Life of Riley

Last Friday, I went along to the recording of the first episode of Life of Riley, a new BBC sitcom starring Caroline Quentin and written by Georgia Pritchett. I’d never been to a TV studio before, so it was interesting to see how it was all set up.

I have to say that I doubt I would have laughed at the majority of the show if it hadn’t been for the fact that you’re surrounded by other people who are laughing, and also the audience was entertained between takes by Graeme Thomas (the fluffer, although I’m sure there’s a family friendly version of that term for sitcoms). I managed to get into a bizarre debate regarding how best to get rid of furniture in Leith with him.

There were a couple of parts which I thought were inspired, though, one of them delivered expertly by Marcia Warren. I think the show is broadcast from January, so I’ll have to watch the first episode to see how the final cut compares to what I saw in the studio.