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What do Gavin and Stacey, Mrs Biggs and the forthcoming BBC comedy Mr Stink all have in common? The answer, in case you don’t know, is Sheridan Smith. Because the actress has appeared in both Gavin and Stacey and Mrs Biggs, and was last week announced as part of Mr Stink’s cast too. Smith is clearly enjoying huge success of late (both on stage and television) and rightly so. She’s brilliant and proving herself to be extremely versatile. But I worry for Smith, because I think, sometimes, broadcasters and production companies can latch on to a ‘name’ – the hot talent of the moment – and cast them here, there and everywhere, clearly knowing that to do so will drive ratings. I worry because I think audiences can get bored – and annoyed – quite quickly of seeing the same faces too often.
It got me thinking whether broadcasters and production companies could and should be casting the net a bit wider when they are populating their shows with actors. Don’t get me wrong, I am not denying the talent of actors who are used regularly, but I do question whether it isn’t just a tad lazy on the part of the broadcasters and production companies. As Shameless creator Paul Abbott said back in 2010, shows can become “predictable” as a result of such casting.
With this in my mind, I have developed an ‘at risk’ register of actors, who, in my opinion, are in danger of becoming over-used (but not necessarily over-rated, I should add).
Feel free to add any names you think should be on it. Here are some to get you started:
- Sheridan Smith – for the reasons set out above. I love her, really I do. But I don’t want to become sick of the sight of her.
- Rupert Penry Jones – again, I like him and ITV’s Whitechapel is one of my favourite series in recent years, but with a fourth series commissioned, and Penry-Jones also appearing in a third series of Silk on the BBC, perhaps it’s a tad much. I’d hate to end up wishing for him to meet a grisly end in the fourth series of Whitechapel.
- Benedict Cumberbatch is definitely in the ‘at risk’ category. He is of course the face of the BBC’s Sherlock, and he was in Parade’s End too. No doubt he’s being lined up for others too. Surely there are other posh blokes we can watch?
- Hugh Bonneville – may be a little unfair, but with Downton, and his stints in Twenty Twelve, and also as part of the cast of Mr Stink with Sheridan Smith, he does seem to be everywhere.
- Simon Bird/Joe Thomas – stars of The Inbetweeners. It seems to me that these two are the ones that Channel 4 has decided to champion following the end of The Inbetweeners. Bird is in Friday Night Dinner, and Thomas is in Fresh Meat, which recently began a second run. I predict we will see more of these in the months to come, and could end up wishing we weren’t.
- Jack Whitehall. He has found himself cast in Bad Education on BBC3 (which, admittedly, he wrote) and is in Fresh Meat on Channel 4. He is at serious risk of being over used. And, in my opinion, he is also over-rated.
So these are my thoughts? What about yours?
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Comments 26 comments
Interesting thoughts. Of course, actors would have minimal control over when the series they’ve shot will appear, so jobs that to them have been spaced out over a long period run the risk of being broadcast in quick succession – and there’s nothing they can much do about that.
It helps, I think, if successive roles are as distinct from one another as possible: Sheridan’s recent turns in Accused and Mrs Biggs, for example, are more tolerable than when she was starring in two BBC3 studio sitcoms – Two Pints of Lager and Grown Ups – in rapid succession.
Of course, some actors don’t have a tremendous range – and those who do are often cast, and directed, in a certain way because that’s what commissioners (and, through their filtered eyes, audiences) expect.
Could there be more variety? Undoubtedly. At the same time, programme makers are under constant pressure to provide strong ratings, and part of that is to provide recognisable faces…Report comment
I’d add Blake Harrison and Tamsin Greig to that list. Great, but in EVERYTHING.Report comment
No worries for Cumberbatch; his part in Parade’s End is certainly rather different from the title role in Sherlock, which at the moment seems likely to end at its third series, presumably to be broadcast next autumn, and may be Cumberbatch’s last big TV gig.Report comment
Thanks for the comments so far. One other person who springs to mind is Suranne Jones. ITV seem to use her for everything these days!Report comment
I’m happy if Jack Whitehall sticks to acting, though he’d be the first to admit he hasn’t range. But BBC2′s scheduling of his odious turn on Buzzcocks one night before Fresh Meat returned reminded me why I took against him in the first place.Report comment
havent agreed so strongly with something in a looong time!even your suggested names!so much so that i almost cant stand them anymore.
of course people are more than welcome to say this is just an unknown actor speaking out of envy. and of course I’d never even dream to deny that is partly true. I delight in embracing my envy!
…but “neurology” still ain’t gonna be tricked, is it: my brain ACTUALLY PHYSICALLY commands “flick channel over thanks!” as i see those faces over and over, simples. we are all “viewing audiences” after all, and as such child-like subscribers to a potential televised “narrated imagined reality”: and sorry i am not going to believe your “fair semblant” if i have just been seeing (sometimes – alas – enduring – you as some other character.
this country erupts with amazing talent. producers bloody wake up!
happy days.
L.Report comment
…sorry, “fairE semblant”, even!Report comment
I understand your point about ubiquity but sometimes it’s a matter of scheduling too. The ones you quote just happen to have been on TV recently.
There are many other names who seem to be on casting directors’ go to lists – Keeley Hawes, Anna Maxwell Martin, David Tennant, Maxine Peake, James Nesbitt, Stephen Tonkinson to name just a few. All excellent actors who, along with the above, I would rather watch than not.Report comment
The names you suggest may be people that seem to be around a lot at the moment, which obvioulsy is testament to their talent that they have been considered and cast in several parts, which can only be applauded. (In the same way you can’t knock anyone else who works for going out and doing their job every day.) The problem stems from typecasting. I have no problem with the talent on tv appearing regularly – so long as the characters are different. I dislike when you switch on the tv and there is a well known face playing a part that looks, dresses, sounds, acts, talks etc the same as the last part they played and no doubt the next part they will play, so much so that you know, as soon as you see their name, exactly what the programme is going to be like and whether you will love, like or hate it. These people are actors for a reason, let them do their job and play versatile parts, create different characters and explore different roles. (Isn’t the main reason people want to act to become different people – not play the same thing over and over??).
However, I would rather see a sucession of ‘over used’ actors filling the screens in a succession of different programmes than having my screen filled with reality “talent” shows and similar ‘cheap tv’Report comment
For over-exposure, does anyone top the likes of James Nesbitt or Martin Clunes? ITV dramas couldn’t be made without either of them (save for Downton Abbey of course!)Report comment
I think you have to be an outstanding and versatile talent if you are going to have the sort of exposure the people named here receive and not first bore and then irritate an audience. I mean truly outstanding. I have seen Anthony Sher in three plays and a Q&A in the last year and I wish he was doing another before Christmas.
Take Rob Brydon on the other hand. Ordinarily I would have snapped up tickets for Chorus of Disapproval. Ayckbourn! Nunn! But I’ve not been able to go a week without seeing Rob Brydon on my TV. Less is definitely more, the more you’re seen, the more your talent is stretched if you don’t have something different or new to offer if not each time then at least every other time. If your well of talent isn’t deep enough (and it rarely is unless you are an exceptional talent) people are going to tire of you.
It also turns me into a snob. Using someone because you know they come with an audience but it is a certain type of audience. I avoided seeing Tennant’s Hamlet because I didn’t fancy being surrounded by excitable Dr Who fans, whispering to each other when he is on stage and when someone else they recognise comes on. I recognise it is snobby but no one welcomes people talking during a play and it nearly always happens at this sort of event. I also feel that the audience are only interested in one particular element of a production. It means you lose so much of that collective audience experience because it is only the minority who pick up on things that don’t involve the famous lead.Report comment
Oh, Matthew, I don’t think you’re being fair on Sheridan, especially after saying “I love her, really I do”! You must be aware that it’s only because of TV scheduling, that – Accused, The Scapegoat, and Mrs Biggs were shown close together recently. Sheridan would have recorded these months and months apart, and as Kate says, would have had no control over the dates of their broadcasting. In fact, she even tweeted an apology about her own current ubiquity! In any case, Sheridan is able to play such a diverse range of roles, and looks so different in each of them, that she will always hold people’s attention.
Casting directors are choosing her because of her undoubted talent, and dedicated work ethos. She must be filming ‘Mr Stink’, whilst also appearing as Hedda Gabler in eight shows a week!!Report comment
I have to agree with what you said Matt. There is a lot of it around. The theatrical world is the same. Same actors in everything, same dancers used in everything. Have a lot of sympathy for actors coming out of Drama School. They have no chance of finding work.Report comment
What an absolutely pointless article. I’m stunned I read it and am now commenting on it, but saying that stars are over used and over projecting themselves is such an ignorant view on the world we all inhabit. Do you truly believe that these performers have any say over the screening times and dates of their next projects? Not even the biggest star of them all can state he or she wishes for all of their work to screened at the same time… It is down to the producers and schedulers of the different T.V stations to have a look and see when other programmes are appearing, but this is never going to happen. Any actor will tell you that they are lucky to be working from one job to the next so get off of their backs and blame the channels.Report comment
Interesting Matt.TV-wise I for one wonder if there is anything Pip Schofield is NOT in.I like him tho, he’s harmless and does the job.As for Sheridan Smith -I have not seen her in anyhing recently, but she appears to work non-stop which is lucky for her.I think over-exposure may affect what audiences think in the long run.Report comment
Martin Clunes – he’s Soooo desperate to be on TV that pathetic commercial as though he needs the money. Also presenting.
Tamsin Gregg – who can only pull one face.Report comment
You seem to be clutching at straws name dropping Cumberbatch. He does 3 eps of Sherlock ever 2 years and has done one other series that had a long development phase. In any event he’s heading for a huge film career so kiss my A**Report comment
Yes, there are certain actors we see over and over; same here in the U.S. In part, producers/directors/casting directors know they are reliably good and usually also good to work with.
As far as Cumberbatch – somehow I think his film work here (Star Trek, 12 Years A Slave, The Hobbit, August: Osage County) and radio/stage work in the UK will keep him from being at “risk” – if he continues to deliver stellar performances, why not cast him or any other good actor?
Some you mention I have only seen on TV and not in film so maybe that TV is where their career resides. So what?Report comment
What a ludicrous article. Especially the inclusion of Cumberbatch who is a world class actor. So far we’ve only ever had 6 episodes of Sherlock. head over to Tumblr and you’d see huge numbers of people want MORE Cumberbatch in this role and not less. We dont see enough of him!. All we’ve had is Parade’s End and even then it was mainly a series for Rebecca Hall. Seems to me you are name dropping for hits. Shameful.Report comment
Benedict Cumberbatch is never over used. Every part he plays is so incredibly different from the other and always played with the upmost quality and dedication. As a fantastical unique and talented actor I feel that he has been very careful to NOT be over used, he has only appeared in two BBC dramas this year but will however be starring in a wide variety of blockbuster movies (Star Trek 2, Lord Of The Rings) which I feel sets him apart from the other actors shown today. Thank you.Report comment
You know why they’re everywhere? Because they’re tried and tested great performers. Jobbingactor says it all.Report comment
I’m amazed that you included Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s a privilege to see his brilliant work. Three episodes of Sherlock in over two years plus made for Rebecca Hall ‘Parade’s End’is not, over exposed ! You really should do better than this article. It’s negative just to cause waves.Report comment
You are clearly off your rocker and so out of touch. People are dying to see more and more of Cumberbatch’s work. Even his sold out national theatre performance in Frankenstein had to be reissued by NTlive for screening around the world (they’d never reissued a production before). The biggest complaint about Sherlock is that its not on MORE.
My one complaint about Parade’s End was that it was rushed. I wanted more episodes not less.
Even Cumberbatch’s radio work has huge waiting lists of people wanting to see them record the shows e.g Cabin Pressure.
I really dont think people should be writing for the Stage unless they have a good grounding on the current state of play in TV and film. You seem so out of touch its laughable. The Stage website should consider dumping you for someone more relevant.Report comment
My dear blogger, because thats what you are in truth, why not home in on David (4 series to endure next year) Tennant. No actor has been as overused as he. We have the delights of many many series of his to endure soon and thats not counting the quiz shows.
By the way I think youre Cumberbatch confusing newspaper attention (due to a shinny new huge fanbase) with screen time. The poor darling hasnt been on tv much at all because he’s focusing on his extremely exciting film career.
Toodle pip.Report comment
Lazy hack. I’ll say no more. I hope this is a hobby and not your day job because you need to do some research. D-Report comment