Bellamy's People

The self obsessed. The big questions. The tiny minds. Endless inane chatter to try and construct a safe framework for life. All of these statements could be applied to the student stereotype. And with red-caped shame I must raise my hands and admit they probably applied to me. So, when Whitehouse and Higson shot to speedy TV fame with The Fast Show I sniffed and carried on reading Bill Hicks, Jim Morrison and Guru Shifti’s Answers to Life (on the Back of a Postcard).

Fast forward 17 years and it’s the self-obsession, big questions and tiny minds that make Bellamy’s People such a giggling treat. The show was born of Down the Line, Whitehouse and Higson’s spoof Radio4 chat show, where award-winning DJ Gary Bellamy talked to the ordinary people of Great Britain about their everyday issues.

Translating this award-winning format to TV, Whitehouse and Higson remove Bellamy from the safety of the studio, give him a makeover and send him on a trip round the country in his Triumph Stag personality vehicle, in a cracking send up of the celebrity travelogue.

Bellamy’s mission is to try and define what it is to be British, tackling key issues including crime, class, culture and religion on the way. As you’d expect from a Whitehouse/Higson production, the ensuing fast-paced montage is packed with finely rendered characters.

Some, such as the ubiquitous Martin Hole – racist, violence-sprung white-van-man – are high street reality. Then you’re introduced to the Combe sisters, who worship opposing totalitarian regimes in a ridiculous split-world of Stalin versus Hitler. But in a heart twinging way they worship each other.

This is the beauty of Whitehouse and Higson’s creations. They twinkle with nonsense but, when the writers hit the bone, you know you’ve met a part of each of these characters. You might cringe but you know it’s on your doorstep…and maybe even have a foot beyond the hearth.

And at the heart is the pseudo-intellectual Bellamy; the pleasantly coiffed but ultimately irritating vacuous twat who is self-obsessed, tiny-minded and stuffed with surface-big questions. When questioning a young woman with a Muslim upbringing he’s so desperate to introduce controversy that, on the matter of pork, he dribbles the marvellous line “Doesn’t it undermine the Koran, that there’s no mention of frazzles in it?”

Down The Line fooled many in its first few weeks, with the serious-eared complaining that such a programme was given time on Radio4. Then the penny dropped and the knowing could laugh unknowingly. Sadly, the same fools have decreed that the TV translation didn’t quite work. Well, good satire was never meant to be stuffed with Satre.

Buy it now and trot off with the DVD equivalent of the apocalyptic grand national. Watch those horsemen go. Clippedy clop…clop…clippedy…clop, clop.

Eric & Ernie - TV Film on DVD

Eric and Ernie is a television film produced by BBC Wales. It premiered on BBC Two on 1 January 2011. It lovingly tells the story of how one of Britain’s most loved comedy double-acts, Morecambe & Wise, first met and began working together.

A chance meeting between precocious child-star Ernie Wiseman (Wise) and reluctant performer Eric Bartholomew (Morecambe) on the children’s variety circuit during the war saw the start of an unlikely friendship. ‘Big head, short legs’ is Eric Bartholomew’s first impression of Ernie Wiseman, but their friendship endured for several decades to come.

Victoria Wood was an Executive Producer for the drama, having first thought of telling the story of the double-act before they were famous over ten years ago. Victoria Wood also stars as Eric’s mother alongside Daniel Rigby as Eric Morecambe and Bryan Dick as Ernie Wise. Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) plays George Bartholomew, Reece Shearsmith is Harry Wiseman, Ernie’s dad; Emer Kenny is Joan, Eric’s wife and Hannah Steele stars as Doreen, Ernie’s wife.

The drama also highlights Morecambe’s mother as being the driving force, not only behind Eric, but for the comedians to remain as a double-act when Ernie was offered a solo career.

Encouraged by his well-meaning but determined mother Sadie, because, “You aren’t good at anything else,” Eric became the funny man to Ernie’s “feed”. After the successful stint in children’s variety, they worked their way up the ladder of live performance. But, after a disastrous television debut in the series Running Wild, which nearly caused their professional demise, Morecambe and Wise learned to trust their own instincts and just make people laugh – and laugh they did.

Eric & Ernie is full of great performances especially Daniel Rigby as Eric Morecambe and Victoria Wood as his pushy mother.  The drama perfectly captures the humour, mannerisms and friendship of Morecambe & Wise.

Eric & Ernie is released on BBC DVD on 28th March 2011 priced £10.20

David Attenborough's First Life DVD

First Life is David Attenborough’s 50th and latest documentary that is now available as a 3 disc DVD release.

In First Life, Attenborough traces the very beginnings of life on Earth by travelling to different places around the world including the coastline of Newfoundland to the deserts of North Africa and the rainforests of Queensland.  But his 40,000 mile journey starts here in the England, in Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire near where Attenborough grew up.  In fact a boy from Attenborough’s school found what is assumed to be the oldest fossil ever found.

Attenborough finds evidence in fossils and living animals of an extraordinary period in Earth’s history, half a billion years ago, when animals first appeared in the oceans. From the first animals that moved, to the first predators that killed and the first legs that walked on land; and through an excellent mix of on location filming, stunning photography and state-of-the-art CGI animation, First Life is a fascinating account of how life began and evolved into animals that roam the planet today, including humankind.

Buzzin Media Free Competition

Enter our free competition for the chance to win a copy of David Attenborough’s First Life DVD.  Just answer this simple question:

Q: In First Life David Attenborough traces the beginnings of life on which planet?

a: Mars
b: Earth
c: Jupiter

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘First Life DVD Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on Wednesday 12th January, 2011.

The editor will randomly choose 5 winners. The editor’s choice is final.

David Attenborough's First Life DVD

I have happy memories from my childhood sitting around the television on a Sunday evening watching natural history and wildlife documentaries with my sisters, mother and father; and throughout my adult life I have continued to be fascinated with the animal kingdom and how life, the planet and the solar system has evolved over billions of years.

I believe above all other television channels, the BBC shows the best of these documentaries and above all other presenters over the past decades, when it comes to animals and life on planet Earth, none have ever been as popular or as likeable as Sir David Attenborough.

For the past fifty years David Attenborough has been involved in broadcasting and narrated some of the best infotainment television programmes over the past decades.  In the process he has travelled the planet with cameramen and production crews to produce likes of The Blue Planet, Life Of Birds and Life In The Undergrowth; all fascinating documentaries that can be watched many times over.  First Life is Attenborough’s 50th and latest documentary that is now available as a 3 disc DVD release.

In First Life, Attenborough traces the very beginnings of life on Earth by travelling to different places around the world including the coastline of Newfoundland to the deserts of North Africa and the rainforests of Queensland.  But his 40,000 mile journey starts here in the England, in Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire near where Attenborough grew up.  In fact a boy from Attenborough’s school found what is assumed to be the oldest fossil ever found.

Attenborough finds evidence in fossils and living animals of an extraordinary period in Earth’s history, half a billion years ago, when animals first appeared in the oceans. From the first animals that moved, to the first predators that killed and the first legs that walked on land; and through an excellent mix of on location filming, stunning photography and state-of-the-art CGI animation, First Life is a fascinating account of how life began and evolved into animals that roam the planet today, including humankind.

What makes each of David Attenborough’s documentaries so interesting is not only the exceptional quality and professionalism of everyone included in each production but his overwhelming passion for the subject matter.  Attenborough is still a keen fossil collector and so that passion is well and truly clear for all to see in First Life.

David Attenborough’s First Life DVD includes both episodes shown on BBC television earlier this month plus a further disc entitled Attenborough’s Journey.  This film shows the making of First Life and explains David Attenborough’s passion for creating a film explaining the very beginning of life on Earth.

David Attenborough’s First Life DVD is now available.

Top Gear Apocalypse DVD

Just when you thought they had tried everything, Top Gear returns with a new DVD release full of silly but fun apocalyptic car fun in time for Christmas entitled Top Gear Apocalypse.

Regular presenters Richard Hammond and James May have always wondered what motoring would be like in a post apocalyptic world, and in Top Gear Apocalypse they go through a series of ridiculous stunts and outrageous simulations to offer a series of tips you and your car will need to survive such a world.

Top Gear Apocalypse explains how to cope with driving in the total darkness of a post-apocalyptic winter; and if that is something you are particularly interested in then you will need to know how to get your car through a post-apocalyptic MOT!

Richard Hammond and James May will still want to have fun in whatever world they inhabit, and so they explore the possibilities of motor racing as a sport with only two competing cars.

Finally, they consider what would happen when they only have one barrel of petrol left in the whole world and both select which car they would choose for their very last petrol hedonistic drive.

Top Gear Apocalypse is a fun DVD and will make a great stocking-filler this Christmas for all petrol-heads.

Top Gear Apocalypse is now available on BBC DVD and Blu ray priced £19.99 and £24.99 respectively.  It also includes a digital copy on the disc to allow you to download and watch on your computer or mobile.

Enter our free competition to win a copy of Top Gear Apocalypse.

Top Gear Apocalypse DVD

Have you ever wondered what driving will be like in a post apocalyptic world that’s been blown to bits by nuclear bombs or a massive comet? Well if you have, Richard Hammond and James May give you all the answers in this brand new Top Gear DVD.

Top Gear presenters Richard Hammond and James May have always wondered about what motoring would be like in a post apocalyptic world, and in a brand new DVD they need wonder no longer!

Top Gear Apocalypse gives you all the tips you’ll ever need to survive in the event of a really big calamity and was released this week on BBC DVD and Blu ray priced £19.99 and £24.99 respectively.  The disc also includes a digital copy.

This DVD would make a great Christmas present for any petrolhead.

Buzzin Media Free Competition

Enter our free competition for the chance to win a copy of Top Gear Apocalypse DVD.  Just answer this simple question:

Q: Which regular Top Gear presenter doesn’t appear on this DVD?

a: James May
b: Richard Hammond
c: Jeremy Clarkson

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Top Gear DVD Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on Thursday 23rd December, 2010.

The editor will randomly choose 3 winners.  The editor’s choice is final.

Clarkson: The Italian Job DVD

Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson is back with another DVD release in time for Christmas.

Filmed at a number of stunning locations across Italy and showcasing the world’s best supercars.

This DVD comes with an added bonus disc of Jeremy Clarkson’s five most explosive destructions of the past 15 years, as voted for by the fans.

Packed with more extras than ever before, Clarkson: The Italian Job DVD is now available price £15.99.

Clarkson: The Italian Job is also available in a triple play Boxset that includes the standard definition, blu ray and a digital copy of the programme in one Boxset price £24.99.

Free Competition

PLEASE NOTE: THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Enter our free competition for the chance to win a copy of Clarkson: The Italian Job DVD.  Just answer this simple question:

Q: Which TV programme is Jeremy Clarkson a regular presenter?

a: Top Gear
b: Top Knob
c: Newsnight

Submit your entries to comps@buzzinmedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Clarkson DVD Comp’ (other subject lines will not be entered) with your full name, address & contact number.

This Buzzin Media Competition ends on Saturday 18th December, 2010.

The editor will randomly choose 3 winners. The editor’s choice is final.

First Life will be shown on BBC 2 at 9pm

In fifty years of broadcasting, Sir David Attenborough has travelled the globe to document the living world in all its wonder. Now, in the landmark series First Life, he completes his journey by going back in time to the very roots of the tree of life, in search of the very first animals.

From the fog bound coastline of Newfoundland to the deserts of North Africa and the rainforests of Queensland, Attenborough finds evidence in fossils and living animals of an extraordinary period in Earth’s history, half a billion years ago, when animals first appeared in the oceans. From the first animals that moved, to the first predators that killed and the first legs that walked on land.

First Life is told with stunning photography, cutting edge visual effects and the captivating charm of the world’s favourite naturalist. This is a story that can only be told now because in the last twenty years, stunning fossil finds at sites across the world have transformed our understanding of the first life forms, and the latest technology allows us to in photorealistic CGI the creatures that evolved the traits and tools that allow all animals, including us, to survive to this day.

First Life will be shown on BBC 2 at 9pm on Friday 5th & 12th November.

The First Life DVD, including the companion film, ‘Attenborough’s Journey’ will be released worldwide on 22nd November.

David Mitchell

David Mitchell, best known for the ‘Peep Show’ is to be the host of a brand new BBC Comedy quiz to be called ‘The Bubble’ which is to be on our screen in the Winter/Spring of 2010.

Guests will spend four-days together in a county house without any media or news of events going on in the world before being taken into a studio where they will have to decide if the stories they are being told are true or false.

The programme which is produced by ‘Hat Trick’ will have a range of guests from comedians, celebrities and wild-card bookings.

Matt LeBlanc As Joey in 'Friends'

Matt LeBlanc who played the part of Joey in the popular American Comedy ‘Friends’, has announced that he will be appearing in a BBC series next year.

The 42-year-old actor is taking part in a six-part series called ‘Episodes’ on BBC2, where he will be playing himself.  The programme, which is to be shot in London and Los Angeles, tells the story of a British couple who try to recreate a UK comedy onto American TV, which becomes a disaster.

Matt LeBlanc said;

”I am also so glad I got the part; seeing someone else playing Matt LeBlanc would have been devastating.”