British Comedy Guide
The Persuasionists. Image shows from L to R: Billy Hitchens (Iain Lee), Emma (Daisy Haggard), Clive Johnson (Jarred Christmas), Greg Bannister (Adam Buxton), Keaton (Simon Farnaby). Copyright: Bwark Productions
The Persuasionists

The Persuasionists

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two / BBC Three
  • 2007 - 2010
  • 7 episodes (1 series)

Sitcom about the flaky, shaky, fakey 'creatives' who work in the advertising industry, trying to persuade you to buy things you don't want. Stars Adam Buxton, Simon Farnaby, Iain Lee, Jarred Christmas and Daisy Haggard

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The Persuasionists. Image shows from L to R: Keaton (Simon Farnaby), Emma (Daisy Haggard), Clive Johnson (Jarred Christmas), Billy Hitchens (Iain Lee), Greg Bannister (Adam Buxton). Copyright: Bwark Productions

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
2007 - 2010
Channels
BBC Two, BBC Three
Episodes
7 (1 pilot + 1 series)
Stars
Adam Buxton, Simon Farnaby, Iain Lee, Jarred Christmas and Daisy Haggard
Writer
Jonathan Thake
Director
Tristram Shapeero
Producers
Jon Rolph, Simon Wilson, Iain Morris and Damon Beesley
Company

A sitcom about 'creatives' who work in the advertising industry. Underworked and overpaid, they're the people who spend all day trying to persuade you to buy things you don't want with money you don't have. They're scum.

There's Billy, who's smart and funny and still works in advertising; uncontrollable urge-bag Keaton; neurotic, spoiled Emma; Australian boss Clive; and hopeless, witless, feckless Greg - who wants to be as ambitious and amoral as his friends, but can't seem to manage even that.

Over the six episodes, the five advertising degenerates face selling a brown smelly 'cockney cheese' for disillusioned, aggressive and frightening cockney client Jim. Issues of beauty are tackled with ruthless honesty as Emma becomes the 'Head of Handsomeness' and creates the 'corridor of beauty' and a home for the ugly. Keaton, the Head of Global, becomes impotent as he learns that women are somehow human too. Keaton and Billy engage on a war of being impractical and battle it out to prove they are not mature and sensible. Emma embraces the new 'diet stuff' drink and starts a protest against fat people with her hand-made ryvita cross. Billy experiences the frustration of writer's block and Keaton steals the employee's happiness. Boss man Clive installs a new initiative to make the office more Australian and Greg falls in love with a client with no returned affection.

Additional details

Also known as
  • The Scum Also Rises (Working title)
Production
Studio
Picture
Colour
Soundtrack
Theme tune by Rhythms Del Mundo featuring Kaiser Chiefs.

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Friday 30th March 2007 at 3:30am on BBC Three
Most recent repeats
  • Friday 5th March 2010 at 12:20am on BBC2 - Episode 6
  • Monday 1st March 2010 at 12:30am on BBC2 - Episode 5
  • Monday 8th February 2010 at 12:00am on BBC2 - Episode 4

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