''Bull'' is a British television sitcom created and written by

Gareth Gwynn Gareth Gwynn is a comedy writer, performer and radio presenter. He is the co-writer of the television sitcoms ''Bull'' and ''Tourist Trap'' and the radio sitcoms ''Ankle Tag'', '' Passing On'' and '' Social Club FM.'' Career Writing Gwynn began h ...

and John-Luke Roberts, who adapted it for television from their radio pilot, ''Antiquity''. The show stars well-known comic actors Robert Lindsay and Maureen Lipman as the eponymous siblings and antiques shop owners Rupert and Beverley Bull, around whom the programme centres, alongside Claudia Jessie and Naz Osmanoglu as their hapless staff-members Faye and Toby respectively.

Cast

* Robert Lindsay as Rupert Bull *

Maureen Lipman Dame Maureen Diane Lipman (born 10 May 1946) is an English actress, writer and comedian. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and her stage work has included appearances with the National Theatre and the Royal Shakesp ...

as Beverley *

Claudia Jessie Claudia Jessie (born 1989/1990) is an English actress. She is known for her roles in the third series of the BBC One police procedural ''WPC 56'' (2015) and as Eloise, the fifth Bridgerton child, in the Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'' (202 ...

as Faye *

Naz Osmanoglu Şehzade Nazım Ziyaeddin Nazım Osmanoğlu (born 24 September 1985), known professionally as Naz Osmanoglu, is an Anglo- Turkish comedian and member of the Imperial House of Osman, former ruling dynasty of the Ottoman Empire. Personal Osmanog ...

as Toby *

Matt Lucas Matthew Richard Lucas (born 5 March 1974) is an English actor, comedian, writer, and television presenter. He is best known for his work with David Walliams on the BBC sketch comedy series '' Little Britain'' (2003–2006, 2020) and '' Come Fly ...

as Mr Richards *

Toby Williams Tobias Williams (born November 19, 1959) is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the 10th round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played six seasons, as a defensive e ...

as Desmond

Production

''Bull'' was one of three sitcoms, alongside ''Marley's Ghosts'' and ''Henry IX'', announced by

UKTV UKTV Media Limited, simply known as UKTV, is a British multi-channel broadcaster, which, since 2019, has been wholly owned by BBC Studios (formerly BBC Worldwide), a commercial subsidiary of the BBC. It was formed on 1 November 1992 through ...

on 28 May 2015, and was initially slated for broadcast in late 2015 or early 2016. The show was created by writers Gareth Gwynn and John-Luke Roberts, who adapted it from their 2010 Radio 4 pilot, ''Antiquity'', which had starred

Tim McInnerny Tim McInnerny ( ; born 18 September 1956) is an English actor. He is known for his many roles on stage and television, including as Lord Percy Percy and Captain Darling in the 1980s British sitcom ''Blackadder''. Early life McInnerny was born ...

as Rupert Bull. Screenings at which a laughter track was recorded for the programme took place before a studio audience between 4 September, and 10 September 2015.

Broadcast and reception

Critical reception

''Bull'' received highly positive reviews from critics, with particular praise reserved for Robert Lindsay's performance. Reviewing for the

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

, Sally Newall wrote the series "left erwanting more", singling out for particular praise Matt Lucas' "scene-stealing" guest turn, and the performances of leads Lindsay and Lipman, who were a "treat to watch". She also praised the plotting as "unpredictable and illogical", to her a sign of "good surreal comedy". Writing for Beyond the Joke, Bruce Dessau acclaimed the series as "endearingly, instantly classic", again singling out Lindsay for particular praise as "his pedigree is second to none". He also praised an "elaborate knockabout visual gag", which opened the first episode, as "So brilliant, in fact that they shamelessly do it twice".

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=4960444, title=Bull British television sitcoms 2015 British television series debuts 2015 British television series endings Antiques television series Gold (British TV channel) original programming Television series set in shops 2010s British sitcoms 2010s British workplace comedy television series Television series produced at Pinewood Studios English-language television shows