Karaoke (TV series)

Karaoke
Created byDennis Potter
Directed byRenny Rye
StarringAlbert Finney
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes4
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Channel 4
Release28 April (1996-04-28)[1] –
19 May 1996 (1996-05-19)[2]
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Karaoke is a 1996 British television drama written by Dennis Potter with the knowledge that he was dying from pancreatic cancer.[3][4]

It forms the first half of a pair with the serial Cold Lazarus. The two plays were filmed as a single production by the same team; both were directed by Renny Rye.[5] The series was said to be inspired by Potter's working relationship with Louise Germaine.[6]

The plays were a co-production between the BBC and rival broadcaster Channel 4, a unique arrangement Potter had expressly requested before his death. The show was first aired on BBC1 on Sunday evenings, with a repeat on Channel 4 the following day.

The series stars Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Hywel Bennett, Roy Hudd and Julie Christie and features Saffron Burrows and Keeley Hawes in two early screen appearances.

  1. ^ "Sunday 28 April 1996". BBC Programme Catalogue. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Sunday 19 May 1996". BBC Programme Catalogue. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  3. ^ "DVD Savant Blu-ray x Review". dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Karaoke / Cold Lazarus DVD | Television | Films by Movie Mail UK". moviemail.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  5. ^ "Dennis Potter's 'Karaoke' & 'Cold Lazarus' DVD review – CultBox". cultbox.co.uk. 3 September 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Pouty in his hands". HeraldScotland.