Staged. Image shows from L to R: David (David Tennant), Michael (Michael Sheen). Copyright: BBC / Simon Ridgeway
Staged

Staged

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One / BritBox
  • 2020 - 2022
  • 20 episodes (3 series)

David Tennant and Michael Sheen star as stage actors furloughed by covid-19. Also features Simon Evans, Georgia Tennant, Anna Lundberg and Lucy Eaton.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1 - Cachu Hwch

Staged. Image shows from L to R: Michael (Michael Sheen), David (David Tennant)
David Tennant and Michael Sheen were due to put on a play in the West End before the production was put on hold because of the pandemic. The play's director, Simon, is worried that his big break is about to pass him by and tries to convince his doubtful actors to carry on rehearsals online.

Notes

The stars are billed as: David Tennant & Michael Sheen

Broadcast details

Date
Wednesday 10th June 2020
Time
10:45pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
15 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 6th July 2020 9:45pm BBC1

Cast & crew

Cast
David Tennant David
Michael Sheen Michael
Simon Evans Simon
Georgia Tennant Georgia
Anna Lundberg Anna
Writing team
Simon Evans Writer
Production team
Simon Evans Director
Phin Glynn Producer
Victor Glynn Producer
Georgia Tennant Producer
David Tennant Executive Producer
Michael Sheen Executive Producer
Axel Kuschevatzky Executive Producer
Cindy Teperman Executive Producer
Geoff Iles Executive Producer
Dan Gage Editor
Alex Baranowski Composer
Shane Allen Commissioning Editor

Press

Staged (BBC One) is the latest lockdown drama - lockdown dramas being an entire new genre, which Wikipedia will define as "a needs-must 2020 phenomenon in which, under the strictures of coronavirus, a rich person is seen questioning their values, a poor person is seen struggling yet being gamely cheeky, and core workers are celebrated. The genre must feature a Zoom-glitch or similar technological embarrassment." And yet Staged was a hugely refreshing addition to the genre, featuring simply a couple of immensely personable actors playing heightened versions of themselves. David Tennant and Michael Sheen, aided hugely by wives Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg, are lockdown-rehearsing an unpalatable, 100-year-old absurdist Italian drama, urged and egged on by Simon Evans, who wrote and directed Staged, and gave himself, in fairness, the very worst lines, the lines which those aged eight to 80 will lift eyebrows to and wonder "Did he really say that? What a dick."

It is grand fun, even if slight, although I suspect that the good friends Sheen and Tennant are, no matter how inadvertently, auditioning even in lockdown for the next series of The Trip.

Euan Ferguson, The Observer, 14th June 2020

Staged: Comedy heaven! & even a Zoom joke that's funny!

The pure joy - that is, a pure, pure joy and, quite possibly, heaven - comes from new comedy series Staged. So funny. So so soooooo funny.

Deborah Ross, Daily Mail, 13th June 2020

Staged review

How lockdown locks turned an ex-Doctor Who into Joan of Arc.

Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail, 11th June 2020

Staged review

A fun night in with the lockdown luvvies.

Carol Midgley, The Times, 11th June 2020

Staged review

BBC One's delectably meta lockdown comedy featuring David Tennant and Michael Sheen.

The Stage, 11th June 2020

TV review: Staged series 1 episode 1

There's been quite a few comedies that satirise actors and their quirky ways and this offers up nothing new.

Alex Finch, Comedy To Watch, 11th June 2020

Staged review

After a languid set-up in the first episode, things do pick up a bit in the second which might help Staged succeed for those seeking mild entertainment away from the intensity of the news. But it feels like an understudy for a comedy show rather than the real thing.

Steve Bennett, Chortle, 10th June 2020

Staged review - Michael Sheen & David Tennant get meta

The latest addition to the made-in-lockdown TV slate is a comedy which sees the two actors riff on themes ranging from haggis to their apparent rivalry.

Lucy Mangan, The Guardian, 10th June 2020

Staged, review

BBC One's thespian comedy nails the quirks of life under lockdown.

Louis Chilton, The Independent, 10th June 2020

Staged, BBC One, review: better than The Trip

David Tennant and Michael Sheen's Zoom comedy is better than The Trip.

Rupert Hawksley, i Newspaper, 10th June 2020

Review: Staged

I don't know what was more alarming. David Tennant using the c-word or David Tennant wearing an Alice-band.

Aidan Smith, The Scotsman, 10th June 2020

Staged, review: thank goodness this was short

The best thing about Staged is that it only lasts 15 minutes.

Anita Singh, The Telegraph, 10th June 2020

David Tennant and Michael Sheen interview

The former Good Omens co-stars spoke exclusively to Radio Times about the "weird" experience of playing themselves.

Flora Carr, Radio Times, 8th June 2020

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