The Masterson Inheritance

Last updated

The Masterson Inheritance
Mastersons.jpg
Cassette cover from the BBC Canned Laughter series, 1993
Genre Comedy
Running time30 minutes
Country of origin Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
StarringJosie Lawrence
Paul Merton
Phelim McDermott
Caroline Quentin
Lee Simpson
Jim Sweeney
Original release22 April 1993 
25 December 1995
No. of series3
No. of episodes20
Audio format Stereophonic sound

The Masterson Inheritance was an improvised comedy series broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1993 to 1995 billed as "an improvised historical saga of a family at war with itself." [1] There were three series and two Christmas specials. It was broadcast from 1993 to 1995. From time to time, repeats of the show are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra.

Contents

In each programme, the cast members – Josie Lawrence, Phelim McDermott, Paul Merton, Caroline Quentin, Lee Simpson, and Jim Sweeney – would be given a particular historical setting, and, incorporating suggestions from the audience, would improvise that episode in the saga of the Masterson family. [2] One episode, The Marooned Mastersons, was never broadcast but is available on Jim Sweeney's website.

Music

Each episode of the saga was introduced by and ended with Erich Korngold's Hollywood-style title music from the 1946 film noir Deception .

Critical reaction

The Independent reckoned the show was genuinely improvised, due to the "air of suppressed panic", even if the improvisation revolved around a small number of choices. It questioned the longevity of the format once people got bored with listening to their mistakes. [3]

Episode list

SeriesEpisodeTitleHistorical SettingFirst broadcast
11The Curse of the MastersonsThe 1760s and the slave trade 22 April 1993
2The Mastersons and JohnsonThe 1790s29 April 1993
3ScurvyThe 1800s at sea6 May 1993
4The Sweat of the Mastersons Victorian London 13 May 1993
5The Tatting of the Mastersons19th century America20 May 1993
6The Mastersons Lose EverythingThe 1890s27 May 1993
Special1The Stuffing of the Mastersons Victorian Christmas25 December 1993
21Beware the Ides of Masterson Imperial Rome 11 June 1994
2The Quest for the Other Rabbit's FootThe court of King Arthur 18 June 1994
3Last Word to the MastersonsThe industrial revolution 25 June 1994
4The Jousting MastersonsLate 15th century2 July 1994
5The Gangrene of the MastersonsThe Crimean War 9 July 1994
6The Mastersons Go DownThe Hercules (passenger ship)16 July 1994
31The Mastersons Magical Marquee (1)Travelling Victorian circus 24 June 1995
2The Mastersons Magical Marquee (2)1 July 1995
3Masterson Rides Again19th century public school 8 July 1995
4The Masterson BunchEarly 20th century before the great war15 July 1995
5The Pain of the MastersonsThe romantic poets 22 July 1995
6The St Valentine's Day Masterson1920s Hollywood 29 July 1995
Special2The Mastersons' Christmas CrackerAn isolated village of ancient beliefs25 December 1995

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">Sweeney Todd</span> Fictional serial killer barber

Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial The String of Pearls (1846–1847). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet Street, Todd murders his customers with a straight razor and gives their corpses to Mrs. Lovett, his partner in crime, who bakes their flesh into meat pies. The tale has been retold many times since in various media.

<i>Whose Line Is It Anyway?</i> (British TV series) British TV improvisational comedy series

Whose Line is it Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy television series created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, presented by Clive Anderson, and produced for Channel 4 between 23 September 1988 and 4 February 1999. The programme's format was on a panel of four performers conducting a series of short-form improvisation games, creating comedic scenes per pre-determined situations made by the host or from suggestions by the audience. Such games include creating sound effects, performing a scene to different television and film styles, using props, and making up a song on the spot. The programme originally began as a short-lived BBC radio programme, before the concept was adapted for television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Merton</span> English comedian (born 1957)

Paul James Martin, known by the stage name Paul Merton, is an English comedian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caroline Quentin</span> English actress and presenter (born 1960)

Caroline Quentin is an English actress, broadcaster and television presenter. Quentin became known for her television appearances: portraying Dorothy in Men Behaving Badly (1992–1998), Maddie Magellan in Jonathan Creek (1997–2000), Kate Salinger in Kiss Me Kate and DCI Janine Lewis in Blue Murder (2003–2009).

The Comedy Store Players is a group of improvisational comedians who perform at The Comedy Store in London. The group first came into being in October 1985.

<i>Casualty</i> (TV series) British medical drama series

Casualty (stylised as CASUAL+Y) is a British medical drama series that airs weekly on BBC One. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 6 September 1986. The original producer was Geraint Morris. Having been broadcast weekly since 1986, Casualty is the longest-running primetime medical drama series in the world.

<i>The Quatermass Memoirs</i> British radio drama-documentary

The Quatermass Memoirs is a British radio drama-documentary, originally broadcast in 5 episodes on BBC Radio 3 in March 1996. Written by Nigel Kneale, it was born out of his Quatermass series of films and television serials, which had first been broadcast in the 1950s. The idea for the show appeared as BBC radio intended to create a season of programming looking back at the 1950s, and it was the final piece of writing Kneale completed relating to the character.

Josie Lawrence is an English actress and comedian. She is best known for her work with the Comedy Store Players improvisational troupe, the television series Whose Line Is It Anyway? and as Manda Best in EastEnders.

Michael James Dominic Sweeney is an English actor and comedian, best known for his improvisation partnership with Steve Steen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josie Long</span> English comedian (born 1982)

Josie Isabel Long is an English comedian. She started performing as a stand-up at the age of 14 and won the BBC New Comedy Awards at 17.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Watson</span> British comedian and writer

Mark Andrew Watson is an English comedian, novelist and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siobhan Finneran</span> Irish actress born in England (born 1966)

Siobhan Margaret Finneran is an English actress. She made her screen debut in the 1987 independent film Rita, Sue and Bob Too, and subsequently worked consistently in television drama including roles in Coronation Street (1989–1990), Clocking Off (2000–2002) and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006). In 2005, Finneran originated the lead female role in the stage play On the Shore of the Wide World and was awarded the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Also a comedy performer, Finneran appeared as Janice Garvey, a leading character in the first seven series of ITV sitcom Benidorm (2007–2015).

<i>Just a Minute</i> British radio programme

Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 radio comedy panel game, hosted by Sue Perkins since 2021. For more than 50 years, with a few exceptions, it was hosted by Nicholas Parsons. Following Parsons' death in 2020, Perkins assumed the host's chair permanently, starting with the 87th series. Just a Minute was first transmitted on Radio 4 on 22 December 1967, three months after the station's launch. The programme won a Gold Sony Radio Academy Award in 2003.

This is a list of events in British radio during 1995.

This is a list of events in British radio during 1993.

Lee Simpson is a British actor and comedian best known as a member of the improvisational group The Comedy Store Players.

Phil Clarke is a British television comedy producer and executive. He has produced or executive produced many popular British TV comedy programmes including Peep Show, Brass Eye, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Big Train. In 2012 Clarke became Head of Comedy at Channel 4. In 2017 he founded the independent television production company Various Artists Ltd (VAL), along with co-directors Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain and Roberto Troni. Since founding VAL, Clarke has produced and/or executive produced the BAFTA-award winning Sally4Ever, and the multi-BAFTA and Emmy-winning I May Destroy You.

References

  1. "The Masterson Inheritance". TV Cream. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  2. Butler, Robert (25 April 1993). "ARTS / Show People: Off the cuff and on the spot: 74. Josie Lawrence" . The Independent (UK). Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  3. Hanks, Robert (27 April 1993). "RADIO / Light on God, heavy on the Mayo: Robert Hanks on The Big Holy One and The Masterson Inheritance" . The Independent (UK). Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2013.