Jump to content

Plebs (TV series)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 149.254.234.204 (talk) at 12:36, 19 September 2018 (→Series overview). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Plebs
The Plebs titlecard
GenreComedy
Starring
Theme music composerOliver Julian
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes30 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Caroline Leddy
  • Sam Leifer
Producers
Production locationsNu Boyana Studios, Bulgaria
Running time25 minutes
Production companyRise Films
Original release
NetworkITV2
Release25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) –
present

Plebs is a British television series broadcast on ITV2.[1] It was first broadcast in March 2013, and is produced by Tom Basden, Caroline Leddy, Sam Leifer and Teddy Leifer. It stars Tom Rosenthal, Jonathan Pointing (from series 4) and Ryan Sampson, who play young residents of ancient Rome. Joel Fry played 'Stylax' in series 1–3. The format has been compared to The Inbetweeners, Up Pompeii and Blackadder.[2] The first series, comprising six episodes, was broadcast between 25 March and 22 April 2013. Three subsequent series of eight episodes each were broadcast between 22 September and 3 November 2014, between 4 April and 16 May 2016, and between 9 April and 21 May 2018.

The show makes comical use of anachronistically modern parlance and concepts in a historical setting and uses predominantly ska/rocksteady music during all the opening and closing titles and during each episode as background music.

Premise

The show initially follows Marcus, Stylax, and their slave Grumio, as they deal with daily life in Ancient Rome. Marcus and Stylax work in the scriptorium of a grain company with their manager, Flavia, the water-carrier Aurelius, and communications officer Claudius. They live next door to two Britons: Cynthia, an aspiring actress, and her slave Metella. Series 3 replaces Cynthia and Metella with a woman from Gaul called Delphine who begins a troubled relationship with Marcus.

The fourth series replaces Stylax (who was killed in the opening scene of the first episode) with a new character, Jason, played by Jonathan Pointing and gives Aurelius a leading role. The quatuor tries to run a bar in a renovated public toilet.

Cast

Only main and recurring characters are listed.

Character Appearances
1 2 3 4
Marcus Phillipus Valerius Gallo Tom Rosenthal
Stylax Rufus Eurisces Joel Fry
Grumio Ryan Sampson
Aurelius Tom Basden
Landlord Karl Theobald
Flavia Doon Mackichan
Davus Tom Davis
Landlady Maureen Lipman
Jason Jonathan Pointing
Gloria Ellie Taylor
Cynthia Cogidubna Sophie Colquhoun
Metella Lydia Rose Bewley
Claudius Adrian Scarborough
Cornelius Neil Stuke
Delphine Bella Dayne
Maya Laura Elsworthy
Gregory Maximilien Seweryn
Paeon Kim Wall

Production

Plebs is filmed at Nu Boyana Film Studios, Sofia, Bulgaria, as were 300:Rise of an Empire, The Expendables and The Hitman's Bodyguard.

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1625 March 2013 (2013-03-25)22 April 2013 (2013-04-22)
2822 September 2014 (2014-09-22)3 November 2014 (2014-11-03)
384 April 2016 (2016-04-04)16 May 2016 (2016-05-16)
489 April 2018 (2018-04-09)2019 (2019)
5TBC2019 (2019)TBA

Episodes

Series 1 (2013)

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [3]
11"The Orgy"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden25 March 2013 (2013-03-25)1.16
Marcus and Stylax are pleased when two attractive young women, Cynthia (a would-be actress) and her slave Metella, move into the apartment next door. Marcus offers to show Cynthia around the city, but his attempts to form a relationship with her are ruined when he tries to invite her to an orgy. Meanwhile, Stylax arranges to attend the party with their boss, Flavia, but discovers that he is part of the entertainment.
22"The Gladiator"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden25 March 2013 (2013-03-25)0.94
Cynthia's charming new gladiator boyfriend Cassius (Danny Dyer) impresses everyone except jealous Marcus, who arranges with their sleazy landlord to have him put up against a formidable opponent in his next bout. In the meantime, Cynthia breaks with Cassius when she finds out what he really does for a living, but Marcus is unable to call off the fight. However, a devastated Cassius is not in the right frame of mind for the occasion.
33"The Erotic Vase"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden1 April 2013 (2013-04-01)0.80
It's Grumio's birthday and he receives an erotic vase featuring a girl that the boys think looks like Cynthia at a certain angle. Marcus, under pressure from the girls to be nicer to his slave, suggests they swap roles for the day. Grumio takes full advantage of the situation by blackmailing Marcus, threatening to tell Cynthia about the vase. Meanwhile, Stylax hangs out with his cousin Lucretia (Naomi Bentley), with whom he has an unusually close relationship. Marcus and his other friends consider this to be incest, and he is forced to break it off with her.
44"The Herpes Cat"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden8 April 2013 (2013-04-08)0.69
To endear himself to Cynthia, Marcus befriends a mangy cat she's rescued from the courtyard, but the cat is accidentally killed. Stylax is suffering from a disturbing itch and visits a sexual health clinic where he falls for an attractive nurse. Flavia recommends an ointment for his condition. Meanwhile Grumio buys a lottery ticket from the landlord.
55"Bananae"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden15 April 2013 (2013-04-15)Under 0.59
Mass immigration from Thrace puts the boys into contact with a sexy Thracian lodger Irina and a dazzling yellow exotic fruit, the banana (plural, "bananae"). Meanwhile, Marcus has an unfortunate encounter with an aggressive elderly war veteran (played by Brian Murphy) who is collecting for charity. Irina, far from being the useful addition to the household that Stylax anticipates, has brought along her husband, and yet more Thracian couples turn up, overcrowding the apartment. The bananae catch on and become a craze with Marcus' fellow-workers. When Marcus is approached again by the veteran, he fights back and injures him, and has to avoid the veteran's friends who are looking for revenge. Grumio points the old soldiers in the direction of Irina's husband. The Thracians flee Rome, leaving behind a pineapple.
66"Saturnalia"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden22 April 2013 (2013-04-22)Under 0.66
It is the festival of Saturnalia and the celebration on the stroke of midnight is the perfect opportunity for Marcus to make a move on Cynthia, but she thinks she is cursed and doesn't feel like coming out. They think they have struck lucky when Flavia invites them to her party along with Aurelius the water carrier, until all three discover that they are expected to wait on the real guests; to escape in time for the public festivities, they rig the water clock so that Flavia thinks it is already midnight. Meanwhile, Grumio goes on a mission to make sure that sacrificial meat doesn't go to waste. Befriended by a priest, he thinks his luck is in until he discovers he is being taken to Cyprus for castration.

Series 2 (2014)

Series 2 began on ITV2 on Monday 22 September 2014 at 10 pm with a series-opener double bill. Rosenthal's father Jim Rosenthal appeared in the first episode as a commentator on a chariot race.[citation needed]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [3]
71"The Chariot"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden22 September 2014 (2014-09-22)1.09
Having won 100 denarii each through Stylax's betting on a chariot race, he and Marcus have very different ideas on how to spend the money. Marcus, naturally, wants to spend it on Cynthia, whilst Stylax prefers a more laddish approach.
82"The Best Men"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden22 September 2014 (2014-09-22)0.87
Surprisingly, Aurelius is getting married. Even more surprisingly, he invites his "best mate" Marcus to be his best man. Reluctant to say the least, Marcus plans a night on the cheap, avoiding the hottest club in town.
93"The Baby"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden29 September 2014 (2014-09-29)0.78
Grumio finds an abandoned baby at the bins; Stylax uses it to get closer to a young wet nurse; Marcus doesn't want to see Cynthia's one-woman play
104"The Patron"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden6 October 2014 (2014-10-06)0.74
Marcus is unwilling to pay for the medicine that Grumio needs. A nobleman (James Fleet) shows an interest in Stylax's charioteering career, but seems too good to be true.
115"The New Slave"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden13 October 2014 (2014-10-13)0.84
At an auction, Marcus and Stylax purchase a new slave (Tim Key) who might be a psychopath.
126"The Candidate"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden20 October 2014 (2014-10-20)0.57
Marcus and Stylax get involved in the campaign of Victor of the Gracchi (Simon Callow), a local politician; Grumio takes up with Victor's opponent
137"The Phallus"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden27 October 2014 (2014-10-27)0.77
The boys bump into a former schoolmate, Fabianus, who is now a lawyer. Stylax fails to connect with an old flame, Cordelia.
148"The Race"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden3 November 2014 (2014-11-03)0.94
Marcus and Stylax need to raise 3,000 denarii to keep the girls from being deported. Grumio discovers that the landlord is in prison

Series 3 (2016)

Series 3 began on ITV2 on Monday 4 April 2016 at 10 pm, with the broadcast of "The Beasts" and "Justin Junior".

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [3]
151"The Beasts"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden4 April 2016 (2016-04-04)1.06
The Games are taking place in the city and the boys are desperate for tickets. Marcus meets Delphine (Bella Dayne), a fiery activist from Gaul who is later revealed to have an interesting past, while Grumio clashes with Landlady (Maureen Lipman), the mother of their missing landlord.
162"Justin Junior"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden4 April 2016 (2016-04-04)1.04
Grumio's estranged father returns, prompting a father-son reconciliation.
173"The Vestal"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden11 April 2016 (2016-04-11)1.07
Marcus' parents are staying with the boys, prompting Marcus to attempt to hide Delphine from them. Stylax becomes obsessed with a Vestal Virgin. Grumio begins a business endeavour.
184"The Cupid"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden18 April 2016 (2016-04-18)1.11
After being accused of being uncultured by Delphine, the boys take their first steps into the theatre where Grumio wins the role of Cupid.
195"The Crime Wave"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden25 April 2016 (2016-04-25)0.91
Marcus, Stylax and Delphine take a self-defence course; Grumio begins dating a cake maker.
206"Jugball"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden2 May 2016 (2016-05-02)1.03
The son of the owner of the office where Marcus and Stylax work visits on work experience; before long Flavia is fired and Marcus finds himself in charge. Stylax invents a new ball game.
217"The New Master"Sam LeiferMatt Morgan9 May 2016 (2016-05-09)1.15
Grumio is sent to work for another master after injuring his slave, where he then prompts a rebellion. Marcus wants Stylax and Delphine to get on better and gets more than he bargained for.
228"The Weatherist"[4]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden16 May 2016 (2016-05-16)1.10
When a Weatherist moves in next door and predicts an earthquake, Marcus and Stylax use the opportunity to improve their love lives. Grumio also plans to take advantage of the impending quake when he is denied a dish of curry.

Series 4 (2018)

Series 4 began filming in September 2017.[5][6] The first two episodes aired on 9 April 2018 on ITV2.[7]

No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [3]
231"The Accident"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden9 April 2018 (2018-04-09)1.19
Stylax is crushed by a slab and unemployed Marcus tries to blackmail builder Crassus for compensation, but ends up serving his evictions. Aurelius moves in as flatmate while Grumio and ladies' man Jason are in the doghouse. They later burgle Crassus's home for valuable art.
242"The Critic"Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden9 April 2018 (2018-04-09)1.06
Marcus spends his savings to open the Crown and Toga pub, and agrees to Grumio's avant-garde menu to appease food critic Athena. They later forge an unprecedented review and enjoy brief popularity. Meanwhile, Jason tries to connect with the waitresses he hires.
253"The Marathon"[8]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden16 April 2018 (2018-04-16)1.20
Aurelius is running in a charity marathon and Jason sabotages him to win a bet. Grumio is mistaken for being mentally disadvantaged and Marcus tries to scam money through a charitable foundation, but Grumio soon takes advantage.
264"The Satirist"[9]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden23 April 2018 (2018-04-23)0.98
Marcus begins a relationship with stand-up comedian Minerva but becomes insecure when she reflects on their relationship at pub shows. Jason, Aurelius and Grumio start a house band.
275"Lupercalia"[10]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden30 April 2018 (2018-04-30)0.92
Marcus receives mixed signals when Gloria asks him out for dinner on Lupercalia. Jason tries to break up couples for rebound sex, while Grumio accidentally swallows a customer's engagement ring.
286"The Bath House"[11]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden7 May 2018 (2018-05-07)0.90
The lads extend a "free session" at a bath house for access to great food, a yoga instructor, and business investors.
297"The Accountant"[12]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden14 May 2018 (2018-05-14)N/A
Threatened with liquidation for the bar's tax debt, Marcus woos a Jewess to do their accounting. Jason takes a barber's tab in hair styling. And Grumio attempts to end their money troubles through snail racing.
308"Beer"[13]Sam LeiferSam Leifer & Tom Basden21 May 2018 (2018-05-21)N/A
The Crown and Toga lose business to a Germanian pub, and try to steal their recipe for beer. Meanwhile, Marcus runs afoul of an incompetent fire brigade.

DVD releases

Name Region 2 Discs
Series One 29 April 2013[14] 1
Series Two 5 January 2015[15] 1
Series Three 18 July 2016[16] 1
Series Four 4 June 2018[17] 1

International broadcast

Plebs premiered in Australia on 8 January 2015 on ABC2.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Plebs". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. ^ Donaghy, James (26 March 2013). "How Plebs gets laughs from the past". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d "Weekly top 30 programmes". BARB.
  4. ^ "Plebs Episode 8". itv.com. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
  5. ^ Richardson, Jay (4 May 2017). "Plebs to return for a fourth series". Chortle. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  6. ^ @BritishComedy (11 September 2017). ""Shot 1, Take 1"... Filming has just started on Series 4 of Plebs: http://bit.ly/2wS3AEM" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @PlebsComedy (8 December 2017). "@PlebsComedy Series 4 coming to @itv2 next year!!! In the meantime people can now watch ALL 3 previous series on @NetflixUK https://www.netflix.com/watch/80225857?trackId=13752289&tctx=0%2C2%2" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 3 The Marathon". Radio Times. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 4 The Satirist". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 5 Lupercalia". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 6 The Bath House". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 7 The Accountant". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Series 4 – Episode 8 Beer". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Plebs [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Plebs - Series 2 [DVD] [2014]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  16. ^ "Plebs - Series 3 [DVD] [2016]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Plebs - Series 4 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  18. ^ Knox, David (6 January 2015). "Airdate: Siblings, Plebs". TV Tonight. Retrieved 6 January 2015.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plebs_(TV_series)&oldid=860257763"