BBC Pilots

Total Pilot overload! Thursday night saw not one, but two brand new BBC3 pilots. These follow the pilot of Pulse I reported on last week in BBC's whole procession of new drama. I was busy Thursday night, so I've been catching up on the trusty old I-Player.
Dappers is a brave attempt by the BBC, directed by Catherine Johnson (writer of Mamma Mia!), to get a bit of sympathy for a social group that is mostly looked down upon. Ashley and Faye are young, un-married mothers, struggling to raise their kids in a council flat in Bristol. They are sold as the new Delboy and Rodney. Looks like it's going to be a new get rich quick scheme each week. Following in the footsteps of Pulse, Dappers is also trying to set itself out to be "edgy". This time it's drug use and casual swearing. I've got to admit, I didn't really warm to the girls, and their respective love interests repulse me. The girls are irresponsible and childish, to say they are meant to be in charge of toddlers. The show is trying to avoid the doom and and gloom of this sort of life, and show the girls trying to make the best of a bad situation. It's funny in a cartoonish sort of way, as disaster after disaster unfolds on screen. I'd say give it a shot if you enjoyed Only Fools and Horses, but only if you can stomache the strong Bristol accent. For those playing along, you might recognise Lenora Chrichlow who plays Ashley. Seems the BBC just can't get enough of this girl at the moment, this is her third recent drama after Being Human and Material Girl. Those with better memories will also recall her appearances in Sugar Rush, several episodes of Casualty (but everyone's been on Casualty :P), and even an episode of Doctor Who. Keep your eyes open, I've got a feeling we'll see a lot more of her yet. At the very least, filming has started on Season 3 of Being Human!
Finishing thought, what is a dapper? Answers on a postcard... or you know... in the comments section.
Next up is Stanley Park. It's another drama about those lovely college kids. These annoy me no end. I went to college with 2000 other teenagers. While I've no doubt that some lived the sex, drugs and rave lifestyle, we didn't all. These dramas make out that even the tamest and nerdiest students are stoned every other night and in and out of each others beds like it's a game of musical chairs. Debbie fancies herself as the Carrie Bradshaw of Croydon and is deeply in to fashion design. For some reason no-one tells her she looks like a cheap hooker... maybe that's the edge of style in Croydon?
It's pretty painful watching in parts... like I said, I'm pretty sure we weren't that messed up at that age. You've got the two who should be together, but aren't, because they never say the right thing. Then he does the dirty with Debbie and everything gets really messed up. The situation isn't helped by Ben. I couldn't help but wonder what decade the show is meant to set in. Ben is clearly at least very camp, and all his friends say they know he's gay, but he insists he's not, like he's ashamed or something... At the end of the day though, the characters are annoying, whiny and unrealistic. I won't be watching again.
You get double points for getting the familiar face in this episode. Nick Blood is briefly featured as Harry Stevens. You might recognise him as a supporting character from Material Girl, acting oposite our girl Lenora.