
Taking The Flak
- TV comedy drama / sitcom
- BBC Two
- 2009
- 7 episodes (1 series)
Comedy drama following a team of journalists in a war zone who are in a state of perpetual danger, not just from bombs... but each other too. Stars Martin Jarvis, Doon Mackichan, Bruce Mackinnon, Joanna Brookes, Damian O'Hare and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 1 - Bigfooting

A small African war suddenly becomes the centre of global attention when a team of BBC journalists arrives in Karibu, ready to cover the conflict. Local 'stringer' Harry is hanging on to the bottom of the journalist ladder and thinks the story will be his big break. But he finds himself 'bigfooted' when BBC News heavyweights, including senior foreign correspondent David Bradburn, flanked by his production team, and Margaret Hollis from the World Service, arrive in town.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Wednesday 8th July 2009
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 60 minutes
Cast & crew
Martin Jarvis | David Bradburn |
Doon Mackichan | Jane Thomason |
Bruce Mackinnon | Harry Chambers |
Joanna Brookes | Margaret Hollis |
Lydiah Gitachu | Grace Matiko |
Lucy Chalkley | Samantha Cunningham Fleming |
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith | Joyful Sifuri |
Mackenzie Crook | Nigel Bagwell |
Lloyd Owen | Jack |
Alistair Lowe | Karim Khan |
Bernard Safari | Zawadi |
Mourad Sadat | Mkombe |
Nash Nderitu | Waiter |
George Alagiah | Self |
Sophie Raworth | Self |
Bill Turnbull | Self |
Sian Williams | Self |
Tira Shubart | Writer |
Jon Rolph | Writer |
Sandra Jones | Writer (Additional Material) |
Michael Buffong | Director |
Tira Shubart | Producer |
Jon Rolph | Producer |
Jon Plowman | Executive Producer |
Sandra Jones | Producer |
Jon Blow | Editor |
Georgina Millett | Production Designer |
David Lowe | Composer |
Video
Where's lonelyjournalist63?
Here is David Bradburn's worldwide viral video.
Featuring: Martin Jarvis (David Bradburn) & Damian O'Hare (Rory Wallace).
Press
Taking the Flak (BBC2), which competes for the same airtime, begins promisingly enough.
Nancy Banks-Smith, The Guardian, 9th July 2009