FanFare

A bingeable three-episode series on Britbox/Amazon Prime about "the life and times of disgraced Labour politician John Stonehouse, a high-flying minister of Prime Minister Harold Wilson's government who vanished from the beach of a large luxury hotel in Florida in November 1974, leaving a neatly-folded pile of clothes as he swam into the sea, intent on faking his own death." (IMDB)
posted by Countess Elena on Feb 12, 2023 - 3 comments

Bruce P. Mindhorn (Julian Barratt) is a former secret who has a cybernetic eye he can use to see the truth. Now, he’s the best detective the Isle of Man has ever seen. WAIT, NO. (Record Scratch Sound) Richard Thorncroft (still Julian Barratt) is an abrasive, washed-up British actor who played Bruce P. Mindhorn in a two-season ‘80s sitcom. At the end of his rope, Thorncroft lucks into a bizarre, long-shot potential PR coup when crazed serial killer “The Kestrel” (Russell Tovey) demands to negotiate with Mindhorn, whom he believes to be a real cop.
posted by Going To Maine on May 15, 2017 - 11 comments

Marsha still thinks that Tim and Daisy are a couple, and when she sees Tim kissing and flirting with Sophie, gets suspicious. Later that night at Daisy's birthday dinner, Marsha tell Daisy that Tim is cheating on her - Daisy's reply has dire consequences. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Apr 27, 2015 - 6 comments

While spending an evening on the town (well, Camden), Tim and Daisy run afoul of some young hooligans (Lee Ingleby and Adam Deacon) who accuse them of substituting oregano for marijuana. Meanwhile, Tim's nemesis Duane Benzie steals Tim's house keys in an act of revenge for the paintball incident. Daisy saves the day when she leverages her newfound knowledge of masculine telepathy. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Apr 20, 2015 - 7 comments

Tim and Mike run into old rivals as they prepare to enter the "Robot Wars" quarter final. Meanwhile, after being sacked from several jobs, Daisy is sent to work in a kitchen by her temp agency: it's 'Neo Nachos' in Kentish Town ("I've been there; it's nice."). Brian is given little notice of an opening at an upcoming exhibition and is left scrambling to create something, anything. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Apr 5, 2015 - 3 comments

Jar Jar Binks, Amber, the Job Centre (oh joy!) and Bilbo (played by Bill Bailey) all figure in this episode. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Mar 30, 2015 - 6 comments

After receiving an injection of money following the sale of her articles, Daisy returns from her holiday in Asia, but finds it hard to settle back into the flat atmos of play-fighting and repeat viewings of skateboard accidents--and who can blame her? Tim works through his George Lucas/Phantom Menace issues via a Star Wars bonfire, minus the Obi Wan robe he wears, of course. And Mike has moved into Daisy's room after an unfortunate accident (particularly unfortunate for the cat). Matrix Agents (Kevin Eldon and Mark Gatiss) are tracking Daisy and catch up with her at the pub, resulting in a karate-fight specatular. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Mar 22, 2015 - 6 comments

Tim is ecstatic when his ex-girlfriend Sarah decides she wants him back; Daisy is less so, causing tension in the flat. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Mar 15, 2015 - 8 comments

Tim's bicycle courier friend Tyres (Michael Smiley) pops round the gaff to collect money Tim owes him, and decides to take the gang clubbing. Brian is forced to face one of this fears: being alone with Marsha, or clubbing. Clubbing it is, then. Mike is thrown out of the 'Rough Ramblers' but finds a new outlet for expression in rave culture (cue "The A-Team" remix). And Tim and Daisy reach a new understanding: it's alright to snap at each other. Well, good, then. Tim gets hit in the head with a stick. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Mar 8, 2015 - 10 comments

This episodes sees a major test of Tim and Daisy's friendship: Daisy mistrusts Tim after he loses Colin on late-night walkies. Can Tim redeem himself? Will Brian come back in one piece (you know the piece I mean)? And will Colin the dog ever go on walkies with Tim again? Pass me a Bourbon... [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Mar 1, 2015 - 13 comments

Daisy's boyfriend breaks up with her after she takes some ill advice from Tim, who goes on a cathartic, if challenging, paint-ball expedition with Mike. Peter Serafinowicz appears as Tim's arch-nemesis, 'Duane Benzie'. Also: Colin. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Feb 22, 2015 - 8 comments

Daisy goes on a job interview at "Flaps", a women's magazine, while Tim takes speed and employs "lateral thinking and extreme violence" in the game Resident Evil for 24 hours, while Mike just takes speed. The non-gender specific Vulva - with whom Brian had a "multimedia performance-art partnership" - invites him to a 2-hour performance, which Marsha, Daisy, Tim, and Brian all must endure - er, enjoy. Well, at least there's free booze. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Feb 15, 2015 - 15 comments

​Daisy has the brilliant idea of throwing a house-warming party on the very same day she's experiencing writer's block. "It's a bit short-notice, isn't it?"​ Right you are Tim but that never stopped a writer looking for an excuse. Aluminum foil flies in this episode. Introduction proper of Twist into the series. [more inside]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome on Feb 8, 2015 - 11 comments