The Wright Way
An academic perspective on Ben Elton's 2013 BBC sitcom, exploring its premise, characters, production, and notably, its critical reception.
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Overview
Series Fundamentals
The Wright Way is a British television sitcom penned by the acclaimed writer Ben Elton. It was broadcast on BBC One, with its sole series airing between 23 April and 28 May 2013. The series centers on the professional and personal lives of a health and safety manager, his dedicated staff, and his immediate family.
Origin and Scope
Originating from the United Kingdom, the series was presented in the English language. It comprised a single series, totaling six episodes. The creative team included Dewi Humphreys as director and Ben Elton as the sole credited writer. The ensemble cast featured notable performers such as David Haig, Mina Anwar, and Beattie Edmondson.
Genre and Intent
Classified as a sitcom, the series aimed for comedic effect through its exploration of workplace bureaucracy and domestic dynamics. Despite its comedic aspirations, the program garnered significant critical attention, predominantly for its perceived shortcomings, leading to its cancellation after the initial run.
Plot Synopsis
Summary Unavailable
The provided source material indicates that a detailed plot summary for The Wright Way is currently unavailable or requires further development. The series is described as centering around Gerald Wright, the manager of a health and safety department within a fictional council in Essex, and his interactions with his team and family. Specific narrative arcs and episode-by-episode plot points are not elaborated upon in the source document.
Key Characters
Gerald Wright
Portrayed by David Haig, Gerald Wright is the middle-aged, divorced Chief Health and Safety Officer for Baselricky Borough Council. He approaches his role with extreme seriousness, exhibiting diligence bordering on paranoia regarding everyday dangers. His ex-wife, Valerie, left him after twenty years due to his rigid adherence to rules. He lives with his daughter, Susan, and her girlfriend, Victoria. Susan perceives his anxiety and anger as a mask for depression stemming from his marital separation. While he deeply loves Susan, her coming out as lesbian is described as a 'lifestyle bombshell,' suggesting underlying discomfort with her homosexuality. Despite initial friction, he grows to accept Victoria, viewing her as a second daughter.
Susan Wright
Played by Joanne Matthews, Susan is Gerald's 23-year-old daughter. Following her parents' divorce and her mother's departure, Susan has assumed significant household responsibilities, including managing finances, grocery shopping, and working as a plumber, while also caring for her father and his girlfriend. She often acts as the pragmatic counterpoint to Gerald's neuroticism and Victoria's naivety. Despite the challenges, she demonstrates deep affection for her father and is clearly devoted to Victoria. Susan also maintains a close relationship with her mother and attempts to intervene in her mother's relationship with her Australian boyfriend, Kyle, whom she suspects is exploiting her mother for financial gain.
Victoria
Portrayed by Beattie Edmondson, Victoria is Susan's 19-year-old girlfriend, characterized by her perceived incompetence. She works as a disc jockey, though with limited success, earning the nickname 'DJ No-Gigs' online. Victoria comes from a more affluent background than Susan and Gerald, yet she is openly affectionate towards Susan and has developed a strong emotional bond with Gerald.
Valerie Wright
Gerald's ex-wife, Valerie, is portrayed by Kacey Ainsworth. Her departure from the marriage is attributed to Gerald's rigid personality.
Production Details
Commissioning and Naming
The Wright Way was commissioned by Danny Cohen, the BBC One Controller, and Cheryl Taylor, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning. Initially, the series was intended to be titled Slings and Arrows. However, this title was revised, as it was feared viewers might mistake it for a historical documentary. An alternative working title considered was ...Gone Mad, a reference to the common clichรฉ "It's health and safety gone mad."
Filming and Broadcast
Principal photography for the series took place at dock10 studios, located within MediaCityUK in Salford, Greater Manchester. Filming occurred between January and March 2013, with the broadcast commencing shortly thereafter on the BBC.
Episode Compendium
Series One Episode List
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Rogue Speed Bump" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 23 April 2013 |
| 2 | "Conkers Bonkers" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 30 April 2013 |
| 3 | "Lethal Swing Back" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 7 May 2013 |
| 4 | "Concealed Sharp Objects" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 14 May 2013 |
| 5 | "Curbing the Kerb" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 21 May 2013 |
| 6 | "The Deadly Receptacle" | Dewi Humphreys | Ben Elton | 28 May 2013 |
Critical Reception
Widespread Acclaim for Failure
Upon its broadcast, The Wright Way was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. The initial episode faced considerable criticism, with subsequent episodes drawing even harsher assessments. Publications such as the Radio Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, Metro, and The Guardian published reviews that were largely unfavorable, highlighting perceived deficiencies in humor, character development, and overall execution.
Critical Commentary
Specific critiques included:
- Tom Phillips of the New Statesman described the second episode as "even worse than the first."
- Adam Postans in the Daily Mirror controversially labeled it "the worst sitcom ever".
- German blog britcoms.de included the series in an article titled "The Shitcoms of the year," stating, "Gags that can hardly be described as such, dogmatism that speculates on approving laughter, gruesome characters - really everything is wrong here."
These sentiments underscore a consensus among reviewers that the series failed to meet expectations, particularly given Ben Elton's established reputation in comedy.
Ben Elton's Reflection
In a subsequent interview on BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, Ben Elton reflected on the series' reception. He acknowledged that "Sometimes you can pull it out of the hat, and sometimes you can't." He drew a parallel to Blackadder, which initially faced criticism but became a celebrated series. Elton suggested that The Wright Way "never really found its niche" and speculated that its packaging and title might have been suboptimal, leading to audience confusion about its intended identity. He concluded that while unfortunate, such outcomes are inherent to the television industry.
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Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
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