The BEST episodes directed by Andrew Gillman
#1 - Main News Attack
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 1
Features reports on Prince Charles volunteering to go to prison, the London Jam Festival, bullying in the Church of England, medieval alternative medicine, and a sheepdog piloting an out of control helicopter. Also features Barbara Wintergreen’s report on the Elvis styled execution of U.S. serial killer Chapman Baxter, and Alan Partridge covering the Tour de France and Boxing.
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#2 - The Big Report
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 2
Features reports on the Junior Minister for Health resigning, Marlon Brando being sold at auction in Sotheby’s, illegal back street dentists, and Peter O’Hanraha-hanrahan reporting on the new European trade quota rates. Also features The Pool, a documentary set in a public swimming pool, a segment from RokTV, and Alan Partridge covering the horse racing at Marple.
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#3 - Lonely at the Top
That Peter Kay Thing - Season 1 - Episode 6
A documentary following the rise and fall of Marc Park, 12 months after he won "Talent Trek" in the first episode, "In the Club." After rising to fame as part of pop group Park Avenue in the first documentary, Park ditched partner Cheryl Avenue when she became pregnant. After two or three hits, he found he was being portrayed as a villain in another documentary focusing on Cheryl's struggles as an unemployed single mother. Eventually he returns to his job as a greengrocer whilst Cheryl becomes a star, much to the chagrin of Marc.
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#4 - Magnifevent
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 5
Features reports on the British Pound being stolen, the plummeting ratings of The Bureau, the clamping of the homeless in London, a reminiscence of events in 1944, government ministers contracting a disease that inhibits reading, and the trade agreement and subsequent war between Australia and Hong Kong. Also features Barbara Wintergreen reporting on Chapman Baxter being executed by the reanimated corpse of his last victim, and Alan Partridge riding with a female rally driver.
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#5 - Stretchcast
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 4
Features reports on suspicions that British police officers are eating their suspects, Peter O’Hanraha-hanrahan interviewing the government minister for ships regarding recent accusations, the I.R.A.’s use of explosives hidden in dogs, the immense popularity of The Bureau in Italy, the Home Office releasing the Sorted videos aimed at young people, and near-death experiences. Also features Barbara Wintergreen reporting on the natus (a method of prosthetic pregnancy), and Alan Partridge's Countdown to World Cup ’94.
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#6 - Newsatrolysis a.k.a. Factgasm
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 6
Features reports on Buckingham Palace culling 40 members of staff, passengers stuck on a train in Hampshire, Peter O’Hanraha-hanrahan reporting on General Motors making 35,000 workers redundant, Colin Poppshed reporting from the gay desk, the decline of the N.H.S., and a roundup of international news. Also features a documentary set at the office of a pharmaceutical company, and Alan Partridge covering self-defence.
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#7 - The Arena
That Peter Kay Thing - Season 1 - Episode 4
Set in the Manchester Evening News Arena, this episode follows the staff and customers preparing for a Super Sounds of the Seventies Night. Matthew Kelly is employed as a steward - a job he is thoroughly useless at, and receives much stick from Chris and Sean from Live Sec. Kelly is annoyed when, instead of stewarding the concert, he is left in charge of the car park.
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#8 - Meganews
The Day Today - Season 1 - Episode 3
Features reports on an infestation of wild horses in the London underground, the B.B.C.’s new soap opera The Bureau (replacing the Nine O’Clock News), a fight between Queen Elizabeth and John Major, and an air jam. Also features Barbara Wintergreen’s report on Chapman Baxter being executed via marriage, a continuation of The Pool, and Alan Partridge interviewing soccer players and a female show jumper.
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#9 - Leonard
That Peter Kay Thing - Season 1 - Episode 5
The episode follows lovable local eccentric Leonard in the run-up to him receiving an award for being Britain's oldest paper boy. Leonard introduces the other local eccentrics including The Duke, who walks around Bolton drawing his fingers from his pockets as if they were guns and shouting "John Wayne!" and Carl who waves at cars. Catherine Tate stars as Valerie the community leader. The episode is more melancholy than the others, as Leonard is one of the few truly likable characters, but he leads a tragic life. His aunt claims he was coddled by his mother, and, as much as he is everybody's friend, he has no real friends. This does not quash Leonard's spirit and he remains upbeat throughout.
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#10 - The Ice Cream Man Cometh
That Peter Kay Thing - Season 1 - Episode 3
This episode revolved around the fading popularity of local ice cream vans. The subject of the documentary is Mr Softytop, a grumpy ice-cream man who verbally assaults his customers and Darren, his assistant. His attempts to boost sales include inventing the "Millennium Cone", selling at the site of road accidents and renting pornography, films include: Shaving Private Ryan, Beverly Hills Cock, Look Who's Porkin and the Phantom Penis. (A real sex shop in Bolton is called Softy's Hard Stuff). To make matters worse he has to compete with a new competitor, Signór Wippy.
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#11 - Eyes Down
That Peter Kay Thing - Season 1 - Episode 2
We meet the hard-done-by staff of Bolton's old bingo hall, the Apollo. Let's tickle those balls, buck the management! But while you do, keep an eye out for Dogtanian himself, Fire Inspector Keith Lard. 'In what way interferes with dogs?' 'The very worst way...you listening, Keith, you weirdo!'
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