The British are Coming. Or Going. Or Something.

Whilst assessing the new crop of shows airing in January, it becomes apparent that there is a rather large British element to the proceedings. Three straight re-makes and a slew of actors trying their hand over the pond make for an invasion, it seems.


Shameless and Skins begin in January and seem destined to fail. Skins...well, anyone who has watched the original can see how the US version cannot possibly compare. Even the original couldn't keep up with itself, such was the greatness of series 1. The sex, the nudity, the debauchery. Won't it all be rather....well, clean? Which brings us neatly to Shameless. The thing about Shameless is that it's dirty. And not in a Skins way. In an unwashed, actually really dirty way. And the promo shots I have seen for the US version, starting on the 9th January appear to be devoid of all dirt. Of course, William H. Macy is fantastic. But it just doesn't look right. They must be going for a different feeling altogether, because Shameless is about the underclass, council estates and the photos look like Brothers and Sisters with (god forbid) more alcohol.


It's an oft touted phrase that Americans cannot handle the grit and drama that British drama has to offer. I don't think this is true, over recent years the American output has become increasingly dark (and brilliant). It just seems like such a shame to take so many UK shows and re-make them into diluted versions, removing all the appealing ingredients that made you want to re-make it in the first place.

I am quite excited about Episodes, a BBC2 comedy, airing both Here and There in the new year. Maybe we can shake off the re-make fail by making a show about re-making British Shows for the US viewers. Except this time we get to see the marvellous Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan. It will be interesting to see where this goes. I'm longing for a new comedy. Whites has kept me entertained for a few weeks and of course, us UK viewers are currently enjoying the colossal funny of Peep Show (not re-makeable, btw) but this is soon to end - alas our shows are very short. Fingers crossed for a fantastic January on the tellybox.