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Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
TV fans celebrate as 'greatest show ever created' marks nine-year anniversary
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's British comedy-drama Fleabag marked its nine-year anniversary this week TV fans have celebrated as the "greatest show ever created" marked its nine-year anniversary this week. Groundbreaking BBC drama Fleabag was created and written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and centred around a free-spirited woman living in London. The series started as a one-woman show at Edinburgh Fringe Festival before transferring to the small screen in 2016. A second season followed in 2019. The fourth-wall-breaking show stars Phoebe as the titular character, who had no filter as she navigated life and love in the capital while trying to cope with tragedy. "The angry, grief-riddled woman tries to heal while rejecting anyone who tries to help her, but Fleabag continues to keep up her bravado through it all," the synopsis adds. Throughout the series, viewers were introduced to a number of eccentric characters, including Fleabag's stepmother Matrigna (Olivia Colman) and her forbidden love, the Hot Priest (Andrew Scott). The cast also included Sian Clifford, Hugh Skinner, Jenny Rainsford, Bill Paterson and Brett Gelman. Shortly after its premiere, the show received critical acclaim, with many reviewers branding it "one the greatest television series of all time". TV fans also fell in love with the series, with one person writing on IMDb: "I don't remember when I last laughed so much at a series. I was hooked from the first episode. This series is perfect." Another added: "I cannot say enough about how incredible this show is. I absolutely love it. I don't think I've ever watched anything more perfect. Phoebe is an incredible actress, writer, and creator. I desperately wish there could have been more seasons." A third said: "It's the best I have ever seen. It's magic. The characters, the performances, the editing all a masterpiece. It's so intense yet so fresh," with another similarly sharing: "It was SO well done. Everyone involved should be so proud." A fifth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: "I truly believe this is the best British comedy since Peep show and thoroughly enjoyed it in its entirety. Couldn't recommend this show more." As well as positive reviews, Fleabag also received several prestigious awards. Phoebe won a BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance for the first series, with the second series earning her Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. As Fleabag celebrated its nine-year anniversary earlier this week, several fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to pay tribute to the beloved series. "One of the best, happy nine years Fleabag," one person wrote, with another adding: "The best show ever premiered 9 years ago today." If you haven't seen Fleabag yet, why not let this milestone be your sign to add it to your list. You definitely won't regret it.
The Herald Scotland
15 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
‘You've got to have dreams' - EastEnders star in Fringe show
But when she reveals she's set to walk away from EastEnders to appear at the Fringe for a fee that would barely keep her in pie and mash for a few days, the eyebrows still soar skyward. You're trading in a glossy, glam studio Michelle, for a dressing room the size of a Sindy doll's shoebox? In August, the north Londoner is set to appear in Edinburgh in Motorhome Marilyn. She explains the premise of the one-woman play, and the compulsion to create the role. 'Back in the day, I used to go back and forwards to Los Angeles quite a bit. Then, about seven years ago, I was outside the Chinese Theatre where the lookalikes hang around and I saw this woman dressed as Marilyn, wearing the white iconic halter neck dress, the platinum hair, the lot. But she was getting out of an old American motorhome – and was putting money in the meter. Read more: 'And I thought to myself 'Wow, that's a great visual!' And as I watched her, she turned and waved, but I realised she was as old as me, not at all like the rest of the young Marilyn lookalikes in the area. Later, I was told she lived around the area. But this woman really stuck in my mind. How did she come to live this life? What was her backstory?' Collins never managed to find out the woman's tale, but having developed her own theatre projects in the past she commissioned writer friend Stewart Permutt to come up with a script to match the visual she had witnessed. The result is beguiling; Denise is an English girl who headed to Hollywood years ago with her boyfriend to try her luck in the movies. But things didn't work out as planned. And the result was she becomes a Marilyn impersonator, working the convention centre and parties, eking out a living while sleeping in her campervan in parking lots. That's all tragic enough, but Collins illustrates that the play asks the deeper question; what is the true cost of failure? And what is Denise's secret that she keeps? However, the 'Marilyn' story Collins helped construct didn't slide onto the Fringe stage effortlessly at all. Five years ago, the venue was booked, the posters drawn – and then Covid attacked. 'And Stewart contracted Covid, and never wrote again,' says the actor, in soft voice. 'And he died last year.' Permutt had insisted however the play should appear at some point and writer Ben Wetherill was brought in to re-draft the tragi-comedy survival story. Collins reveals it has another theme. 'We do judge people in this world,' she explains. 'But we have to consider that no one sets out to become a Marilyn impersonator and live in a run-down campervan. She's also eccentric, but someone who ran away from home and we learn what happened to her.' Are there echoes of Alan Bennett's Lady in The Van and mental health issues? 'Do you know what, I think you're right. I'd forgotten about that play. This is also about someone who's homeless, and eccentric, but once had a very different life. The difference (from Lady in the Van) is Denise is obsessed with Marilyn and her home is a shrine to the legend.' Michelle Collins (Image: Agency) Michelle Collins, who also starred in Coronation Street, was never obsessed with Monroe but admits that her fascination has amplified hugely during research. 'She was far more intelligent than is suggested- she started her own production company way before others were doing it. She was political and felt strongly about civil rights and took the major studios to court. And the way she was treated was terrible. Hollywood at the time was brutal.' It's not hard to discern the commitment in Collins' voice to taking on the Marilyn role. And she wanted to take on the sort of role that is so often denied to females in the business. 'We are living in a world that's obsessed with youth. It's all about Netflix and sexy young things. But I don't think people want to see that all the time. They want to see older people perform. And that's why I think EastEnders is particularly good for having older people at the centre of the stories.' She adds; 'But when you hit your 40s the lead roles don't come as often as they did. So, you have to fight for them.' Or create them. But wasn't there a risk in asking the TV soap for a leave of absence to take to the stage? 'I was determined I wanted to do it,' she says smiling. 'Thankfully, after a sharp intake of breath the producer agreed.' She adds; 'But I've always been creative. I like to go out of my comfort zone, and I've never conformed really.' That's so true. Collins was prepared to leave the comfort and wage joy of EastEnders to take her chances. And bold enough to return after a 25-year break. Particularly when her character Cindy, incidentally, was dead. 'Yes!' she declares. 'When I went back, I felt very much an alien and an outsider. I was scared to go back for many reasons. I worried if people would be interested in Cindy anymore. Would I still be able to play her? Would I be accepted (by the cast). And of course, yes, she was dead.' The actor laughs. 'But thankfully people have now forgotten she was away for all those years in a witness protection scheme.' Collins' voice becomes more animated as she talks of performing at the Fringe for the very first time, after years of being an audience member. 'You know, I don't believe in failure anymore. I'm going to make sure I enjoy this. And blimey, I'm in the third act of my life now, (she's 63) but I've got a lot of energy. And you've got to keep trying new things.' The actor adds; 'I needed to do this. And you've got to have dreams, haven't you. Mine is to make this play success.' Motorhome Marilyn, the Gilded Balloon Patter House, Edinburgh, July 30 to August 25, at 5.30pm. To purchase tickets for the Fringe, please click here
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Scotsman
17 hours ago
- Scotsman
The ventriloquist whose career began after being gifted a pink sock puppet as a child in West Lothian
Max Fulham's first foray into ventriloquism was with a pink sock puppet Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A ventriloquist set to make his Fringe debut has told how he became interested in the art form after being given a sock puppet for Christmas when he was a nine year old living in West Lothian. Max Fulham, who grew up in Linlithgow, said the gift from his parents had sparked a desire to perform with puppets. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He said: 'I've always loved entertaining, and then my parents got me a puppet for Christmas when I was nine years old. It was just a toy, they weren't buying it, going, 'child make a career'. 'But I quickly became obsessed with it. It was a little pink sock puppet and it became my companion. There was a little worn patch of carpet in front of my bedroom mirror where I used to spend a lot of time just practicing with the puppet in the mirror, trying not to move my mouth.' In Full of Ham, Mr Fulham, 25, throws his voice into the chaotic inner monologues and unexpected personalities of everyday objects - rather than only traditional puppets. Max Fulham grew up in West Lothian. | Max Fulham He said: 'I'm incredibly grateful that it was a childhood hobby, and I did it through play, because I think it is a skill that takes a long time to practice, and I probably wouldn't have the patience to learn now.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He added: 'A childhood lack of inhibitions that is just the best thing ever, where a child can go, 'Oh, I'll do that'. And then do it. Rather than think an adult coming to it would feel a bit of an idiot with a puppet on their hand. But it just carried on for me, which I'm very grateful for.' The show blends sharp stand-up, surreal character work, and offbeat ventriloquism, featuring a cast of characters, including a talking slice of Billy Bear ham, a malfunctioning self-checkout machine and the audience itself. He remembers visiting the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as a child. His show this year is at the Cellar at Pleasance Courtyard. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I had trips to the Fringe every summer, sitting on the Royal Mile on a picnic blanket, watching street show after street show,' he said. 'That's where I first saw variety. I also think it's where I caught the bug, in many ways, watching a group of strangers be united into an audience, who didn't expect to necessarily stop and see a show. 'Then I went with my dad, watching stand ups in the evening, which I was probably below the age guideline for. But that was my introduction to the Fringe, so it's hugely significant to me. I've been to the Fringe a lot since then to watch stuff, and it's quite ridiculous to think I'm going to be doing it this year.'
