Episodes. Image shows from L to R: Beverly Lincoln (Tamsin Greig), Matt LeBlanc (Matt LeBlanc), Sean Lincoln (Stephen Mangan). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions / BBC
Episodes

Episodes

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 2011 - 2018
  • 41 episodes (5 series)

Anglo-American sitcom about a British couple who try to recreate their UK sitcom hit for American audiences with disastrous results. Stars Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan, Kathleen Rose Perkins, John Pankow and more.

  • JustWatch Streaming rank this week: 931

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Series 5, Episode 1

Episodes. Image shows from L to R: Myra Licht (Daisy Haggard), Andy Button (Joseph May), Matt LeBlanc (Matt LeBlanc), Elliot Salad (Michael Brandon). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions
Everyone is at rock bottom. Then Matt makes things worse.

Preview clips

Further details

Several months have passed since the end of the last episode. Matt's show The Box is now a runaway hit. Unfortunately for Matt, this means he is now only thought of as a game show host, his years as an actor completely forgotten. Matt's agent tries to persuade him this is all for the best: "Can't you just think of it as reinventing yourself?" Matt shoots back: "As a shittier version of me?!"

The success of The Box also means that Matt must have daily contact with Merc Lapidus. If anything, the animosity between the two has only gotten worse over time. As Matt is the star of the show, he would seem to have some leverage over his producer. But then he makes a decision that puts him right in the palm of Merc's sweaty hand.

Sean and Beverly are forced to work for Sean's loathsome ex-partner Tim. Helen has put Tim in charge of The Opposite of Us. So Sean and Beverly must endure his utter lack of humour or talent as they watch him slowly destroy their show.

Carol has been in a tailspin since she walked away from her position at the network. Unable to find another job, she spends her days at home smoking dope and watching real estate shows. No amount of urging from Beverly can get her to leave the house. So Beverly brings her bagels.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 30th March 2018
Time
10pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Matt LeBlanc Matt LeBlanc
Tamsin Greig Beverly Lincoln
Stephen Mangan Sean Lincoln
Kathleen Rose Perkins Carol Rance
John Pankow Merc Lapidus
Daisy Haggard Myra Licht
Joseph May Andy Button
Michael Brandon Elliot Salad
Roger Bart Roger Riskin
Andrea Savage Helen Basch
Bruce Mackinnon Tim Whittick
Guest cast
Rochelle Neil Jessica
Callum Adams Jonathan
Rosie Sansom Kelsey
Tom Vallen Zach
Dinesh Sundran Rafe
Sarah Armstrong Danika
Tom Bates Stage Manager
Jenna Augen Amanda
Alana Hood Writer 1
Dominic Coleman Writer 2
Peter Hobday Writer 3
Max Curnin Kenny
Gilbert Gottfried Self
Writing team
David Crane Writer
Jeffrey Klarik Writer
Production team
Jeffrey Klarik Director
Jimmy Mulville Executive Producer
David Crane Executive Producer
Jeffrey Klarik Executive Producer
Mark Kinsella Co-producer
Nigel Williams Editor
Miranda Jones Production Designer
Suzanne Crowley Casting Director
Gilly Poole Casting Director
Kelly Valentine Hendry Casting Director
Victor Jenkins Casting Director
Amy Britt Casting Director
Trisha Debski Casting Director
Alexandra Caulfield Costume Designer
Rob Kitzmann Director of Photography
Sarah Grundy Make-up Designer
Mark Thomas Composer
Oli Julian Composer
Tim Mannion 1st Assistant Director

Video

The Box

Matt is the host of hot new game show The Box, in which contestants compete as to how long they can live in an enclosed glass cube. But he isn't happy with the new direction his career is taking.

Featuring: Matt LeBlanc (Matt LeBlanc), John Pankow (Merc Lapidus), Daisy Haggard (Myra Licht), Joseph May (Andy Button), Michael Brandon (Elliot Salad), Andrea Savage (Helen Basch), Rochelle Neil (Jessica), Rosie Sansom (Kelsey) & Gilbert Gottfried.

Press

TV review: Episodes, BBC2

It happens to be quite funny. Not that comedies have to be very funny these days...

Bruce Dessau, Beyond The Joke, 1st April 2018

Back for a fifth series, Matt's show The Box (a sexist, American version of The Cube with a killer production budget) is a huge hit. Once a big-time actor, he struggles with his "shittier" gameshow-host identity. Meanwhile, Beverly fantasises about being a widow, and tries to coax Carol out of the house.

Candice Carty-Williams, The Guardian, 30th March 2018

Interview: David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik

The men behind the hit Matt LeBlanc comedy explain why they are burning bridges in Hollywood - and why comedy needs to be funny.

Ben Dowell, Radio Times, 30th March 2018

Episodes, series five, episode one review

The perfect encapsulation of cruel yet effective comedy.

Ed Power, The Telegraph, 30th March 2018

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