People Like Us (mockumentary)
DVD cover
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| Genre | Mockumentary |
|---|---|
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| TV adaptations | People Like Us |
| Starring | Chris Langham |
| Written by | John Morton |
| Produced by | Paul Schlesinger |
| Original release | 10 June 1995 – 9 August 1997 |
| No. of series | 3 (radio); 2 (TV) |
| No. of episodes | 17 (radio); 12 (TV) |
| Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
| Ending theme | Unsquare Dance by Dave Brubeck (radio) |
People Like Us is a British radio and TV comedy programme, a spoof on-location documentary (or mockumentary) written by John Morton, and starring Chris Langham as Roy Mallard, an inept interviewer. Originally a radio show for BBC Radio 4 in three series from 1995 to 1997, it was made into a television series for BBC Two that was broadcast from September 1999 to June 2001.
Each episode featured the affable, bumbling Roy Mallard following a day in the lives of representatives of a particular career or lifestyle. This he does in his own manner. A comedy of wordplay and misunderstanding, People Like Us could be a metaphor for life in that, while the protagonist is an idiot, everyone else is a bigger idiot - Mallard's questions are usually sensible yet misinterpreted.
There were hints (particularly in "The Photographer" – with Bill Nighy) that Mallard is unattractive – his subjects often ask in passing if he is married, and their reactions range from surprise to incredulity when he tells them he is. Another recurring theme is Mallard's quest for a coffee – or even lunch. At the end of each episode the cast was never credited. Instead, over Dave Brubeck's "Unsquare Dance", statements of the kind, "Roy Mallard would like to thank Chris Langham" appear.
The character of Roy Mallard was based on an exaggeration of the writer John Morton himself. Morton had been a fan of Chris Langham's performances since seeing him on Smith and Jones, and had Langham's voice in mind when he was writing the scripts.
The radio show was awarded "Best Radio Comedy" at the British Comedy Awards in both 1996 and 1997 as well as winning a gold Sony Radio Award for best comedy.
Eleven of the radio episodes were adapted for TV, with one original episode – The Actor. The TV version featured an array of acclaimed guest stars including Bill Nighy, David Tennant, Geoffrey Whitehead and Tamsin Greig.
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