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Veep Director: Comedy Has Changed Forever
22 Feb
Summary
- Political satire faces an existential crisis due to changing politics.
- Chris Addison's new show 'Tall Tales & Murder' is a dark caper.
- Irish TV industry is booming, attracting international productions.
Veteran political satirist Chris Addison, known for 'The Thick of It' and 'Veep,' believes his genre of comedy is now obsolete. He argues that fundamental shifts in the political landscape since 2016 have rendered these shows incompatible with the current environment. Addison suggests that while audiences once enjoyed satire that exposed political facades, current events have eroded that dynamic, making such shows difficult to produce effectively.
Addison is currently promoting his new project, 'Tall Tales & Murder,' a crime thriller for the BBC and RTÉ. Based on Caimh McDonnell's Dublin Trilogy, the series is described as a "badly behaved goth cousin" to the books, featuring treasure hunters on the run from gangsters. The show, which has secured a rare double-season order, stars Aidan Gillen and Ella Lily Hyland and blends elements of gangster films, treasure hunts, and magical realism.
The director also highlighted the resurgence of the Irish television industry. He compared its current state to pre-Covid England, noting its busyness and the influx of talent. Major American productions filming in Ireland, such as 'Game of Thrones' and 'Wednesday,' have boosted local industry growth and investment, making Ireland a globally attractive filming location.
