Toast of London explained
| Alt Name: | Toast of Tinseltown |
| Director: | Michael Cumming |
| Producer: | Kate Daughton (Toast of London)
Charlie Leech (Toast of Tinseltown) |
| Runtime: | 23 minutes (Toast of London)
28 minutes (Toast of Tinseltown) |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Sitcom |
| Company: | Objective Media Group
Objective Fiction (2022)
wiip studios (2022) |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Network: | Channel 4 |
| Network2: | BBC Two |
| Open Theme: | "Take My Hand" |
| Theme Music Composer: | Matt Berry |
| End Theme: | "Beatmaker" (Toast of Tinseltown) |
| Num Series: | 4 |
| Num Episodes: | 25 |
| List Episodes: | - Episodes
|
Toast of London is a British television sitcom. It was created by Arthur Mathews and Matt Berry and stars Berry as Steven Toast, an eccentric, middle-aged actor with a chequered past who spends more time dealing with his problems offstage than performing on it.
Its fourth series, set in the United States, was titled Toast of Tinseltown.
Production
All episodes are directed by Michael Cumming.
Three series, under the title Toast of London, were broadcast on Channel 4. Series 2 and 3 were shot at the West London Film Studios. In the United States, Toast of London was available on IFC.
In November 2017, after reports of a fourth series, Berry clarified that it will return "in some form at some point", but nothing was currently being written. Mathews later said that they had an idea for "Toast in America", but that no deadline was set.[1] In December 2017, Channel 4 officially renewed the show for another series.[2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created, whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown. The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.
Cast and characters
Overview
Main
- Matt Berry as Steven Gonville Toast, the central character of the series. A bumbling, single, self-important actor who unsuccessfully attempts to become a ladies' man and often the bearer of bad fortune. Toast considers himself a success despite his obviously failing career.
- Berry also portrays a younger version of Steven's father, Colonel Gonville Toast, in the series 3 episode "Beauty Calls".
- Doon Mackichan as Jane Plough (which she pronounces "pluff") like "Clough", Toast's unhelpful agent. Prim and posh, she sees herself as superior to Toast, despite her failure to provide him with decent work. She was played by Fiona Mollison in the pilot.
- Mackichan also plays Brooke Hooberman, Toast's US agent in Toast of Tinseltown.
- Robert Bathurst as Ed Howzer-Black, Toast's landlord and an idle retired actor.
- Bathurst also portrays Ed's father, Rupert Howzer-Black, in the series 3 episode "Beauty Calls".
- Harry Peacock as Ray "Bloody" Purchase, Toast's fellow actor and rival, and a virulent homophobe. The two hate each other with a vengeance and are constantly in competition. While Purchase often seems to have the upper hand, Toast is still sometimes able to come out on top.
- Peacock also portrays Ray's albino twin brother, Bill Purchase, in the series 3 episode "Man of Sex".
- Tim Downie as Danny Bear, a studio sound engineer and stereotypical hipster who regularly hires Toast for voiceover work in a London studio.
- Shazad Latif as Clem H. Fandango, another hipster who is doing work experience in the recording studio. Clem routinely says to Toast, "Hello, Steven? This is Clem Fandango. Can you hear me?" to which Toast is forced to reply with some variation of "Yes. I can hear you, Clem Fandango."
- Tracy-Ann Oberman as Mrs. Purchase, the wife of Ray Purchase and a prostitute who is enjoying an affair with Toast. Despite being a prostitute, the only person she ever charges for sex is her husband.
In Toast of Tinseltown, additional main characters include:
Recurring
- Adrian Lukis as Colonel Blair Toast, Steven's eccentric older brother. An army veteran, he lost his hand in the Falklands War and now uses a stuffed rubber glove as a replacement.
- Amanda Donohoe as Ellen, Toast's abusive and volatile ex-wife. Despite her poor treatment of him, Toast continues to have feelings for her.
- Alan Ford as Alan, who is a hypnotist and a homeopath. Ford also appears as a taxi driver called "Mick Carriage"
- Peter Davison plays a fictionalised version of himself.
- Morgana Robinson makes one appearance in each of the four series, each time as a different character. She portrays Jemima Gina in "Addictive Personality", Lorna Wynde in "Fool in Love", Emma in "Beauty Calls" and Wildcat Lil in "Death Valley".
- Geoffrey McGivern appears as three separate one-off characters, all of whom were temperamental directors working with Toast. He portrays Cliff Promise in "The Unspeakable Play", Acker Herron in "Afternoon Tea", and Norris Flipjack in "Desperate Measures".
- Daniel Cook appears as Colin Skittles in series 2, and Cliff Bonanza in series 3.
Guest
Episodes
COVID-19 Specials (2021)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created,[3] whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown.[4] The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.[5] [6] [7]
Series 4: Toast of Tinseltown (2022)
Music and songs
The theme music, "Take My Hand" was composed by Matt Berry and was released on the album Witchazel.[8] Each episode of Toast of London also features a novelty song sung by Berry's character Toast, and others. The songs are sometimes sung partly to the fourth wall.
Toast of Tinseltown employed a new end theme, a cover version of Swedish pop singer Doris' "Beatmaker" performed by Matt Berry and Emma Noble.[9]
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an approval rating of 84% to 90% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[10] [11]
Awards
At the 61st Rose d'Or awards in 2022, Toast of Tinseltown was named as the best comedy.[12]
Book
In 2015, Matt Berry and Arthur Mathews published Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice, a spoof autobiography of Steven Toast.[13] It was also released as an audio book read by Matt Berry.
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Big Train at 20 – interview with Arthur Matthews . The Digital Fix . 23 July 2018 . 13 August 2018 .
- News: Toast of London Series 4 Renewal Announced by Channel 4. Premiere Date.
- Web site: Toast of London . 24 July 2021. YouTube.
- Web site: 'Toast of London' moves to BBC One with sequel series. NME. 10 February 2021.
- Web site: BBC Two – Toast of Tinseltown – Available now. BBC.
- Web site: BBC Two – Toast of Tinseltown, Series 1, Monster Mash. BBC.
- Web site: Toast of London. www.bbc.co.uk.
- Web site: Toast of London's Matt Berry set to make history by playing theme tune live over show's credits. Radio Times. 27 October 2019.
- Web site: Listen to Matt Berry and Emma Noble's 'Beatmaker' from Toast of Tinseltown. NME. 5 January 2022 . 9 February 2022.
- Web site: Toast of London (Season 3). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. 9 November 2023.
- Web site: Toast of London. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. 9 November 2023.
- Web site: Winners of 61st Rose d'Or awards announced – Rose d'Or Awards. 28 November 2022. 9 November 2023.
- Web site: Toast on Toast by Steven Toast . Waterstones . 27 October 2019.
- Web site: Steven Toast's 'Toast on Toast': read the first chapter. Time Out London. 19 October 2015 . 27 October 2019.
