This Is Jinsy. Image shows from L to R: Maven (Justin Chubb), Sporall (Chris Bran). Copyright: The Welded Tandem Picture Company
This Is Jinsy

This Is Jinsy

  • TV sitcom
  • Sky Atlantic / BBC Three
  • 2010 - 2014
  • 17 episodes (2 series)

Surreal comedy set on a fictional island inhabited by a range of oddball characters. Created by Chris Bran and Justin Chubb. Stars Justin Chubb, Chris Bran, Alice Lowe, Geoffrey McGivern, Janine Duvitski and more.

This Is Jinsy. Image shows from L to R: Trince (Geoffrey McGivern), Maven (Justin Chubb), Sporall (Chris Bran), Soosan Noop (Alice Lowe). Copyright: The Welded Tandem Picture Company

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2010 - 2014
Channels
Sky Atlantic, BBC Three
Episodes
17 (1 pilot + 2 series), plus 1 highlights special
Stars
Justin Chubb, Chris Bran, Alice Lowe, Geoffrey McGivern, Janine Duvitski, David Hatton, Harry Hill, Greg Davies and more
Writers
Chris Bran and Justin Chubb
Director
Matt Lipsey
Producers
James Dean, Chris Carey, Margot Gavan Duffy, Lucy Lumsden, Jon Mountague, Sophie Clarke-Jervoise, Chris Bran and Justin Chubb
Company

This Is Jinsy started life as a pilot on BBC Three, but has now been turned into a full show by Sky.

The series follows Arbiter Maven (the 17th Arbiter and 'Wearer of the Hat') and Operative Sporall (nice hair and 'Wearer of the Beige Suit') as they keep a close eye on the 791 residents of Jinsy from the Great Tower in the parish of Veen.

Life on the island is rather Orwellian: each colourful member of the community is monitored by a surveillance system of tessellators, from local folk dribbler Melody Lane to weather monk Tracee Henge.

The tessellators include video cameras for surveillance, but also little screens to allow the residents to watch important island events, such as the tri-annual island cow wash (live from Glotters field). Additionally, they include a handy slot for paying fines, and a sphincter nozzle for product and pill downloads.

Notably, each episode of This Is Jinsy features a notable guest star actor. Some of the biggest names in comedy - from Stephen Fry to Olivia Colman - have appeared in the show.

Additional details

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Monday 1st March 2010 at 9:30pm on BBC Three
Most recent repeats

Recording details

  • Wimbledon Studios - Series 2.