Look to the British press in latest historical past and it’s simple to suppose there was extra drama off display screen than on display screen.

Phillip Schofield, Huw Edwards, Rolf Harris, Jimmy Savile…

Now fuelled by the obsession with social media and clickbait, Douglas is Cancelled attracts inspiration from such scandals in a stunning 4 half ‘comedy-drama’ from author Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Physician Who, The Time Traveler’s Spouse, Jekyll).

Douglas is Douglas Bellowes (Hugh Bonneville), a revered broadcaster of Stay At Six, whose life implodes when a rogue tweet from an obscure account refers to a sexist joke he made at his cousin’s marriage ceremony.

For TV producer Toby (Ben Miles) there may be nonetheless time to minimise the influence, however first he should get his head round what occurred. And what united entrance they’ll current to the general public “as soon as we’ve selected the details.”

Douglas insists he can’t keep in mind the joke itself.

So decided to manage the narrative is Toby that he disputes Douglas’ model of occasions, regardless of not even being on the marriage ceremony itself.

“We’re journalists we’re by no means there. Having opinions about issues we didn’t witness is all the level of our existence.”

However, with the potential of the general public shedding belief in such a high-profile anchor it’s a PR catastrophe getting ready to an abyss.

“Your voice is what makes well-known individuals useless!” Toby insists.

However Douglas’ day is about to get so much worse when spouse and newspaper editor Sheila (Alex Kingston) learns of the information. She eats tales like this for breakfast, however now one is on the homefront and she or he proceeds to tear strips off her husband, including, “Please delete these messages, I work with individuals who hack your telephone!”

Whereas Douglas seeks to dismiss the joke and tweet, extra tabloid-fuelled claims will observe across the household front room from Sheila. “A newsreader’s arse can push a struggle off the entrance web page!”

Sheila can be involved about her husband’s youthful co-host Madeline (Karen Gillan), with good trigger, who presents a facade of assist for Douglas, while tacitly manoeuvring behind the scenes….

Even Douglas’ doddery agent Bently (Simon Russell Beale) can’t appear to provide you with a plan of assault aside from an apology press launch, and parting firm together with his shopper. Ouch.

By means of all of it Douglas is probably essentially the most level-headed of Moffat’s scrumptious characters, however knee-deep in forces past his management, he can however solely watch his profession slip away from him.

Hugh Bonneville is excellent on this position, because the blinking, trusting, old-school presenter being torn to shreds by those that feign his greatest pursuits at coronary heart.

Alex Kingston, maybe greatest recognised as Physician Who‘s personal River Track, is mesmerising in a cyclone of a task as spouse and tabloid editor. Scenes together with her self-absorbed PA Helen (Stephanie Hyam) may likely be ripped straight from Ab Fab had been they not Moffat’s creation.

Ben Miles is ruthless as producer Toby, always attempting to navigate from a place of neutrality and seizing upon “a chance to get forward of the details.” Simply look ahead to a scene with ‘comedy author’ Tom (Joe Wilkinson).

Karen Gillan is match-fit for the formidable Madeline, whose position in all of this, I believe, received’t be clear till the finale.

The actual star of Douglas is Cancelled is Moffat’s script. The dialogue is ripping, rapid-fire brutal and darkly hilarious. It rests so wickedly on its ensemble, it may virtually work on stage had been it not on display screen. The music additionally evokes emotions of Succession.

If that is actually the place trendy media is at in 2024 we’re most likely all doomed. In any other case, take pleasure in this from a budget seats as a wonderful takedown behind the scenes of TV. Unmissable.

Douglas is Cancelled 8:45pm Sunday December 1 on ABC (all episodes on iview)