OClock Live</i> 2011 British TV series or programme

10 O'Clock Live is a British comedy/news television programme that ran from 2011 to 2013, presented by Charlie Brooker, Jimmy Carr, Lauren Laverne and David Mitchell.

Diane Morgan is an English actress, comedian and writer. She has portrayed Philomena Cunk on the review programme Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe (2013–2020) and in the mockumentary series Cunk on Britain (2018) and Cunk on Earth (2022). She also played Liz on the BBC Two sitcom Motherland (2016–2022) and Kath in the Netflix dark comedy series After Life (2019–2022), as well as writing and starring in the BBC Two comedy series Mandy (2019–present).

<i>The Last Leg</i> British TV topical comedy talk show

The Last Leg is a British late-night television humorous talk/sketch show that originally ran alongside the 2012 Summer Paralympics every night following the main coverage on Channel 4. Anchored by Australian comedian Adam Hills and co-hosted by Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, it gives a review of the week's events.

<i>Shetland</i> (TV series) BBC Scotland crime drama television series, 2013–

Shetland is a Scottish crime drama television series produced by ITV Studios for BBC Scotland. First broadcast on BBC One on 10 March 2013, it is originally based upon the novels of Ann Cleeves and adapted by David Kane. The first seven series starred Douglas Henshall as DI Jimmy Pérez, whilst Ashley Jensen stars as DI Ruth Calder from the eighth series. The cast also includes Alison O'Donnell as DS Alison "Tosh" McIntosh and Steven Robertson as DC Sandy Wilson, as well as Lewis Howden and Anne Kidd. Henshall won the 2016 BAFTA Scotland award for Best Actor and the series received the award for Best TV Drama.

<i>W1A</i> (TV series) British comedy

W1A is a British mockumentary sitcom television series that satirises the management of the BBC. It was created by John Morton, and first broadcast on BBC Two on 19 March 2014. The series is the follow-up to Twenty Twelve, a BAFTA-winning comedy series by the BBC about the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. It sees the reintroduction of Hugh Bonneville and Jessica Hynes as their Twenty Twelve characters, alongside a new cast, with David Tennant's role as narrator also continuing from the earlier series.

The National Anthem (<i>Black Mirror</i>) 1st episode of the 1st series of Black Mirror

"The National Anthem" is the series premiere of the British science fiction anthology series Black Mirror. Written by series creator and showrunner Charlie Brooker, it was directed by Otto Bathurst and first aired on Channel 4 on 4 December 2011.

Kae Kurd is a British-Kurdish stand-up comedian and writer. He performed his show Kurd Your Enthusiasm at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2017. He has featured as a guest on the BBC Asian Network and has written for the i and Total Politics. As of 2017, he is the UK's only professional standup comedian from a Kurdish background.

Cunk on Britain is a British mockumentary television series created by Charlie Brooker starring Diane Morgan as the title character Philomena Cunk, an ill-informed investigative reporter, who originated on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe including the 2016 specials Cunk on Shakespeare and Cunk on Christmas. It premiered on BBC Two on 3 April 2018, and concluded on 1 May 2018, after one season of five episodes. It was followed up in 2022 by a similar series, Cunk on Earth.

<i>Death to 2020</i> Netflix mockumentary by Charlie Brooker

Death to 2020 is a 2020 mockumentary by Black Mirror creators Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones under their Broke and Bones production company as a Netflix original production. The special features a series of fictional characters discussing US and UK events of 2020 including the COVID-19 pandemic and US presidential election. It was released on Netflix on 27 December 2020. The mockumentary received mostly negative critical reception, with reviewers criticising the jokes as obvious, though some of the cast performances were praised. A sequel special, Death to 2021, was released on December 27, 2021.

Cunk on Earth is a British mockumentary television series produced by Charlie Brooker. The series stars Diane Morgan as Philomena Cunk, an ill-informed investigative reporter, a character who previously starred on Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe and Cunk on Britain. The series was acclaimed by critics, with many praising Morgan's deadpan delivery. It premiered in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 20 September 2022, and was released in the United States on Netflix on 31 January 2023.

References

  1. Fortdax on Fedge. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Charlie Brooker gets a fresh weekly 'wiping' on BBC Two". Endemol UK. 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  3. Eames, Tom (13 November 2014). "Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe to return, 2014 Wipe confirmed". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  4. "BBC renew 'People Just Do Nothing' and 'Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe'". NME. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  5. "Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe gets another series". British Comedy Guide. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  6. Fullerton, Huw (22 April 2015). "Charlie Brooker to bring Election Wipe to BBC2". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
  7. Moses, Toby (22 April 2020). "Charlie Brooker to return to BBC with lockdown special Antiviral Wipe". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  8. McGinley, Sheena (31 January 2013). "Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  9. "Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe – In The Press". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  10. Bryan, Nick (31 January 2013). "Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe – Review". The Digital Fix. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  11. Goodacre, Kate (10 May 2015). "BAFTA Television Awards 2015: The winners in full". Digital Spy. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  12. "Weekly Top 30 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. 11 November 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2012.