Staged was won the British Comedy Guide Award for Best New Series
One of the highlights of lockdown, Staged reunited Good Omens co-stars Michael Sheen and Doctor Who’s own David Tennant. Virtually at least, as the series found its comedy in the new normal of endless zoom meetings and quarantine fatigue. The show has now been recognized with the most unexpected hit of 2020 being named Best New Series at the British Comedy Guide Awards. And in true Staged style, it was an online ceremony and acceptance speech. Click below to see the duo negotiating sharing the password to log in and look at their award.
Its unusual meta format, with Sheen and Tennant playing heightened versions of themselves allowed for some of the show’s compelling notions. Such as the two essentially trading roles as the ‘nice one’ and the ‘cross one’ between series.
Series One saw the two actors convinced to rehearse their stage play Six Characters in Search of an Author virtually. But the pandemic, technology, their ineffectual director (Staged co-creator Simon Evans) and their own natures constantly disrupt their half-hearted attempts. Series Two presents them as the stars of surprise television hit Staged. But soon they’re disgruntled that Simon is replacing them for the US remake and begin plotting to sabotage it. Throughout Tennant and Sheen’s real-life partners, fellow actors Georgia Tennant and Anna Lundberg, and Simon’s sister Lucy Eaton, try to keep events tethered to reality.
Staged Series One and Two
Series One (featuring extended editions of each episode) can be found on Netflix. While both series, in their original format, are still on iPlayer. The DVD boxset containing both series features a reversible sleeve (will you pick ‘Michael Sheen and David Tennant’ or ‘David Tennand and Michael Sheen’) as well as outtakes and other previously unseen moments. It’s released next week and available to pre-order now.
