Being Human Series 3 on DVD

Once upon a time a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost became room mates.

During their friendship they battled to save the world from errant vampires hellbent on causing widespread death and destruction to create a world of bloodsuckers and a  human “supermarket,” while drinking Annie the ghost’s endless cups of tea against the backdrop of coming to terms with who they were and their immortality.

The BBC’s Being Human was must-watch Sunday night television and Toby Whithouse’s cleverly scripted comedy had the right amount of shade and dark. Two brilliant series and three years later, where can our moralistic crime capers go next? A bed and breakfast in Barry Island it seems.

Despite the move Mitchell, the resident brooding vampire in torment, played by the superb Aidan Turner, is still trying to come to terms with the guilt of his blood hungry past, which isn’t made any easier with the arrival of Lia (EastEnders’ Lacey Turner), a mysterious and secretive character from his past who puts Mitchell on a journey of self destruction.

After being flung into purgatory at the end of season 2, Annie (Lenora Crichlow) spends her time waiting to hear her fate while still communicating to her friends through television broadcasts. It’s Mitchell’s quest to rescue Annie that leads him to Lia and the unpicking of the dark secret of Box Tunnel 21 that threatens to tear everything he holds dear apart.

Werewolf couple Nina (Sinead Keenan) and George (Russell Tovey) spent the best part of the first two series working out what their relationship means and how Nina’s transformation to a werewolf will affect their future. Series 3 sees them grappling with the idea of becoming parents and, like most expectant parents, they wonder what their unborn child will be like. In this case, if it will also be a werewolf. Answers may be held by werewolf Mcnair, one of several new characters this season, who is reluctant to impart anything he knows with them.

Series three is a bit of a slow burner and left me feeling a little disinterested with the introduction of too many new characters, particularly Adam, the blood thirsty teenager vampire who George and Nina think Mitchell can help save. When Mitchell turns his back on the potential protégé, Adam skulks off to front the new spin off series Becoming Human. His character seemed superfluous and really only there to signpost to Becoming Human.

Thankfully Robson Green has put aside his singing career and puts in a guest appearance as McNair, along with Paul Kaye who plays a crazed werewolf baiter with a not too dissimilar Johnny Rotten wild stare. A great and unexpected double act and two of the stronger and more interesting characters who are introduced this series.

Things pick up a pace with the shock and most interesting storyline with the return of the super bad leader of the vampires Herrick (Jason Watkins), who was mauled to death by George at the end of season one. Unbeknown to George, Herrick, who turned Mitchell during the First World War, was resurrected in series two. The two mortal enemies come face-to-face again in a hospital ward where George is working and soon ends up living in the bed and breakfast attic while Mitchell decides what part he plays in his future. By the time Herrick’s memory returns, you know it’s not going to be pretty and clean and is going to have life-long repercussions for the four friends.

Mitchell’s torment and brooding looks into the camera dominate most of the beginning of the series but, with the return of Herrick, everything changes and becomes much darker than the previous two effervescent series. It’s this that makes Being Human a more interesting series once you cut past the chaff of the insignificant characters – like the S&M vampires – who hold back the pace of the series.

The ensemble of quirky and complex characters undergo various traumas on journeys of self discovery, with atonement, punishment and forgiveness a central theme throughout the series.

The shocking finale will have you wondering where they can go next with the already commissioned series four.

The couple live in Steve’s constantly messy squalor of a flat, where they are most content doing nothing other than eating, drinking and having sex.

Their cosy insular world of bickering wit and sarcasm is only interrupted by the invasion of their privacy from neighbours and friends who they do their best to discourage from visiting.

Him & Her is a realistic latter day anti romantic comedy that while not producing belly laughs is a constant source of amusement. Both characters share wit and charm in equal measures, with each able to deliver the most stinging remark but unable to penetrate the thick skin of their partner.

Written by Stefan Golaszewski, Him & Her is an anti-romantic comedy. It lifts the lid on love as it really is – warts and all with farts, bickering and toast.

The first episode of Him & Her is available to watch in full on the BBC Three website and well recommended.

Here is a clip from Him & Her, where Steve’s unwholesome friend Dan turns up with his ‘girlfriend’.

In episode two of the series Him & Her which is broadcast on BBC Three tonight at 10.30pm, it is Steve’s birthday and everyone wants to go out and get plastered – except Steve. He’s ill in bed. Or at least he tells his mum and everyone else he is. When Becky, Laura, Shelly and Paul can’t persuade him to go out and celebrate, Steve stays in and – with a little help from Dan – makes very good use of his presents.

Him & Her Tonight, September 13th, on BBC Three and BBC HD at 10.30pm

Marion falls in with the wrong crowd of animals who are determined to stop humans from celebrating bonfire night forever by making their own plans to emulate Guy Fawkes and blow up the pub. It is left to Nelson to become the hero and save Destiny from certain death.

Destiny is asked to model for a photographer while out walking in the park, only to find that the photographer has different ideas to her about what constitutes glamour, prompting the song ‘Ugly Women Are Beautiful Too.’

And finally Kali has her wings clipped by the over zealous fire warden Nelson and nasty neighbour Vince decides that he is going to eat her. Kali realises that she must keep Vince fed or she will be appearing in her own version of Come Dine With Me.

The final episode in this series of Mongrels can be seen on BBC 3 tonight at 10.30pm.

You can also catch up with the series by visiting the BBC3 website where this episode will be available after transmission tonight.

Here’s your chance to be one of the first to watch Mongrels Uncovered - a documentary all about the on set secrets and behind the scenes challenges. Head to the BBC3 blog to be one of the lucky readers getting a chance to see it first before it’s shown on telly.

Despite being totally disgusting, because Sandra is on heat Nelson believes that she is the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. Thankfully Marion has still got his senses and attempts to stop Nelson from making a decision that he would end up regretting.

Afghan hound Destiny persuades her owner Gary to enter her into the local dog show, at last. But when she gets infected with boorish fleas who delight in quoting comedy catchphrases, she struggles with her preparations for the canine intelligence round. Destiny decides to pull out until the fleas persuade her that they have the brains to help her win.

Pigeon Kali decides to protest against the new anti-pigeon spikes that Gary has put down to reduce vermin, by throwing herself upon them. Finding Kali impaled, Gary looks after her, and feeds her up to several times her normal size.

Check it out on BBC3 tonight (July 27th) at 10.30pm or watch it online at the BBC3 website.

The show centres around five animal characters who reside in the backyard of an inner city pub and tells the story of the everyday goings on in the neighbourhood.

Starring Nelson, a metrosexual fox; Destiny, a pretentious pedigree It-bitch Afghan hound; Marion, a freshly-neutered wannabe tomcat; Kali, a deeply cynical pigeon; and Vince, the neighbourhood sociopath.

In episode five Nelson’s effete French penfriend Christian arrives for a visit and starts behaving uncharacteristically badly, exhibiting mood swings and frothing at the mouth. Yes, it seems Christian has rabies. Nelson and Marion must contain the disease and save their friends.

Destiny discovers that her gorgeous new boyfriend Archie is in fact a pimp organised by her owner Gary to get Destiny to produce some pedigree pups. Destiny decides to teach Gary a lesson.

When Kali is caught up in a pigeon cull, she resolves to take over the world and take revenge on humankind by creating the pigeox- half pigeon, half fox. All she needs to bring her invention to life is a bit of help from a passing fox, like Nelson, or, failing that, his vicious friend Vince.

Radio One DJ Scott Mills makes a special appearance as can be seen in the clips above, the series is created by Adam Miller, developed by Jon Brown, Adam Miller and Daniel Peak, written by Jon Brown and Daniel Peak, and featuring the voices of Rufus Jones, Lucy Montgomery, Dan Tetsell, Katy Brand, Paul Kaye and Ruth Bratt. Puppets created by Talk to the Hand.

You can watch episode five of Mongrels on BBC iPlayer on the BBC website or if you have it, on Catch Up TV.

Mongrels is broadcast on BBC3 on Tuesday nights at 10.30pm.

Starring Nelson, a metrosexual fox; Destiny, a pretentious pedigree It-bitch; Marion, a freshly-neutered wannabe tomcat; Kali, a deeply cynical pigeon; and Vince, the neighbourhood sociopath. Created by Adam Miller, developed by Jon Brown, Adam Miller and Daniel Peak, written by Jon Brown and Daniel Peak, and featuring the voices of Rufus Jones, Lucy Montgomery, Dan Tetsell, Katy Brand, Paul Kaye and Ruth Bratt. Puppets created by Talk to the Hand.

This weeks show, episode four in the series features cameo’s from Clive Anderson and Jeff Brazier. Here are some clips from tonight’s show;

Nelson realises that he’s the only one in the gang who has never been stroked by a human. He visits a petting zoo, where he quickly discovers that getting a stroke isn’t always a pleasant experience.

Marion courageously saves a child from drowning, but Destiny dupes him out of his chance to win an Animal of Courage award by taking all the credit for his bravery. Only when Destiny is faced with doing something brave for real does she truly prove herself.

Kali falls for a muscular crow and decides to go for it with a passionate kiss, only to discover that the crow is a girl and that she is now an accidental lesbian.

Adult funny stuff with Mongrels on BBC 3 Tonight at 10.30pm don’t miss it.

Simon Brodkin is the acclaimed creator of the hilarious street wise character Lee Nelson. Nelson is given his own TV show where he entertains the audience with his cheeky banter and plain daft games.

Nelson is in superb form in front of a live audience with genuinely laugh out loud moments throughout. Not so funny for me are the pre-filmed sketches featuring other Brodkin creations like Dr Bob and footballer Jason Bent, but such is the quality of his Lee Nelson character that all is forgiven.

Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show is broadcast on Thursday night on BBC3 at 10.30pm

South London wideboy Lee Nelson is the character created and performed by the critically-acclaimed comedian Simon Brodkin.

Lee Nelson is given his own tv show filled with tales of mischief making, outrageous discussions with the studio audience and plain daft games.

Such is the comedic strength of the character created by Simon Brodkin, the show is packed with laugh out loud moments as Lee Nelson is unleashed on an unsuspecting studio audience.

Nelson is ably assisted in the studio by his best mate and ‘fat legend’ Omelette, who scoffs his way through the show, throwing in a funny line here and there when asked to.

While Lee Nelson is not everyones cup of tea, it is worth a look to see what you maybe missing, here is a short clip to show what to expect:

The next episode, episode 3 of Lee Nelson’s Well Good Show will be shown on Thursday at 10.30pm on BBC3.

Dirty Debbie (Holliday Grainger) Stanley Park

BBC Three shows a new comedy drama pilot series tonight, Thursday June 10th, starring Morwenna Banks (Saxondale) and Antonia Thomas (Alisha in Misfits).

Stanley Park is set in a south London suburb, the show follows young friends enduring the poignant and often hilarious emotional upheavals during a life-changing period. All living on the same street, it’s hard to really keep secrets, and it seems everyone has something they’re hiding, or hiding from.

Introducing “Dirty” Debbie (Holliday Grainger), a sassy fashion designer and self-proclaimed ‘Carrie Bradshaw of Croydon’ who, from the moment she arrived to live with gin swigging, Superking smoker and serial internet dater, Auntie Pat (Sharon Horgan), knew the place had trouble written all over it.

Debbie’s outfits are as outrageous as the erotic fiction she writes and no man can resist her charms but, across the road, there’s competition in the form of emo, Raggedy Ann (Jennie Jacques), who claims she was a bohemian poet in her past life.

“Bent” Ben is Raggedy Ann’s fabulous, Beyonce-loving best friend who is always on hand to provide a shoulder to cry on and a constant source of advice, but who could do well to counsel himself occasionally.

And then there is Sadie (Antonia Thomas), waggish with a nice job, a hot boyfriend, and a Gucci bag who thinks her life will really take off since she got engaged in Pizza Express.

Episode one starts as the residents of Stanley Park go about their everyday lives, Harry “the hottie” winks at Debbie as she walks home and sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything and everyone in the street forever…

The first episode of Stanley Park is on BBC3 at 9pm on Thursday June 10th.

Stanley Park is written & created by Leo Richardson and directed by Misha Manson-Smith (LALA Land and High Spirits with Shirley Ghostman).

Blood, Sweat and Luxuries, to be broadcast on BBC Three

When it comes to life’s little pleasures, the luxury items people treat themselves to on a daily basis, the UK public is spoilt for choice. But six young Brits are about to find out the human cost to the nation’s little pick me ups as they swap the high street for life on the production line in Blood, Sweat and Luxuries, to be broadcast on BBC Three.

Blood, Sweat and Takeaways (broadcast in 2009), which explored the human cost of food production in South East Asia, was the highest ever rating factual programme on BBC 3.

Following its successful showing on BBC Three, it was repeated on BBC One. It followed the first series, the BAFTA-nominated Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts.

Most people wouldn’t think twice about popping into their local coffee shop, upgrading to the latest MP3 player or treating a loved one to a piece of jewellery. But if they knew truth about the appalling living and working conditions for the people that supply them, would they feel like such a treat?

The young Brits will be immersed into the worlds of gem mining in Madagascar; leather and coffee production in Ethiopia; e-recycling and gold mining in Ghana; and the electronics industry in the Philippines.

They will see first-hand what really goes into making the nation’s luxuries; living and working alongside the people that supply them, working relentless hours in appalling conditions for a pittance.

You can join the debate and interact with your thoughts on this interactive You Tube video

Or leave your thoughts on the dedicated blog hosted by BBC3.

About BBC3

No other youth-focused British channel makes programmes like these on a consistent basis. And with the channel growing 30% in the last two years we know that young people like the ways in which we approach these subjects, and find them thought-provoking and stimulating.

On average 29 million people watch the channel each month and BBC Three now reaches more young people in its broadcast hours than any other digital channel.

Blood, Sweat and Luxuries continues on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC3.