The Trailer for 'Douglas Is Cancelled' Promises a Sharp Social Satire
Hugh Bonneville in "Douglas Is Cancelled"
(Photo: Courtesy of BritBox)
Your mileage may vary on whether you think that right now --- in the wake of the political DEI backlash and the spiraling of the #MeToo movement --- is the moment to release what is essentially a workplace dramedy about cancel culture. Not to mention one that hails from Steven Moffat, the former Doctor Who and Sherlock showrunner that, depending on who you ask, has his own vaguely problematic record when it comes to writing female characters. But, like it or not we're getting one anyway, and at least the absolutely stacked cast at the center of Douglas Is Cancelled is likely to help soothe many ruffled feathers about the four-part series' general existence.
To give the show credit, it's certainly ambitious in terms of both its story and its borderline controversial humor. Douglas Is Cancelled stars Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey) as its eponymous main character, a popular news broadcaster who finds himself in the midst of a growing internet scandal when a sexist joke he told at a wedding is filmed and posted on social media. Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy) is his younger, more technologically savvy co-host, Madeline, whose social media skills he turns to during this time of crisis, but who may not be as willing as he hopes to help rescue him from his own mistakes.
Bonneville, Gillan, and Moffat have all worked together previously as part of Doctor Who. Gillan portrayed Eleventh doctor companion Amy Pond during Moffat's time as the series' showrunner, and Bonneville was a guest star during the Season 6 pirate adventure "The Curse of the Black Spot"
Here's the series' synopsis.
Journalist Douglas Bellowes’ life implodes after a tweet about him allegedly making a sexist joke goes viral – in this provocative comedy drama from acclaimed writer Steven Moffat. Douglas and Madeline are co-hosts on a popular current affairs show. Madeline is young and sharp, Douglas middle-aged and highly respected. But a single tweet, claiming Douglas told a sexist joke at a recent wedding, tears Douglas’s life apart. With the help of editor Toby, wife Sheila and agent Bentley, Douglas tries to save his career. Is he truly guilty – or a victim of cancel culture? And exactly how is co-host Madeline caught up in it all?
Alongside Bonneville and Gillan, the series' impressive ensemble includes Ben Miles (Hijack), Alex Kingston (A Discovery of Witches), Nick Mohammed (Renegade Nell), and Simon Russell Beale (House of the Dragon).
The four-part series is written by Moffat, who executive produces alongside his wife, Sue Vertue (Inside Man). Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners) directs the series, with Lawrence Till (Silent Witness) as a producer. The series is produced by Hartswood Films (The Time Traveler’s Wife) in association with SkyShowtime and BBC Studios Distribution.
Douglas Is Cancelled will premiere on BritBox on Thursday, March 6, 2025, and stream two episodes a week on Thursdays through the end of the month.
