Taking The Flak. Image shows from L to R: Rory Wallace (Damian O'Hare), Jane Thomason (Doon Mackichan). Image credit: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Next New Episode:
Wednesday 8th July
@ 21.00 on BBC2

Episode Details

Taking The Flak

Brand New Comedy. Starts Wednesday 8th July.  Episode Details

Comedy drama following a team of journalists in a war zone who are in a state of perpetual danger, not just from bombs... but each other too

AKA:
The Calais Rules (Working Title)
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Broadcast:
2009  (BBC Two)
Episodes:
7 (1 series)
Starring:
Martin Jarvis, Doon Mackichan, Bruce Mackinnon, Joanna Brookes, Damian O'Hare, Lydiah Gitachu, Lucy Chalkley, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Lloyd Owen, George Alagiah, Sophie Raworth
Writers:
Tira Shubart, Jon Rolph
Production:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

An acerbic, authentic and caustic comedy drama that covers the entire progress of a small African war, as seen through the eyes of a team of journalists sending back the nightly reports for the BBC News at Ten.

Taking the Flak is a comedy drama about how journalists in war zones live in a state of perpetual danger not just from bombs but from disease, dysentery, bedbugs, bugged beds, their colleagues, their competitors and their loved ones, who are out of sight and out of mind. If they can't get themselves embedded with the army, they'll get embedded with each other.

The team includes the smooth, veteran correspondent; the harassed, but infinitely resourceful, producer; and the green and gauche rookie stringer, dropped into a hotel and forced to choose between a room on 'the shooting side' and 'the mortar side'.

Football-mad boy soldiers, corrupt car dealers, intestinal discomfort, unexploded landmines, old flames, impromptu hostage situations, YouTube viral videos and colossal egos all combust under the African sun. There is a story to be told in Karibu - but who will get to tell it?

Our Review: In the first 'true synthesis' of news and narrative comedy, Taking The Flak is shot by an award-winning news cameraman entirely on location in Africa and co-created, co-written and co-produced by experienced, award-winning journalist.

Press the red button after the first show on Wednesday 8th July for new material and exclusive footage from the Taking The Flak location filming in Africa. The red button feature will be available after each of the seven episodes.