15 Storeys High and Sean Lock

[clingfilm portent]

Finally got round to watching this. I had huge expectations, thanks entirely to this site, and it lived up to them comfortably so thank you to the many, many people who paid lip service to this fantastic show. Benedict Wong was perfect as Errol who has become one of my favourite sitcom characters. The pace and the static camera let the humour breathe in a way you rarely get, especially in comedy. Surreal without becoming whimsical, dark without becoming sordid. It seems a lot of care was taken to give the show a particular feel and it paid off beautifully.

My question now is what has become of Sean Lock? I vaguely recall hearing that the BBC's treatment of the show left him feeling bitter but I don't know the details (though I'd hazard a guess it was the lack of promotion). It's a shame that after this show he seemed resigned to panel show appearances and stand up. Nothing wrong with those in and of themselves but 15 Storeys High was really something special. He knew it, so why wasn't there more?

[DuncanC]

#5 in the "Top 10 Sean Lock Jokes" at the end: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Whats-on-leisure/Choice/Sean-Lock-I-dont-know-what-on-earth-I-would-have-done-if-I-hadnt-got-into-comedy-20130516065149.htm

Roll on snare drum. Curtains.

[Mildly Diverting]

Much as I love both radio and TV incarnations of 15 Storeys, it wasn't exactly a ratings grabber and pretty much defined 'cult viewing'. To be honest I was amazed the TV version was recommissioned, so I don't think we can have many complaints about two series.

[syntaxerror]

#5 in the "Top 10 Sean Lock Jokes" at the end: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Whats-on-leisure/Choice/Sean-Lock-I-dont-know-what-on-earth-I-would-have-done-if-I-hadnt-got-into-comedy-20130516065149.htm

Roll on snare drum. Curtains.

I would imagine being a panel show regular is about as close as a comedian can get to job security, which is fine if you're actually funny. Thankfully, Lock is.

[Ignatius_S]

...Nothing wrong with those in and of themselves but 15 Storeys High was really something special. He knew it, so why wasn't there more?

Lock did want another series, but the BBC didn't so that was the end of that. As Mildly Diverting says, it wasn't going to be a huge hit and IIRC, low ratings was the reason cited why the third series didn't go ahead. However, if memory serves, the second series was pushed to a later slot, which wasn't conducive to getting ratings - unless the scheduler was attempting reverse psychology.

[Queneau]

This is from an old Chortle Q&A thingy:

Considering the general acclaim that the show received throughout its run, were you ever particularly resentful towards the BBC's treatment of the series, and what factors do you attribute to the fact the show never really 'broke through' into the mainstream? John Thorp

If you'd asked me about that a few years ago I would have said yes but if there is one thing I've learnt in this business is: 'Don't take it personally.' There is a 15 Storey website with the title 'badly treated by the BBC', which has got nothing to do with me. I have trouble texting let alone create a website. The thought of a podcast makes me queasy. But also I'd be insane to continue a feud with the biggest producer of comedy in Europe. Critically the show was a huge success just didn't get shown a lot. The reasons? Well let's face it the show was hardly accessible. We took a lot of risks making 15 Storeys, lighting, pace, few close-ups a grimly realistic location. I n fact we did the opposite of every comedy show that had been made before it. And the whole point of taking risks is accepting when they don't pay off, commercially anyway.

That was my website he was clearly keen to distance himself from. I remember him saying on a daytime show that he had written a third series and was waiting on a decision.

I think what he is saying about the 'risk taking' goes along with what I've heard of his opinions on the process of making 15 Storeys as a TV show. The impression was that it was a massive pain in the arse. For me, it is the best directed sitcom (yes, that includes Spaced). It makes a much better finished product than the radio shows.

I'm a fan of his earlier stand up but I don't have much time for him these days. Oh, and, 'badly treated by the BBC' wasn't the title, you prick.

[olliebean]

Wasn't it originally a radio series? Is that "available" anywhere?

[tothenakedrawedge]

Much as I love both radio and TV incarnations of 15 Storeys, it wasn't exactly a ratings grabber and pretty much defined 'cult viewing'. To be honest I was amazed the TV version was recommissioned, so I don't think we can have many complaints about two series.

I take your point here, but I find it hard to be expected to be grateful when a broadcaster like the BBC, with so little quality comedy output, cancels a good show. I'd question the premise that every BBC programme should be judged primarily by ratings. Granted, plenty of people will pay the license fee and watch shed-loads of low quality programming. Equally some will pay the same fee and watch much less. I'd consider 15 storeys high a 'marginal cost' in the scheme of paying for pilot upon pilot, and single series upon single series of shows that are going nowhere, and barely amuse anyone. How many of these are shown and almost completely forgotten. The fact that we're still talking about 15 storeys high now, however many years on, suggests that it's value to it's audience was higher than other shows which may have achieved higher audience figures.

[Queneau]

Wasn't it originally a radio series? Is that "available" anywhere?

15 Minutes of Misery and then 15 Storeys High. I don't have my hard drive with me at the moment otherwise I'd be able to send them your way. If somebody here can't help you, let me know in the next few days and I'll 'sort you out'.

Forget all of that above:

Spoiler alert

http://radioarchive.cc/torrents-details.php?id=2234

[close]

Spoiler alert

http://radioarchive.cc/torrents-details.php?id=3005

[close]

[Mildly Diverting]

^ I totally agree for the most part, but arguing over ratings vs quality on the BBC has been flogged to death, so I won't start here. I suppose I'm just of the opinion that rather than curse them for cutting it after two series, I'd rather celebrate the fact that is was made at all.

[tothenakedrawedge]

Yeah I see that. It does make me wonder though, when it's so clear that the process is not geared towards fostering quality output, how many potential classics were rejected at the script stage?

[pigamus]

Sometimes the BBC don't give things a fair run, but sometimes its just down to the public not giving a shit. I think the public has to share a fair amount of the blame. No, they didn't watch 15 Storeys High, but neither did they watch Grandma's House or Dead Boss or Getting On or a load of other things. Hardly anybody watches Community in the US, and even 30 Rock struggled for good ratings. 30 Rock, for fuck's sake! I don't like sounding like an elitist cunt, but sometimes it's a case of pearls before swine.

[Queneau]

Sometimes the BBC don't give things a fair run, but sometimes its just down to the public not giving a shit.

Though did you see the timeslots this was getting? Delayed once (by the fucking snooker) past midnight. Well done BBC.

[Serge]

I've never made a secret of the fact that I think Sean Lock is one of the funniest men who ever walked the Earth, and I have tickets to go and see his new stand-up show in September, which is being filmed for this year's DVD, so keep those eyes peeled for a large bearded man laughing in the crowd.

Now that Lock is bigger than he was at the time '15 Storeys' was originally broadcast, I'm surprised that he hasn't been given the chance to do another series or something else in a similar vein. Maybe he just isn't interested in doing it any more.

Whenever I go past the Brandon Estate in Kennington, I like to think that Vince and Errol are still in there somewhere.

[pigamus]

Though did you see the timeslots this was getting? Delayed once (by the fucking snooker) past midnight. Well done BBC.

It wasn't the snooker, it was the local elections.  I remember it well - drunkenly fast-forwarding  the video after coming back from the pub in order to watch it, but feeling slightly smug that I'd had the foresight to keep the video running.  But, you know, the local elections are a thing. BBC 2 can't make them disappear. And isn't two series a decent crack of the whip? On (was it?) both BBC Choice and BBC 2? I do know exactly what you mean, about lack of promotion and all the rest of it. But then, how come I saw it? I saw the trailers on BBC 2 ("Baldy!"), and so did loads of other people -- you too, possibly. Also I saw the trailers for Curb and Arrested Development on the same channel -- over and over again, actually, which is why I don't have all that much sympathy for the "Oh, they never promoted it properly" argument. Sounds a bit elitist, but sometimes you've got to take a bit of an interest and make a bit of an effort. I think so anyway.

[Queneau]

Well, it definitely happened due to snooker. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying that I'm right.

[pigamus]

Well, you may well be right. I'm an old bald man, I may be misremembering. Somebody will be able to tell us.

[amnesiac]

I love 15SH, I still watch it on my mobile device on the tube when it stops in the tunnel to help me deal with panic attacks, Blue Rat is the best episode.

[Thomas]

I'm going the way of the OP. This thread, on top of lots of previous CookdandBombd recommendation, has prompted me to seek out and watch the series. Good work, chaps.

[pigamus]

Oh, and it was the one with the vicar and the plough that got delayed. Right?

[clingfilm portent]

I'm going the way of the OP. This thread, on top of lots of previous CookdandBombd recommendation, has prompted me to seek out and watch the series. Good work, chaps.

Unless you have impeccably bad taste, you won't be disappointed. Do report back!

Oh, and it was the one with the vicar and the plough that got delayed. Right?

Why's that?

That was the only episode that fell really flat for me, even to the point of agitation. It started fine, but the vicar was just Vince as a vicar, and badly performed. Errol was just about the only thing keeping me going. But that was the only real blip out of the 12.

[pigamus]

It's funny, I only have warm fuzzy feelings about that episode, because I watched it at about two o'clock in the morning, pissed, feeling vaguely pleased that I'd foiled BBC 2's attempts to stop me watching it. I do remember it being a bit weird.

[Sexton Brackets Drugbust]

It's fascinating seeing the stories change from radio to TV and always for the better, I feel.

Interestingly, The Plough episode's original ending involved Vince - or Sean as he was on radio - being made to stay in a 'haunted crypt', where he was terrorised by, of all people, Jimmy Saville.

It think TV's version of The Plough is a fairly unique plot by 15SH episodes standards, in that it doesn't have many twists and turns. Vince makes a new friend, we see their night out - that's it.

I enjoy the episode, but can't help but wish they'd found a second half as solid as the first. I still think the opening premise is fantastic, but I can understand how, if you don't take to Pearce Quigley's vicar, you're not going to get much out of the episode.

[pigamus]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94ZBgiEuYPU

That was, more or less in its entirety, the trailer they used for 15 Storeys to get you into it. I know, because I saw it, was intrigued, and deliberately sought it out. And, no, the BBC never exactly treated it as some kind of flagship programme, but the idea that they never promoted it isn't true. They did. That's why I watched it, and loved it. And I think Sean's right to be magnanimous about it. Even in a perfect world, I can't imagine it being any kind of popular success. It's just too bone-dry and cynical for popular tastes (IMO).

[Queneau]

That was the only episode that fell really flat for me, even to the point of agitation. It started fine, but the vicar was just Vince as a vicar, and badly performed. Errol was just about the only thing keeping me going. But that was the only real blip out of the 12.

Funnily enough, that is my favourite episode of 15 Storeys High. Maybe it is because, as said elsewhere, not a lot happens. The vicar just being Vince is surely part of the point? Most of the programme Vince is isolated. He never really socialises and when he does he manages to mess it up (

Spoiler alert

he ruins Darren's surprise birthday thing

[close]

). So, he's disconnected from everyone. Even from the start, about the whole touching thing, I think we get a sense of that. So, having the vicar basically be him is the first chance we get to see an opportunity for Vince to connect.

[Mobius]

I love the vicar episode too, though it does have a different feel. It reminds me a little of Louie.

Sean Lock is pretty great on panel shows but it's a real shame he hasn't done more. 15 Storeys is one of my favourite comedy shows, and I love the audio stuff too (thanks for the link by the way, haven't heard those for a few years :) )

Am I right in thinking 15 Storeys is the only bit of 'acting' Mark Lamarr did? I think Iannucci said it was his favourite comedy once. I think it's brilliant and recommend it to anyone I can :)

[Queneau]

I love the vicar episode too, though it does have a different feel. It reminds me a little of Louie.

Or, perhaps, it's the other way round?

I think Iannucci said it was his favourite comedy once. I think it's brilliant and recommend it to anyone I can :)

15 Storeys High is a great unsung comedy, says Armando Iannucci.

Life is full of mysteries, such as "where do they put the emergency exits in the Channel Tunnel?". But for me, one of the greatest is why isn't 15 Storeys High recognised as the comic classic it is? The second series, which starts on BBC Two this week, has been dumped, like an insane relative of the Royal Family, out of sight where no one is likely to notice (late on Sunday nights).

In case you know nothing about 15 Storeys High, it's a quietly absurd sitcom starring Sean Lock as Vince, a grumpy swimming pool attendant who lives in a tower block with a second-generation Chinese northerner called Errol, played by Benedict Wong.

It's filmed in a blanched-out sequence of static, grainy shots that trap you into thinking you're about to get some grim kitchen-sink piece of social commentary. In fact, what you get is a joyously escalating series of warm and hilarious plots prompted by the inconsequential. My favourite memory from the first series is of Errol peeling off a bit of loose wallpaper in the bathroom, only to end up stripping the room bare and backing out of the flat with all the wallpaper down his trousers, his bum now enormous and crinkling, trying to pretend to Vince that nothing had happened.

Even little moments of dialogue burst out of control, such as Vince persuading Errol not to buy goldfish: "You get one goldfish and it's lonely. You get two and they don't get on. You get a third and it's two on one. You get a fourth and it's a borstal."

15 Storeys High is difficult to describe, because it is unlike any other sitcom. The last comedy I can remember that arrived with such a perfect, idiosyncratic and fully formed comic world of its own was Father Ted. It's that good. I want you to watch it so much it hurts.

15 Storeys High, Sunday, BBC Two, 10.40pm/11.10pm (regions vary)

The Times - 15 / 05 / 04

[Neville Chamberlain]

Well I completely missed it first time round, mainly due to being out of the country, but it's now one of my favourite comedies of all time...

"I don't mind insults, as long as they're accurate."

[Queneau]

"I don't mind insults, as long as they're accurate."

Spoiler alert

What are you doing with that plough, ya twat?

[close]

[checkoutgirl]

Maybe he just isn't interested in doing it any more.

Probably. I'd say a combination of disillusionment with the BBC, the fact that making proper scripted TV programmes is a pain in the arse and the fact that he can make 50 grand a week at least doing panel shows (which are comparatively simpler and less work to make) might have dented his inclination to make more 15 Storeys High. The fact that he's making one of the least credible panel shows out of a crop of shite panel shows is a strong indicator that he's less worried about his cache these days. I hope they're paying him enough because having to hang around with Jimmy Carr every week should be highly paid.

For me the best thing about 15 Storeys High is that it was like an antidote to shite like My Family and Two and And a Half Men. This can only be a good thing and I'm inclined to think that we were lucky to get 2 series in this day and age rather than complaining that we didn't get a third. There was some nice oddity in there like the Wong fella eating a pot noodle and looking at pictures of nice food in a magazine.