''Zapped'' is a
British television sitcom
A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
, set in both the real world and a
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
world, with the majority of characters and stories wholly set in the latter. It stars
James Buckley as Brian Weaver, a real world inhabitant who becomes trapped in Munty, a town in the fantasy world.
Buckley announced during a live stream on 8 February 2019 that the show had been cancelled and he would not be making any more episodes.
In February 2021, all episodes of the show were added to
BBC iPlayer.
Plot
Brian is an office worker in
West London
West London is the western part of London, England, north of the River Thames, west of the City of London, and extending to the Greater London boundary.
The term is used to differentiate the area from the other parts of London: North Londo ...
who reluctantly takes delivery of a package addressed to someone in a place called Munty. He opens it, puts on the
amulet within, and is
teleported
Teleportation is the hypothetical transfer of matter or energy from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them. It is a common subject in science fiction literature and in other popular culture. Teleportation is oft ...
to the
medieval
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
setting of Munty. The three episodes of series one focus on his attempts to get back to the real world. He is not missed by his real world colleagues, who detest him.
Setting
Munty is a place in a fantasy universe, where magic is a real force, but one closely controlled by a
police state
A police state describes a state where its government institutions exercise an extreme level of control over civil society and liberties. There is typically little or no distinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the ...
. The enforcers of the state are "
fairies", who are the opposite of the traditional image of the fairy - they are big, burly, thuggish men.
The stories are mostly set in and around the town pub (The Jug and the Other Jug) and a nearby shop. They revolve around Brian's attempts to get home and his interactions with his newfound friends. Brian does not gel with his new surroundings and does not fit in, notably remaining in his real world clothes throughout.
Cast and characters
Main characters
*
James Buckley as Brian Weaver, a former office worker and loser from the real world who is now trapped in Munty.
*
Louis Emerick
Louis Emerick Grant (born 10 June 1960) is a British television actor.
Biography
He was born in the Toxteth area of Liverpool to a Liberian father and British mother. He is the youngest of ten children. He is best known for his portrayal of Mic ...
as Herman, the landlord and only barkeep of a tavern in Munty where most of the series takes place. Herman is a retired swordsman and veteran of the Mage Wars, and still keeps the heads of ogres and unicorns he killed on the walls of the tavern.
* Kenneth Collard as Steg Steggson, a half-giant half-dwarf Munty resident, and one of Herman's few regular patrons. Steg considers himself a 'champion of the people' and a force for progress and social justice, although the causes he regularly takes up are often ridiculous or inconsequential.
*
Paul Kaye
Paul Kaye (born 15 December 1964) is an English comedian and actor. He is known for his portrayals of shock interviewer Dennis Pennis on '' The Sunday Show'', New York lawyer Mike Strutter on MTV's '' Strutter'', Thoros of Myr in HBO's ''Game ...
as Howell, a disgraced former grand wizard who now owns a magic emporium near to the tavern, which he frequently visits. Howell funds his
substance abuse issues and
alcoholism
Alcoholism is, broadly, any drinking of alcohol that results in significant mental or physical health problems. Because there is disagreement on the definition of the word ''alcoholism'', it is not a recognized diagnostic entity. Predomi ...
with various dodgy schemes.
*
Sharon Rooney
Sharon Rooney (born ) is a Scottish actress. She is known for her roles as Rae Earl in ''My Mad Fat Diary'', Sophie in '' Two Doors Down'', Dawn in ''Brief Encounters'', and Miss Atlantis in the 2019 remake of ''Dumbo''.
Early life
Rooney was ...
as Barbara, another tavern regular, is an apprentice soothsayer with an unrequited affection for Brian. A running joke is that her predictions and prophecies often initially appear vastly incompetent, but actually turn out true in the end, although nobody realises.
Recurring and supporting characters
*
Steve Coogan as Feffenhoffer, a sadistic circus master.
*
Phil Daniels
Philip William Daniels (born 25 October 1958) is an English actor, musician and singer, most noted for film and television roles playing Londoners, such as the lead role of Jimmy Cooper in ''Quadrophenia'', Richards in '' Scum'', Stewart in '' T ...
as the Warden of the Pear Orchard.
*
Kathryn Drysdale
Kathryn Drysdale (born 1 December 1981) is an English actress. She gained prominence through her roles in the BBC sitcom '' Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps'' (2001–2009) and the films ''Vanity Fair'' (2004) and '' St Trinian's'' (2 ...
as Lorelei, a mermaid.
*
Tim FitzHigham
Tim FitzHigham FRSA FRGS, is an English comedian, author, artist and world record holder. The feats he has performed include paddling a paper boat down 257.5 km of the River Thames, rowing a bathtub across the English Channel, and inflatin ...
as Fenton Breem, Munty's premier musician and playwright.
*
Martin Glyn Murray as Greg.
*
Ricky Grover Ricky may refer to:
Places
*Říčky (Brno-Country District), a village and municipality in the Czech Republic
*Říčky v Orlických horách, a village in the north of the Czech Republic
*Rickmansworth, a town in England sometimes called "Ricky"
...
as Hawthorn, a fairy.
*
Miranda Hennessy
Miranda Hennessy (born 12 January in Bournemouth, Dorset) is a British stage and film actress. In 2014, she starred in '' Pramface'' and an episode of ''Siblings''.
Biography
She went to Hutton Primary School in Hutton, Somerset, near Weston-S ...
as Effandra.
*
Tim Key
Timothy David Key (born September 1976) is an English poet, comedian, actor, screenwriter and radio personality. He is best known for playing Alan Partridge's sidekick Simon in '' Mid Morning Matters'', '' Alpha Papa'', and '' This Time'', as ...
as Sextus.
*
Guz Khan
Ghulam Dustgir "Guz" Khan (born 1986) is a British comedian, impressionist, and actor best known for his work in the TV show ''Man Like Mobeen'' and stand up appearances in '' Live at the Apollo''.
Early life
Guz has two sisters who are ten a ...
as Skylark, a fairy.
*
Sylvester McCoy
Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith (born 20 August 1943), known professionally as Sylvester McCoy, is a Scottish actor. Gaining prominence as a physical comedian, he became best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the lon ...
as The Protector.
*
Sally Phillips
Sally Elizabeth Phillips (born 10 May 1970) is an English actress, television presenter, and comedian. She co-created and was one of the writers of the sketch comedy show '' Smack the Pony''. She is also known for her roles in '' Miranda'' as T ...
as Slasher Morgan, a criminal who often deals with Howell.
*
Jessica Ransom
Jessica Ransom (born 1 December 1981) is a British actress and writer, best known for her role as medical receptionist Morwenna Newcross in the ITV drama '' Doc Martin'' (2011–2022). She won a Children's BAFTA Award in 2015.
Early life a ...
as Jess, a real world office worker.
*
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound (born Robert James Blair Simpson 6 March 1979) is an English actor, comedian and presenter.
Early life
Hound was born on 6 March 1979, in Essex and moved to Surrey at the age of seven. He was educated at Hoe Bridge School Woking ...
as Kevlar.
*
Richard Sandling
Richard Sandling is a British comedian, film reviewer, presenter, writer, director, actor and musician from South Benfleet. He won ''So You Think You're Funny'' in 2007.
Career Comedy
Sandling started off his career in comedy by running and MCin ...
as Springleaf, a fairy.
*
Nina Wadia
Nina Wadia (born 18 December 1968) is a British actress and comedian. She is known for portraying Zainab Masood in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', Aunty Noor in Citizen Khan Mrs Hussein in the BBC comedy '' Still Open All Hours'', and for ...
as the Judge.
*
Tony Way
Tony Paul Way (born 7 October 1978) is an English actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for playing characters in a number of British comedy TV series including '' Extras'', '' After Life'', ''Black Books'' and '' Bang, Bang, It's Reev ...
as Chestnut, a fairy.
*
Susan Wokoma as Rina.
Episodes
Series 1 (2016)
Series 2 (2017)
On 12 April 2017, it was announced that ''Zapped'' had been renewed for a second series of six episodes, to be broadcast starting 12 October 2017.
Series 3 (2018)
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zapped (Tv Series)
2016 British television series debuts
2018 British television series endings
2010s British sitcoms
British fantasy television series
Dave (TV channel) original programming
English-language television shows