Am I Being Unreasonable? is a British comedy-thriller television series produced by Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point and written by, and starring, Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli. The series was broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 26 September 2022. The series premiered in the United States on Hulu on 11 April 2023. A second series was commissioned by the BBC in October 2022.
| Am I Being Unreasonable? | |
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 | |
| Genre | |
| Created by | |
| Written by |
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| Directed by | Jonny Campbell |
| Starring |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Pippa Brown |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 23 September 2022 – present |
Synopsis edit
Cooper plays Nic, a mum stuck in a depressing marriage grieving a loss she can’t share with anyone. Hizli plays Jen who arrives in Nic’s life as a kindred spirit and school mum, but both are concealing secrets.[1]
Cast edit
- Daisy May Cooper as Nic
- Selin Hizli as Jen
- Lenny Rush as Ollie
- Jessica Hynes as Becca
- Dustin Demri-Burns as Dan
- Amanda Wilkin as Suzie
- David Fynn as Alex
- Juliet Cowan as Viv
- Samuel Bottomley as Boy
- Yohanna Ephrem as Girl
- Ruben Catt as Harry
- Karla Crome as Lucy
- Marek Larwood as Kev
- Noah Carr-Kingsnorth as Dennon
Episodes edit
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | BBC One airdate | UK viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 23 September 2022 | 2.18 | |
| Some time ago, Alex expressed his love for Nic as they got on a train. His coat got stuck in the automatic door, killing him when another train passed by. In the present day, Nic is in an unfulfilling marriage with her husband Dan. She is standoffish towards the other school mums, but she strikes up a friendship with the new mum Jen. Jen invites herself to Nic’s house to celebrate their friendship and they get drunk together. Nic confesses to Jen that she had a long and passionate affair with Alex while she was married to Dan. Unbeknownst to Nic, Jen has recorded their conversation. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode Two" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 30 September 2022 | <(2.76) | |
| Nic wakes up hungover and is paranoid over what she told Jen in her inebriated state, but Jen reassures her that she can tell her anything. Suzie arrives to plan Alex’s memorial with Dan. Nic wants to help Suzie, but she tells her that the way Nic hung out with Alex made her uncomfortable. Dan rewatched his wedding video on the TV, tearing up when he sees his brother Alex giving the speech. The next day Jen arrives at her house for a playdate, but Nic leaves for a bit. When she comes back, she is surprised to see the wedding video on the TV. She has a flashback to the day of Nic’s wedding to Dan, where Alex admitted his love for Nic. They began the affair after the ceremony. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode Three" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 7 October 2022 | <(2.87) | |
| Nic realises that her coat is missing and yells at Jen when she sees her wearing her coat. She later remembers that her coat was simply at the dry cleaners and goes to Jen’s house to apologize to her. However, at the house she only finds an old woman who says that she lives in the house alone. Nic shows her a picture of Jen, but the old woman says that it is not a picture of Jen but of Katya. At the same time, Jen visits Nic’s house and asks Dan why Nic is upset with her. Nic returns home and asks Jen about her real identity, but Jen receives a phone call and leaves urgently. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode Four" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 14 October 2022 | <(2.82) | |
| The episode follows events from the previous episodes from Jen’s perspective. She had lost her job and had to move to a new town with her son. She works as a housecleaner for an old woman who confuses her for the old cleaner, Katya. At her son’s first day of school she meets Nic, and is grateful when she helps her. She looks her up online to see pictures of her with Dan, and is surprised to find Dan on Tinder. She records the evidence and calls Dan out for cheating. She invites herself to Nic's house to tell her about Dan, but is surprised when Nic tells her of her affair with Alex. Still, she admires Nic, buying the same coat as her and watching her wedding video. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode Five" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 21 October 2022 | <(3.09) | |
| Nic and Dan are angry at Jen for leaving so suddenly. Jen returns and apologizes to Nic. Nic forces her to explain her whole backstory, and Jen says that she was called by her friend who is in an abusive relationship. Nic and Dan prepare for Alex’s memorial. Dan is frustrated to see that Nic had brought Jen with her and makes her choose between him or Jen. Nic hesitates, and Dan leaves angrily. Nic cries in front of Alex’s memorial, and Jen comforts her. | ||||||
| 6 | "Episode Six" | Jonny Campbell | Daisy May Cooper & Selin Hizli | 28 October 2022 | <(2.95) | |
| A flashback shows Nic and Dan hosting dinner for Alex and his wife Suzie. Alex is cheating on Suzie with Nic, and Dan brags to Alex that he is using Tinder to cheat on Nic. Nic is angry to learn that Alex is trying for a baby with Suzie, but he reassures her that she is the only one he loves. In the present, at Alex’s memorial, Dan and Suzie each tell Nic of their ire for her. When Nic is called to speak about Alex, she remembers what really happened on the day of his death: Alex had insulted Nic and wanted to end the affair, and in anger, Nic pulled his coat so it would get stuck in the train doors, Nic then fails to activate the emergency stop. | ||||||
Production edit
The show’s title is borrowed from the Mumsnet message board of which Cooper told The Times “If you post anything on AIBU about whether you should end your marriage, they all scream ‘Leave the bastard,’ even if all he’s done is sing over the Coronation Street theme tune.” Cooper and Hizli knew each other from drama school. The show was partly improvised.[2] Principal photography finished in February 2022. The producer is Pippa Brown and the director is Jonny Campbell. The production companies are Boffola Pictures and Lookout Point. Executive producers are Jack Thorne, Shane Allen, Jonny Campbell, Daisy May Cooper, Kate Daughton, Selin Hizl.[3]
Filming took place in 2021 at The Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol and on location in Gloucestershire.[4]
A second series was commissioned by the BBC in October 2022.[5]
Broadcast edit
The show was first broadcast on BBC One on 23 September 2022, with all episodes being made available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer on the same day.[6] BBC Studios have international distribution rights.[7] The series was originally meant to begin a week earlier, but was delayed, as were many other scheduled programmes, because of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the resulting period of mourning.[8]
The series premiered in the United States on Hulu on 11 April 2023.[9]
Awards edit
On 9 January 2023 the show received a nomination at the Comedy.co.uk Awards 2022 in the Best Comedy Drama Series category.[10] On 23 January 2023 Cooper received a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Actress at the National Comedy Awards 2023, while Rush received a breakthrough award.[11]
On 29 March 2023 the series won three awards at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards.[12] Lenny Rush won the Breakthrough Award, and Performance (Male) Award, and Daisy May Cooper won the Comedy Performance (Female). The show itself was nominated for the Comedy Drama Award at the same ceremony.[13][14]
Cooper was nominated for best female performance in a comedy programme, Rush for best male performance in a comedy programme, and the programme for best scripted comedy at the British Academy Television Awards, announced on 22 March 2023.[15]
Jamie Pearson and Helena Evans were nominated in the Best Editing - Entertainment and Comedy category at the 2023 Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards.[16]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Royal Television Society Programme Awards | Breakthrough Award | Lenny Rush | Won | [14] |
| Performance (Male) | Lenny Rush | Won | [14] | ||
| Comedy Performance (Female) | Daisy May Cooper | Won | [14] | ||
| Comedy Drama | Am I Being Unreasonable? | Nominated | [13] | ||
| British Academy Television Awards | Female Performance In A Comedy Programme | Daisy May Cooper | Nominated | [17] | |
| Best Scripted Comedy | Daisy May Cooper, Selin Hizli, Jonny Campbell, Pippa Brown, Jack Thorne | Nominated | [18] | ||
| Male Performance In A Comedy Programme | Lenny Rush | Won | [19] | ||
| British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Scripted Casting | Julie Harkin | Nominated | [20] |
References edit
- ^ "Daisy May Cooper is a paranoid mum in 'Am I Being Unreasonable?' trailer". NME.com. September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ Heawood, Sophie. "Daisy May Cooper: why I ended my marriage when I had a newborn baby". The Times. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Title, first look and further casting announced for new comedy thriller Am I Being Unreasonable? starring Daisy May Cooper and Selin Hizli". bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Daisy May Cooper's new comedy-thriller being filmed in Bristol". Bristol Post. 1 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Am I Being Unreasonable Gets Second Series". Comedy.co.uk. 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "BBC One - Am I Being Unreasonable?". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
- ^ "Am I Being Unreasonable Air Date Revealed". comedy.co.uk. September 2022. Archived from the original on 4 September 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
- ^ "Now Mock The Week is dropped from the schedules". Chortle. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Hulu buys BBC comedy-thriller Am I being unreasonable?". Deadline. 21 February 2023. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2022 shortlist". Comedy.co.uk. 9 January 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ "National Comedy Awards 2023 shortlists revealed". Chortle. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (29 March 2023). "Kit Connor, Kate Winslet Among Winners of Royal Television Society Program Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ a b Ramachandran, Naman (7 March 2023). "Kate Winslet, Kit Connor, Billie Piper in the Mix at Royal Television Society Program Awards Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d Goldbart, Max (29 March 2023). "Kate Winslet Scoops Big Acting Prize At RTS Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
- ^ "Bafta TV awards 2023: full list of nominations". The Guardian. 22 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "RTS CRAFT & DESIGN AWARDS 2023". RTS. 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ^ "BAFTA Television 2023: The Nominations & Winners". 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "BAFTA Television 2023: The Nominations & Winners". 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "BAFTA Television 2022: The Winners". 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ "BAFTA Television 2023: The Nominations & Winners". 16 March 2023. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
