Chris Morris (I)

My Wrongs #8245-8249 & 117 (2002)

My Wrongs... is a film that arrives with certain expectations. Firstly, it comes from the mind of Chris Morris who, through his work on such television series' as The Day Today and Brass Eye, has proven himself to be one of the UK's leading satirists, not to mention one of the most controversial ("Sickest TV ever" screamed a Sun headline over Brass Eye's 'Paedogeddon' special). Secondly, it stars Paddy Considine, who is fast becoming Britain's finest actor following work on such films as A Room for Romeo Brass, Last Resort and 24 Hour Party People. And finally, it marks the first foray into film production for experimental dance label Warp Records, who have provided us with such aural pleasures as Aphex Twin, Squarepusher... and Vincent Gallo(!) as well as issuing Morris' Blue Jam radio series on CD.

As Big Brother was drawing to a close, the Brass Eye Special on paedophilia appeared. Several viewers were upset by the broadcast, but thankfully the press was on hand to ensure their views received an effective airing in the form of unintelligible pandemonium.

Why Chris Morris had to make Brass Eye

The man who set Britain talking with a 30-minute TV satire is already moving on to his next target.

Either way, though, jam became too predictable - something you could never ever accuse of either On The Hour, The Day Today or Brass Eye.

The distorted world of Chris Morris

A rare interview with the reclusive agent provocateur of comedy.

This is what Jam is about, upsetting people for no good reason. [...] The fact that Jam is the funniest and most original programme to appear on television in years doesn't help. My ribs are hurting, but I am in despair.

If you like and respect the cult of Chris Morris then jam will please you. If you are in any way suspicious of his motives, talent or genuine ability to innovate then you will find much here to support your viewpoint. Either way, this is undeniably different, although perhaps not different enough.

Whatever my personal feelings might be (and I thought series three of the radio show was substandard, and quite predictable in places), I'm glad it exists, jam. It makes you think that there are other ways of being out there, that there are lives a million miles away from what most of us would regard as "normal".

Arts: Chris Morris is dead... funny

The anarchic 'Blue Jam' show is a blunted sword on stage, but his disciples don't care.

Kind of Blue

It's melancholic. It's dark. It's like nothing you've heard on radio. Chris Morris tells John Mulholland how his brilliant show was inspired by a desolate mood.