Bad Sugar
| Bad Sugar | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy-drama |
| Created by | Olivia Colman Julia Davis Sharon Horgan |
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Ben Palmer |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 36 minutes |
| Production company | Tiger Aspect Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 26 August 2012 |
Bad Sugar is a British comedy pilot, written by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, based on an idea by the show's stars Olivia Colman, Julia Davis and Sharon Horgan.[1]
The programme centres on a wealthy, dysfunctional British mining dynasty, and is a parody of telenovela-style melodramas[2] and soap operas such as Dallas.
It was shown on Channel 4 on 26 August 2012.[3] A full series was commissioned for broadcast in 2013[4][5] but cancelled before production with problems co-ordinating the main actors' schedules cited as the reason.[6]
Plot
The pilot episode centres on a dysfunctional, wealthy mining dynasty family – The Caudwells – headed by ailing patriarch, Ralphfred (David Bradley).[7][8][9]
Gold-digger Lucy (Sharon Horgan) has just married Ralphfred's son Rolph (Peter Serafinowicz), expecting that his father was on his deathbed. Rolph is clearly more sexually interested in his valet, Lipton. Scheming eldest daughter Daphne (Julia Davis), with a history of mental illness, is married to embittered and wheelchair-bound (from a mining accident) husband, Greg (Reece Shearsmith). Youngest sister Joan (Olivia Colman) is childlike and simple, despite having been said to have killed her twin brother with some bad sugar aged seven.
In attempt to get more information about Ralphfred will, Daphne and Lucy seduce the priest, Rodrigo. They learn that Ralphfred has left everything to his nurse Maria. To get rid of Maria, Daphne seduces hunky but dim gardener Simon (Kayvan Novak) and bribe him to tell Ralphfred he has had sex with Maria and poison their relationship, getting himself and Maria sacked.
Meanwhile, Lucy tries to convince Joan to start playing the piano again, but Daphne is not happy about it. Daphne tricks her into catching a burning hot boule ball and blames Lucy.
In light of everything that happens, Ralphfred announces that he will leave everything to Imperial College London so he can be frozen, in the home of being reanimated. Lucy then reveals a portrait of Daphne from when she was in a mental hospital.
Cast
- Olivia Colman as Joan Cauldwell[10]
- Julia Davis as Daphne Cauldwell
- Sharon Horgan as Lucy Cauldwell
- Peter Serafinowicz as Rolph Cauldwell
- Reece Shearsmith as Greg
- David Bradley as Ralphfred Cauldwell
- Kayvan Novak as Simon
- Derek Riddell as Rodrigo
- Jonjo O'Neill as Lipton
- Trixiebelle Harrowell as Pilot
- Julia Deakin as Dilys (Lucy's mother)
History
The pilot was announced in 2011.[11] This was aired on Channel 4 on 26 August 2012, as part of the channel's 'Funny Fortnight' season.[3][7][12] After the success of the pilot, a series was commissioned for Channel 4, to be aired in 2013. However, due to cast scheduling issues, the show was dropped.[13][14]
In 2016, it was announced that the Bad Sugar series would be made by Fox.[13][15] The contract includes a "significant penalty" clause, which meant that if they did not make the series, they would have to pay a large sum of money to the producers. Patty Been was signed by fox to create the new script and be the executive producer.
Reception
Whilst the pilot received enough positive reception to be commissioned for a series, some commentators gave negative reviews. The Independent, criticising the format of the show, said that "without any decent material to play with, a blue chip cast...mugged away exhaustingly."[2]
References
- ^ "Channel 4 commissions Bad Sugar by Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong". 11 December 2001. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ a b Montgomery, Hugh (1 September 2012). "Hunderby, Sky Atlantic, Monday, 10pm / Bad Sugar, Channel 4, Sunday,". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ a b Walton, James (26 August 2012). "Bad Sugar, Channel 4, review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 August 2012.
- ^ Tate, Gabriel (17 August 2012). "Interviews: Bad Sugar and Channel 4's Funny Fortnight". Time Out. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
- ^ @sambaintv (26 August 2012). "Series coming next year RT @sophiemcotton: Bad Sugar: Is it a one-off or a series? #badsugar" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Cutting out the Bad Sugar". Chortle. 22 July 2013.
- ^ a b "C4 announces new Funny Fortnight series Bad Sugar and I'm Spazticus". Channel 4. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Bad Sugar". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Bad Sugar (2012)". Dailymotion. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Bad Sugar cast and crew credits". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Olivia Colman, Julia Davis, Sharon Horgan to star in C4 pilot". British Comedy Guide. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Bad Sugar and I'm Spazticus set to return after C4 pilot success". Metro. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Channel 4's 2012 pilot Bad Sugar to be re-made in USA". British Comedy Guide. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Channel 4 confirm Bad Sugar series cancellation". British Comedy Guide. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (21 October 2016). "Fox Nabs 'Bad Sugar' Comedy From Sharon Horgan, Patty Breen & Aaron Kaplan". Deadline. Retrieved 19 March 2026.