Frank Skinner's Opinionated
Encyclopedia
Frank Skinner's Opinionated is a British television comedy
talk show
hosted by comedian Frank Skinner
and produced by Avalon for the BBC
. The show focusses on various topics in the previous week's news, with Skinner joined by two celebrity guests, also interacting with the studio audience. Each half hour episode is filmed in a different location around the country. It first aired on BBC Two
, with a first series of six episodes broadcast on 16 April 2010, and a second of six more beginning on 25 March 2011. A third has also been commissioned, and began broadcasting on 10 November 2011.
talk show
focussing on events of the past week, with a large amount of audience participation while also featuring supporting film clips. Skinner first opens the show on his own, and in the opening piece outlines what the general themes of the night's show will be. The two celebrity guests then enter the studio, and it proceeds to discuss those topics in more detail, with Skinner guiding the discussion and inviting questions and comment from the audience, some of whom are pre-selected to talk about a specific topic.
, in addition to other regular appearances on comedy or light entertainment television. Some have appeared on more than one episode. The show has featured:
in London. After the first series was completed, two more series were commissioned. Due to the nature of the series, filming of each episode occurs in the days prior to airing. As such, when promoting the upcoming second series on the BBC's The One Show
, Skinner could only refer to film from the previous series.
The studio set consists of just red sofa
and chair, with Skinner sitting in the individual seat, and the two guests on the sofa. The show is filmed in various studios around the UK, with the location also forming part of the discussion topics. The first series visited Norwich
, Manchester
, Glasgow
and London
, while the second added Maidstone
and Salford
(near Manchester) as new locations, as well as re-visiting London, Norwich and Glasgow.
. The first series aired from 16 April to 21 May 2010. The second series began airing on 25 March 2011, and is due to finish on 29 April.
(1.186m) on Channel 4
, and an episode of Grey's Anatomy
(0.853m) on Five.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
hosted by comedian Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner
Frank Skinner is a British writer, comedian and actor. He is best known for his television presenting, often alongside David Baddiel, with whom he also collaborated for the football song "Three Lions."He is a radio presenter on the Saturday morning slot on Absolute Radio.-Youth and early career...
and produced by Avalon for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The show focusses on various topics in the previous week's news, with Skinner joined by two celebrity guests, also interacting with the studio audience. Each half hour episode is filmed in a different location around the country. It first aired on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, with a first series of six episodes broadcast on 16 April 2010, and a second of six more beginning on 25 March 2011. A third has also been commissioned, and began broadcasting on 10 November 2011.
Format
The show is a studio based light heartedLight entertainment
Light entertainment is a term used to describe a broad range of usually televisual performances. These include comedies, variety shows, quiz/game shows, sketch shows and people/surprise shows.-Light entertainment in Britain:...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
focussing on events of the past week, with a large amount of audience participation while also featuring supporting film clips. Skinner first opens the show on his own, and in the opening piece outlines what the general themes of the night's show will be. The two celebrity guests then enter the studio, and it proceeds to discuss those topics in more detail, with Skinner guiding the discussion and inviting questions and comment from the audience, some of whom are pre-selected to talk about a specific topic.
Guests
The two celebrity guests used each week are all primarily known as or having originated in stand-up comedyStand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
, in addition to other regular appearances on comedy or light entertainment television. Some have appeared on more than one episode. The show has featured:
- Miranda HartMiranda HartMiranda Katharine Hart Dyke , known professionally as Miranda Hart, is an English actress, writer and stand-up comedienne. She writes and stars in the BBC sitcom Miranda...
, creator and star of the sitcom MirandaMiranda (TV series)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... - Al MurrayAl MurrayAlastair James Hay "Al" Murray , is a British comedian best known for his stand-up persona, The Pub Landlord, a stereotypical xenophobic public house licensee. In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy...
, creator of The Pub Landlord stand-up character - Dave GormanDave GormanDavid James Gorman is an English author, stand-up comedian and presenter. He has performed comedy shows on stage in which he tells stories of extreme adventures and presents the evidence to the audience in order to prove to them that they are true stories...
, creator of the stage show and TV series Are You Dave Gorman?Are You Dave Gorman?Are You Dave Gorman? is the title of a stage show by the British documentary comedian Dave Gorman and the book of the same name, co-written by Gorman and Danny Wallace. The BBC television series The Dave Gorman Collection— Gorman's first television show—was based on the show... - Laura SolonLaura SolonLaura Solon is an English comedian, actor, writer, and winner of the 2005 Perrier Comedy Award, only the second woman to win as a solo performer .-Background:...
, sketch comedy character actor and guest on the improv show Fast and LooseFast and Loose (2011 TV series)Fast and Loose is a BBC television series on BBC Two. Guests take part in numerous improvised sketches in which each comedian inhabits a certain character or movie genre... - Lee MackLee MackLee Gordon McKillop is an English stand-up comedian and actor, known by the stage name Lee Mack. He is well known in the United Kingdom for writing and starring in the sitcom Not Going Out, for being a team captain on Would I Lie to You? and for hosting Lee Mack's All Star Cast.-Personal life:Mack...
, team captain on the panel game Would I Lie to You?Would I Lie To You? (TV series)Would I Lie to You? is a comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for BBC One. It was first broadcast on 16 June 2007.-Format:The show was presented by Angus Deayton in 2007 and 2008, and by Rob Brydon from 2009 onwards...
and creator and star of the sitcom Not Going OutNot Going OutNot Going Out is a British television sitcom that has aired on BBC One since 2006. Starring Lee Mack, Tim Vine, Sally Bretton, Miranda Hart and Katy Wix, it was initially written by Mack, Andrew Collins, Paul Kerensa, Simon Evans and Peter Tilbury, but now features contributions from other... - Sarah MillicanSarah MillicanSarah Millican is an English stand-up comedian. Millican won the if.comedy award for Best Newcomer at the 2008 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.-Career:...
, stand-up comedienne, regular guest on several comedy television and radio series, Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
panellist - Karen TaylorKaren Taylor (comedian)Karen Taylor is an English actress and comedian. She is a former finalist in the prestigious Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award and has fronted her own sketch show on BBC Three, entitled Touch Me, I'm Karen Taylor.Taylor studied Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick 1994-1998, where she got to...
, creator and star of the sketch show Touch Me, I'm Karen TaylorTouch Me, I'm Karen TaylorTouch Me, I'm Karen Taylor is a British television sketch comedy show written and performed by BAFTA Award-winning comedian Karen Taylor and produced by Avalon Productions. The genre of the show focuses largely on sex and contains much innuendo. The title animation was created by Joanna Davidovich... - Jason ManfordJason ManfordJason John Manford is an English comedian, television presenter and actor.- Early life :Manford was born to an Irish family in Salford, Greater Manchester, a son of Sharon , who is a Catholic and Ian Manford. He grew up in poverty in a terraced house in Manchester...
, team captain on the panel game 8 out of 10 Cats8 Out of 10 Cats8 out of 10 Cats is a television comedy panel game made by Zeppotron for Channel 4. It was first broadcast on 3 June 2005. The show is based on statistics and opinion polls, and draws on polls produced by a variety of organizations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out by... - Patrick KieltyPatrick KieltyPatrick Kielty is an Irish comedian and television personality from Dundrum, Northern Ireland.-Background:He was affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 25 January 1988 his father, businessman Jack Kielty, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association /"Ulster Freedom Fighters" , a...
, host of several light entertainment series - Ross NobleRoss NobleRoss Markham Noble is an English stand-up comedian, brought up in Cramlington, Northumberland, England.Noble rose to mainstream popularity through making appearances on British television, particularly interviews and on celebrity quiz shows such as Have I Got News for You...
, regular guest on several television comedy shows, notably Have I Got News For YouHave I Got News for YouHave I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. It is based loosely on the BBC Radio 4 show The News Quiz, and has been broadcast since 1990, currently the BBC's longest-ever running television panel show... - Katy BrandKaty BrandKaty Brand is an English actress, comedian and writer known for her ITV2 series Katy Brand's Big Ass Show and for Comedy Lab Slap on Channel 4....
, sitcom actress and creator and star of Katy Brand's Big Ass ShowKaty Brand's Big Ass ShowKaty Brand's Big Ass Show is a British comedy programme on ITV2.The show features comedian Katy Brand in skits of real life situations and stereotypes, as well and celebrities such as Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Lady Gaga, Angelina Jolie, Adele and Kate Winslet.The second series began on 2 September...
Production
A pilot for the show was recorded in December 2009 at BBC Television CentreBBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
in London. After the first series was completed, two more series were commissioned. Due to the nature of the series, filming of each episode occurs in the days prior to airing. As such, when promoting the upcoming second series on the BBC's The One Show
The One Show
The One Show is a topical magazine-style daily television programme broadcast live on BBC One and BBC One HD, hosted by Alex Jones and Matt Baker. Chris Evans joins Jones to present the programme on Friday...
, Skinner could only refer to film from the previous series.
The studio set consists of just red sofa
Couch
A couch, also called a sofa, is an item of furniture designed to seat more than one person, and providing support for the back and arms. Typically, it will have an armrest on either side. In homes couches are normally found in the family room, living room, den or the lounge...
and chair, with Skinner sitting in the individual seat, and the two guests on the sofa. The show is filmed in various studios around the UK, with the location also forming part of the discussion topics. The first series visited Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, while the second added Maidstone
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
and Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
(near Manchester) as new locations, as well as re-visiting London, Norwich and Glasgow.
Broadcast
Each series contains 6 half hour episodes, broadcast weekly in the 10pm slot on Friday nights on BBC TwoBBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
. The first series aired from 16 April to 21 May 2010. The second series began airing on 25 March 2011, and is due to finish on 29 April.
Series 1
| # | Title | Guests | Location | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series 2
| # | Title | Guests | Location | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Series 3
| # | Title | Guests | Location | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reception
The first episode was watched by 1.877 million viewers, an 8.8% audience share, ahead of the first episode of FacejackerFacejacker
Facejacker is a Channel 4 comedy series which started on 16 April 2010. It follows the similar show Fonejacker. Kayvan Novak adopts various disguises , including several characters heard in Fonejacker...
(1.186m) on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and an episode of Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy is an American medical drama television series created by Shonda Rhimes. The series premiered on March 27, 2005 on ABC; since then, seven seasons have aired. The series follows the lives of interns, residents and their mentors in the fictional Seattle Grace Mercy West Hospital in...
(0.853m) on Five.
Music
The song played during the credits and the interludes is "No Bulbs" by The Fall, Frank's favourite group.Further reading
- TV matters: Frank Skinner's Opinionated The Guardian
- Frank Skinner finds the funny side to political debate, interview The Telegraph