.gif)
Vexed (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Vexed is a comedy-drama
, police procedural
television series for BBC Two
. Created and written by Howard Overman
, the series stars Lucy Punch
as D.I. Kate Bishop and Toby Stephens
as D.I. Jack Armstrong, a detective duo with a fractious relationship. Jack is lazy and disorganised but charming whereas Kate is efficient and usually exasperated by Jack's way of doing things. The show also stars Rory Kinnear
who plays Kate's husband Dan, with whom she is going through marriage counselling.
.
During the UK transmission of the programme in July 2010, it was reported that Greenlit had entered administration.
The theme tune for the series was composed by Willie Dowling, former keyboardist with rock group The Wildhearts
.
The Liverpool Echo
's Paddy Shennan called it "deliciously black" and added that it could become a "cop classic". He also praised Stephens's performance, likening it to Leslie Nielsen
's in The Naked Gun
. The Guardian
's Sam Wollaston also liked it, saying "It's cheeky, irreverent, puerile, sometimes inappropriate It also made me laugh, almost out loud a few times, and that's no bad thing in a comedy" and again praised Stephens's acting, saying he was "fabulous", while Punch's performance was "excellent".
Most others disagreed. The Metro called it "rubbish" and said Stephens's acting was "over the top" The Daily Telegraph's Patrick Smith lamented its "Thuddingly lame humour" ,Paul Connolly in the Daily Mail
added that the programme didn't seem to know what it wanted to be but "What it most certainly wasn't, was funny".
Rachel Cooke of the New Statesman called it "atrocious" 'Truly abysmal' said Kevin Myers of the Irish Independent Sean Myers blamed "a sub-standard script totally lacking in style and imagination". and Damien Love of the Herald of Scotland said it was "Bad beyond belief... one of the worst things I have ever seen on television.", and likened Toby Stephen's performance to "Hugh Grant doing an impression of Ross Kemp, doing an impression of Hugh Grant doing an impression of Bodie from The Professionals", although he believed there was a chance that Lucy Punch was "wasted" in the show.
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
, police procedural
Police procedural
The police procedural is a subgenre of detective fiction which attempts to convincingly depict the activities of a police force as they investigate crimes. While traditional detective novels usually concentrate on a single crime, police procedurals frequently depict investigations into several...
television series 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...
. Created and written by Howard Overman
Howard Overman
Howard Overman is a television writer who has written scripts for serial dramas such as Hotel Babylon, New Tricks, Hustle, Harley Street and Merlin....
, the series stars Lucy Punch
Lucy Punch
Lucy Punch is an English actress. Her credits include the television shows Doc Martin and The Class, and the films Hot Fuzz and Bad Teacher.-Life and career:...
as D.I. Kate Bishop and Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens
Toby Stephens is an English stage, television and film actor who has appeared in films in both Hollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for playing megavillain Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day , Edward Fairfax Rochester in the BBC television adaptation of Jane Eyre and Philip...
as D.I. Jack Armstrong, a detective duo with a fractious relationship. Jack is lazy and disorganised but charming whereas Kate is efficient and usually exasperated by Jack's way of doing things. The show also stars Rory Kinnear
Rory Kinnear
Rory Kinnear is an award-winning English actor who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.-Early life:...
who plays Kate's husband Dan, with whom she is going through marriage counselling.
Cast
- Lucy PunchLucy PunchLucy Punch is an English actress. Her credits include the television shows Doc Martin and The Class, and the films Hot Fuzz and Bad Teacher.-Life and career:...
as D.I. Kate Bishop - Toby StephensToby StephensToby Stephens is an English stage, television and film actor who has appeared in films in both Hollywood and Bollywood. He is best known for playing megavillain Gustav Graves in the James Bond film Die Another Day , Edward Fairfax Rochester in the BBC television adaptation of Jane Eyre and Philip...
as D.I. Jack Armstrong - Rory KinnearRory KinnearRory Kinnear is an award-winning English actor who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.-Early life:...
as Dan Bishop - Ronny JhuttiRonny JhuttiRonny Jhutti is a British actor. He has appeared on television many times, including Shameless, EastEnders, Holby City, Ideal and Doctor Who ....
as Naz Omar - Roger GriffithsRoger GriffithsRoger Griffiths is a British actor who has had several roles in television.He first rose to prominence opposite Lenny Henry as Gareth Blackstock's foil Everton Stonehead in Chef!...
as Tony
Production
Three episodes were produced for the first series by Greenlit Rights Productions for 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...
.
During the UK transmission of the programme in July 2010, it was reported that Greenlit had entered administration.
The theme tune for the series was composed by Willie Dowling, former keyboardist with rock group The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts
The Wildhearts are a British rock group originally formed in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The band's sound is a mixture of hard rock and melodic pop music, often described in the music press as combining influences as diverse as The Beatles and 1980s-era Metallica...
.
Critical reception
The series received a mixed response from critics.The Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
The Liverpool Echo is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Saturday, and is Liverpool's evening newspaper while its sister paper, the Liverpool Daily Post, is the morning paper...
's Paddy Shennan called it "deliciously black" and added that it could become a "cop classic". He also praised Stephens's performance, likening it to Leslie Nielsen
Leslie Nielsen
Leslie William Nielsen, OC was a Canadian and naturalized American actor and comedian. Nielsen appeared in more than one hundred films and 1,500 television programs over the span of his career, portraying more than 220 characters...
's in The Naked Gun
The Naked Gun
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! is a 1988 American comedy film that is the first in a The Naked Gun series of films starring Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley, George Kennedy, and O. J. Simpson...
. The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
's Sam Wollaston also liked it, saying "It's cheeky, irreverent, puerile, sometimes inappropriate It also made me laugh, almost out loud a few times, and that's no bad thing in a comedy" and again praised Stephens's acting, saying he was "fabulous", while Punch's performance was "excellent".
Most others disagreed. The Metro called it "rubbish" and said Stephens's acting was "over the top" The Daily Telegraph's Patrick Smith lamented its "Thuddingly lame humour" ,Paul Connolly in the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
added that the programme didn't seem to know what it wanted to be but "What it most certainly wasn't, was funny".
Rachel Cooke of the New Statesman called it "atrocious" 'Truly abysmal' said Kevin Myers of the Irish Independent Sean Myers blamed "a sub-standard script totally lacking in style and imagination". and Damien Love of the Herald of Scotland said it was "Bad beyond belief... one of the worst things I have ever seen on television.", and likened Toby Stephen's performance to "Hugh Grant doing an impression of Ross Kemp, doing an impression of Hugh Grant doing an impression of Bodie from The Professionals", although he believed there was a chance that Lucy Punch was "wasted" in the show.
Episode list
| Title | Directed by | Original airdate | Viewers |
|---|