Teenage Kicks (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Teenage Kicks is a British
sitcom
starring Adrian Edmondson
, Ed Coleman and Laura Aikman
, filmed at Teddington Studios
. Originally as a radio show for BBC Radio 2
in 2007, it was turned into a TV series by Phil McIntyre Productions for ITV
. The show ran for 8 episodes beginning 28 March 2008 although the show was not recommissioned for any further series.
The opening theme tune is "Teenage Kicks
" by the band The Undertones
.
band called "The Plague". After living off his wife for the last two decades and spending most of his time in the pub, the two are getting a divorce, and Vernon is forced to move into a student flat in Kilburn, London
, occupied by his children Max (Ed Coleman) and Milly (Laura Aikman
), as well as their flatmate David (Jonathan Chan-Pensley). Vernon believes that moving in with them will rekindle his old world. However, Max, Milly and David are disgusted by him, and his best friend and former Plague member Bryan (Mark Arden
) appears to have "sold-out", now working as a deputy head teacher of a primary school and happily married.
in late 2006. Originally a pilot was to be made for BBC Two
. However, ITV took control of the project and commissioned eight episodes. Paul Jackson
, ITVs director of entertainment and comedy said, "From the moment I arrived in this job I have made it my mission to bring quality sitcom back to ITV, this project absolutely does that and I'm very excited about having Ade back on our screens."
A pilot version of the first episode was shot in 2007 with the notable difference of Ben Elton
in the role Bryan, the same role he had played in the original radio version. Elton was replaced by Mark Arden
in the transmitted version and the following episodes for reasons unknown.
), with the character of Vernon being compared to that of Vyvyan, a similar punk character he played in the BBC
TV sitcom The Young Ones
. The first episode's preview in The Guardian
TV listings was scathing, describing the programme as a "graceless gumbo of mainstream sentimentality and Bottom
-esque cruelty... roaring awfulness." Concluding: "Tonight's episode [sees]... Chinese
flatmate mocked for having a Chinese accent. Unbelievable."
Ade Edmondson looking back on the show, said he enjoyed writing it but had a hard time making it, in which it was pushed back many times by the BBC while "they were playing musical chairs
" until Radio 2 picked up on it, then ITV did later for its TV adaption. Before the broadcast run, the cast including Edmondson were told that if the series averaged 4 million a second series would be commissioned, but fell short with 3.4 which Edmodson explained as being "fair". Only the first two episodes ranked in ITV 1's top 30 weekly BARB ratings at positions 25 and 26.
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom
British sitcom
A British sitcom tends, as it does in most other countries, to be based on a family, workplace or other institution, where the same group of contrasting characters is brought together in each episode. Unlike American sitcoms, where twenty or more episodes in a season is the norm, British sitcoms...
starring Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
, Ed Coleman and Laura Aikman
Laura Aikman
Laura Holly Aikman is an English actress who has been appearing in TV and films since childhood. She attended Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls and is best known for her role in The Mysti Show as Mysti...
, filmed at Teddington Studios
Teddington Studios
Teddington Studios is a large British television studio complex located in Teddington, South-West London, providing studio facilities for programmes airing on BBC television, ITV, and Channel 4 along with others...
. Originally as a radio show for BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
in 2007, it was turned into a TV series by Phil McIntyre Productions for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. The show ran for 8 episodes beginning 28 March 2008 although the show was not recommissioned for any further series.
The opening theme tune is "Teenage Kicks
Teenage Kicks
"Teenage Kicks" is a 1978 song originally recorded by Northern Irish punk rock group The Undertones. Composed by the band's principal songwriter, John O'Neill, it was championed by DJ John Peel, and was his all-time favourite song.-John Peel:...
" by the band The Undertones
The Undertones
The Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
.
Cast
- Adrian EdmondsonAdrian EdmondsonAdrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
- Vernon - Ed Coleman - Max
- Laura AikmanLaura AikmanLaura Holly Aikman is an English actress who has been appearing in TV and films since childhood. She attended Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls and is best known for her role in The Mysti Show as Mysti...
- Milly - Jonathon Chan-Pensley - David
- Mark ArdenMark ArdenMark Arden is an English comedian and actor, best known for being one half of comic double act "The Oblivion Boys" with Stephen Frost....
- Bryan
Plot
Vernon (Edmondson) is a 49-year-old former front man for a punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band called "The Plague". After living off his wife for the last two decades and spending most of his time in the pub, the two are getting a divorce, and Vernon is forced to move into a student flat in Kilburn, 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...
, occupied by his children Max (Ed Coleman) and Milly (Laura Aikman
Laura Aikman
Laura Holly Aikman is an English actress who has been appearing in TV and films since childhood. She attended Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls and is best known for her role in The Mysti Show as Mysti...
), as well as their flatmate David (Jonathan Chan-Pensley). Vernon believes that moving in with them will rekindle his old world. However, Max, Milly and David are disgusted by him, and his best friend and former Plague member Bryan (Mark Arden
Mark Arden
Mark Arden is an English comedian and actor, best known for being one half of comic double act "The Oblivion Boys" with Stephen Frost....
) appears to have "sold-out", now working as a deputy head teacher of a primary school and happily married.
Production
The original radio series was broadcast on BBC Radio 2, recorded in The Drill HallThe Drill Hall
The Drill Hall is a theatrical venue in Bloomsbury in the London Borough of Camden, just to the east of Tottenham Court Road. It contains rehearsal rooms and meeting rooms, and two small theatres - the 200-seat Drill Hall 1 and a 50-seat studio space, known as Drill Hall 2. Its name derives from...
in late 2006. Originally a pilot was to be made for 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...
. However, ITV took control of the project and commissioned eight episodes. Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson may refer to:*Paul Jackson , British television producer*Paul Jackson , British video game publisher*Paul Jackson , English rugby league player...
, ITVs director of entertainment and comedy said, "From the moment I arrived in this job I have made it my mission to bring quality sitcom back to ITV, this project absolutely does that and I'm very excited about having Ade back on our screens."
A pilot version of the first episode was shot in 2007 with the notable difference of Ben Elton
Ben Elton
Benjamin Charles "Ben" Elton is an English comedian, author, playwright and director. He was a leading figure in the British alternative comedy movement of the 1980s, as a writer on such cult series as The Young Ones and Blackadder, as well as also a successful stand-up comedian on stage and TV....
in the role Bryan, the same role he had played in the original radio version. Elton was replaced by Mark Arden
Mark Arden
Mark Arden is an English comedian and actor, best known for being one half of comic double act "The Oblivion Boys" with Stephen Frost....
in the transmitted version and the following episodes for reasons unknown.
Reception
The show has been seen as Edmondson's return to TV comedy (following his straight role in Holby CityHolby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
), with the character of Vernon being compared to that of Vyvyan, a similar punk character he played in 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...
TV sitcom The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
. The first episode's preview in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
TV listings was scathing, describing the programme as a "graceless gumbo of mainstream sentimentality and Bottom
Bottom (TV series)
Bottom was a British sitcom television series that originally aired on BBC2 between 1991 and 1995. It was written by comic duo Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson who star as Richie and Eddie, two flatmates living on the dole in Hammersmith, London...
-esque cruelty... roaring awfulness." Concluding: "Tonight's episode [sees]... Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
flatmate mocked for having a Chinese accent. Unbelievable."
Ade Edmondson looking back on the show, said he enjoyed writing it but had a hard time making it, in which it was pushed back many times by the BBC while "they were playing musical chairs
Musical chairs
Musical chairs is a game played by a group of people , often in an informal setting purely for entertainment such as a birthday party...
" until Radio 2 picked up on it, then ITV did later for its TV adaption. Before the broadcast run, the cast including Edmondson were told that if the series averaged 4 million a second series would be commissioned, but fell short with 3.4 which Edmodson explained as being "fair". Only the first two episodes ranked in ITV 1's top 30 weekly BARB ratings at positions 25 and 26.
Episode list
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