Camping (British TV series)
| Camping | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Julia Davis |
| Written by | Julia Davis |
| Directed by | Julia Davis |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Julia Davis Henry Normal Lindsay Hughes |
| Producer | Ted Dowd |
| Running time | 28 minutes |
| Production company | Baby Cow Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Sky Atlantic |
| Release | 12 April – 26 April 2016 |
Camping is a six-part British television comedy series created, written and directed by Julia Davis.[1][2]
It was broadcast on Sky Atlantic between 12 April and 26 April 2016.[2][3]
An American version based on the show was aired in 2018 on HBO, written by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner.[4][5]
Premise
Friends gather at a campsite in Devon for Robin (Steve Pemberton)'s 50th birthday celebrations.[6] The trip is organised by his bitter and controlling wife, Fiona (Vicky Pepperdine) and they also bring by their over-protected son, Archie (Oaklee Pendergast).[6][7] They are joined by old university friend Adam (Jonathan Cake) – who is also celebrating two years sober – his neglected teenage son, Davey (Shaun Aylward) and wife Kerry (Elizabeth Berrington).
The campsite is run by the unsettling Noel (David Bamber), who is most often seen washing his mother's stained underwear.[7]
Late to the party, Tom (Rufus Jones), recently separated from his wife, turns up with his new love interest Fay (Julia Davis), and they are all over each other. As Davis says, their arrival "messes up the whole holiday and it descends into a nightmare by the end."[1] The nightmare consists of the couples falling apart, taking drugs, vomiting, having sex with different people.[7]
Cast
- Steve Pemberton as Robin[3]
- Vicki Pepperdine as Fiona[3]
- as Archie[8]
- Elizabeth Berrington as Kerry[3]
- Jonathan Cake as Adam[3]
- Shaun Aylward as Davey[8]
- Rufus Jones as Tom[3]
- Julia Davis as Fay[3]
- David Bamber as Noel[3]
- Rhianna Merralls as Lisa
- Daniel Barker as Darren
- Nick Mohammed as Dr. Tolley
- Stephen Evans as Antiques Shop Owner
- Grace Hogg-Robinson as Catherine
- Zack Momoh as Biggs
Production
The series was produced by Baby Cow Productions, and producer Ted Dowd.[3] Other producers included Lucy Lumsden, Ben Boyer, Julia Davis, Lindsay Hughes and Henry Normal.[8]
The series was shot around Devon.[9] Locations included a shop called Another Man's Treasure in Sidmouth; a pub; an off-licence; and Budleigh Salterton beach.
This is the first series that Julia Davis directed.[9]
Reception
The show was nominated for two BAFTAs in the Best Scripted Comedy and Best Comedy Writer categories.[10]
The Guardian said that the series is "craftily observed, beautifully performed, as well as typically, gloriously, boldly bleak"[6] Eva Wiseman, of The Guardian, described the show as "Mike Leigh’s Nuts in May reflected in a puddle of blood."[4]
Sarah Hughes (Frame Rated) gave the series four stars, describing it as "Tightly scripted, dense with clever references, and constantly daring its audience to blink first...quite unlike anything else on television right now." [7]
Rachel Cooke, of the New Statesman, described the series as "the funniest thing I've seen in years".[11]
American remake
An American version of the show was made, also for Sky Atlantic (and HBO in America)[4].[5] It was written by Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner. It starred Jennifer Garner, Chris Sullivan, Juliette Lewis, Janicza Bravo, David Tennant, Bridget Everett, Bret Gelman, Arturo del Puerto and Duncan Joiner.[5][10]
The Guardian said the series was panned in the US.[5] Their review said that, despite some good performances, the series "deviates from the darkness and dread that made the original black comedy so perfect."[5]
References
- ^ a b Northmore, Henry. "Interview: Julia Davis – 'As long as the character's funny then the likeability aspect doesn't matter'". The List. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Julia Davis talks new show Camping and the future of comedy". The Independent. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Sky Atlantic are proud to announce "Robin's Test" a new comedy written and directed by BAFTA award winner Julia Davis". Sky Group. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Wiseman, Eva (4 September 2018). "I love Julia Davis's Camping but Lena Dunham's forthcoming remake is confusing". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d e Mangan, Lucy (31 January 2019). "Camping review – Lena Dunham's remake lacks Julia Davis's evil genius". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Wollaston, Sam (13 April 2016). "Camping review: a gloriously bleak comedy masterpiece". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b c d Hughes, Sarah (24 April 2016). "CAMPING - Series One • Frame Rated". Frame Rated. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Camping - Sky Atlantic sitcom". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b Bennett, Steve (22 October 2015). "Julia Davis directs her first sitcom". Chortle. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ a b Harrison, Ellie. "Camping TV show starring David Tennant: when is it airing in the UK? Sky Atlantic time, date, cast, 2019 preview". Radio Times. Retrieved 18 March 2026.
- ^ Cooke, Rachel (14 April 2016). "The unbridled, feral strangeness of Camping is the funniest thing I've seen in years". New Statesman. Retrieved 18 March 2026.