A Series of Psychotic Episodes
Encyclopedia
A Series of Psychotic Episodes, also known as Series of Psychotic Episodes, is a Sony Award nominated
surreal
comedy sketch show written by and starring Miriam Elia. The pilot
and first series were broadcast on digital radio
station BBC Radio 7. The second series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
. Sketches include a spoof of children's television show Postman Pat
called Postmodern Pat, a mosquito who has seen too many Hitchcock
films, and "The Diary of Edward the Hamster (1990–1990)".
The programme was first broadcast as a pilot on 7 March 2007, as one of 10 entries for BBC Radio 7's "Witty and Twisted" competition. A Series of Psychotic Episodes won the competition and was awarded by having a full series, first broadcast on 2 November 2008. A second series has been commissioned and will be broadcast to Radio 4.
After A Series of Psychotic Episodes was broadcast, it was nominated for the comedy award in the Sony Radio Academy Awards. This was seen as unusual, as the show was a single pilot performed by a relatively unknown comedian. However, it lost the award to Down the Line. In 2010, the series moved to BBC Radio 4.
said that Elia was a welcome change saying that: "Radio comedy is largely populated by plummy World Service
voices doing skits that sound like unironic Mr Cholmondley-Warner sketches from Harry Enfield's
TV series, so the different tone and voice of Miriam Elia's A Series Of Psychotic Episodes really stands out." However, Deansway also said, "the show's not quite the finished product, though it probably offers a glimpse into the future of British comedy."
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
surreal
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
comedy sketch show written by and starring Miriam Elia. The pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
and first series were broadcast on digital radio
Digital radio
Digital radio has several meanings:1. Today the most common meaning is digital radio broadcasting technologies, such as the digital audio broadcasting system, also known as Eureka 147. In these systems, the analog audio signal is digitized into zeros and ones, compressed using formats such as...
station BBC Radio 7. The second series was broadcast on BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. Sketches include a spoof of children's television show Postman Pat
Postman Pat
Postman Pat is a British stop-motion animated children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale .Postman Pat's first 13-episode season was screened on...
called Postmodern Pat, a mosquito who has seen too many Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, KBE was a British film director and producer. He pioneered many techniques in the suspense and psychological thriller genres. After a successful career in British cinema in both silent films and early talkies, Hitchcock moved to Hollywood...
films, and "The Diary of Edward the Hamster (1990–1990)".
The programme was first broadcast as a pilot on 7 March 2007, as one of 10 entries for BBC Radio 7's "Witty and Twisted" competition. A Series of Psychotic Episodes won the competition and was awarded by having a full series, first broadcast on 2 November 2008. A second series has been commissioned and will be broadcast to Radio 4.
History
A Series of Psychotic Episodes first began as a pilot for BBC Radio 7's "Witty and Twisted" competition. In the competition, a series of comedians were invited to create their own radio show pilots, the best of which would be commissioned for a full series. Elia's pilot first reached a shortlist of fifty, which was later reduced to ten finalists. Each finalist then recorded a new fifteen-minute pilot. The finalists' pilots were broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 7. Out of these, A Series of Psychotic Episodes was chosen as the winner and Elia awarded a series. One of the runners up, Gus Murdoch's Sacred Cows written and performed by Stephen Carlin, was also given a full series.After A Series of Psychotic Episodes was broadcast, it was nominated for the comedy award in the Sony Radio Academy Awards. This was seen as unusual, as the show was a single pilot performed by a relatively unknown comedian. However, it lost the award to Down the Line. In 2010, the series moved to BBC Radio 4.
Reception
A Series of Psychotic Episodes has had positive reviews from critics. Harry Deansway from The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
said that Elia was a welcome change saying that: "Radio comedy is largely populated by plummy World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
voices doing skits that sound like unironic Mr Cholmondley-Warner sketches from Harry Enfield's
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
TV series, so the different tone and voice of Miriam Elia's A Series Of Psychotic Episodes really stands out." However, Deansway also said, "the show's not quite the finished product, though it probably offers a glimpse into the future of British comedy."