Archives for April 2009

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

And terror.

The problem with having a successful series that gets re-commissioned is, you have to do it again. If one more person says the words "second album syndrome" to me, I'll punch them in the neck.

It would be ok if we knew how we made the first series any good. Despite what anyone tells you, a huge amount of it is chance. If there were a reliable formula for making good drama, there'd be more of it on TV.

It's like falling down a flight of stairs. All we know is we got to the bottom, bruised and a bit weepy, and when we stood up everyone applauded. We'd like to say it was carefully planned, but the fact is we were minding our own business on the landing and someone pushed us.

So we're just trusting our instincts again. I'm writing, hopefully, the way I always did. And producers Matt and Rob and Phil- not to mention Russell and Lenora and Aiden - will do the thing they did.

Oh did you like Being Human: Unearthed? I hope it answered some questions for you. I loved it. Though I did spend the whole hour thinking "Couldn't someone have told me my glasses were on wonky?"

I'm avoiding the point of this, aren't I. You want to know about series 2. Well if I say it's difficult to tell you anything specific, that's not me being mysterious, it's because I keep changing my mind. Characters surprise you. I've talked before about how the line in the pilot about the men with sticks and ropes came out of nowhere. Similarly in episode 5 when Owen said "Hey, Annie, is that the best you've got?" Well, things like that happen a lot. It makes writing exciting. So I'll come up with a new character and think "Oh yeah, he'll be a major player" ...and then he just kind of withers on the page. Conversely a bit-part character suddenly expands and becomes the guest lead. That's pretty much what's happened on episode 1 actually. So if I say anything now, the chances are by the time you read it, I'll have changed my mind and it'll be a show about psychic firemen.

Rest assured the next series will be bolder, darker, funnier and even creepier.Hopefully.

Anyway. I'll be back soon. In the meantime, keep reading, keep posting and keep being nice to each other.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? Watch out, this post contains spoilers from series one...

So having been bombarded left, right and centre by your favourite George-based knee-slappers, the results are in and the definitive collection of George's Funniest Moments are ready to re-live in BH Blog video form.

Yes, there's lots of high-pitched squeaking, yes there's lots of cringey awkwardness, and by-George there's that toe-curling chat-up line about a polo mint.

Prepare to howl, people - here comes George's best bits...

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? Watch out, this post contains spoilers from series one...

There are many things about George we love...The squeaking.The awkwardness.The 15 panic attacks a day.I could go on, but I'll stop there.The point is, George is a very funny guy with some utterly side-splitting lines.However, these 'George-isms' have never been compiled into one definitive BH Blog video... until now.And we need YOU to help us do it.

So therefore, this week's big question is... What's George's funniest moment?

The better your justification and the more passionate your argument, the better the chance of us featuring your favourite George moment in our video, so get forming your arguments now. We'll analyse all the comments over the weekend and come back, next week, with THE definitive video listing George's 'official' funniest moments. Remember, the BH Blog team's decision is final and we are waiting for your suggestions...

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Herrick famously (but not very flatteringly) once described Seth as... "an idiot".

Is this fair?After all, in a lot of ways Seth's had it rough.He was older than Mitchell, but he came much lower in the pecking order.He'd known Herrick for longer than Mitchell, but they just didn't have that same spark.And on top of all that he had to cover the day shift in the undertakers (*yawn* - boring).

Ok, I'm making that last bit up, but it is fairly safe to assume that Seth was a very frustrated, highly aggressive, overly-jealous ball of angsty Mancunian vampire, and a much more complicated man than first meets the eye.

So today we're going behind the scenes of everyone's favourite henchman, and asking... do you have sympathy for Seth?

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

We've had a couple offun posts for the past two big questions, but now it's time to get back tobusiness.And by 'business' I mean the cold, hard business of a ghost tormenting her murdering ex-fiancé with words that managed to turn the man insane.THAT, my friends, is some serious business.

So this week, the big question is...

"What on earth did Annie whisper to Owen?"

It's the comment that changed everything...The comment that turned Owen from cocky criminal to snivelling coward in just a few short lines.

With Annie's knowledge of the afterlife they could be the most powerful words in the whole of Being Human...Do you have an idea what they might have been?

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? Watch out, this post contains spoilers from series one...

When we asked for your views on Mitchell's Greatest Momentsyou responded with loads of suggestions. The way he moved, the way he looked, the way he throws his hat and the way he says "Laurel and Hardy"... you just couldn't get enough of that vampire stuff.

So, after trawling through the comments, we've distilled the clips that you seem to love the most and edited it to create the definitive guide to Mitchell's greatest moments.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? This post does not contain spoilers, but the comments might...

It's the Easter holidays (woohoo!) and for many it's a great time to take a little trip away. And this got us thinking...

If George, Mitchell and Annie took a holiday, where would they go and what would they do?

Mitchell's not too good with the sunshine, so maybe... erm, a caving holiday?Ok, scrap that, how about a cruise?They could cast George off in a lifeboat to transform.Ok, rubbish idea... erm, how about a trip to the seaside, like our picture!?

Jeez, I'm glad I'm not their travel agent.

So, a Being Human holiday... a mini-break from Totterdown... What do you think they'd do?

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

Calling all Mitchell fans... Step forward, we need you!

The time has come to compile Mitchell'sgreatest moments from series one. We're talking the coolest, funniest, sexiest, most bad-ass, cutest or simply the most downright awesome Mitchell moments in existence... and we want YOU to tell us what they are.

So the question is... What's your favourite Mitchell moment?



The better your justification and the more passionate your argument, the better the chance of us featuring your favourite moment, so get forming your arguments now. We'll analyse all the comments over the Easter break and come back, next week, with THE definitive Mitchell video, listing his 'official' best rated moments. Remember, the BH Blog team's decision is final and we are waiting for your suggestions...



Before series two kicks off we'll be doing more of these, so Annie, George and Herrick fans, don't worry. You'll get your chance. But this week, it's all about the fanged one...

**Update** All the suggestions have been taken into account and the video is now being edited... expect it here on the blog in the very near future! Thanks for all the suggestions.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? This post does not contain spoilers, but the comments might...

BH fans, I think we've struck gold.... LET'S MAKE BEING HUMAN THE MUSICAL.

Now, you might think we've gone utterly loopy, and, erm, you'd be right. But the combination of Russell's amazing singing and Aidan and Lenora's dancing got us convinced we could easily pack those West End theatres with a Being Human song and dance spectacular.So tell us...

"If you were to create Being Human The Musical, who would play the lead roles and what would the big numbers be?"

Just imagine, Jason Donovan as Herrick? Denise Van Outen as Annie? Gareth Gates as Mitchell...? Ok, dodgy suggestions, maybe yours will be a little better.But between us I'm sure we can get a stellar cast list and some top-class song lyrics for our new venture.

And then it's only a matter of time before Mr Lloyd-Webber comes knocking...

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

New to BH? Watch out, this post contains spoilers from series one...

Everyone thinks they know a thing or two about vampires, especially that pesky Toby Whithouse... I mean, really, what does he know about the subject!?What's that?Oh, right.I'm told he knows lots, apparently.So I'll let him off.

Anyway, the internet has created a boom in this centuries-old discussion and so, in this special update, the BH Blog team have brought together a selection of vampiric legends currently circulating on the web.

But do you know of any others?Share all in the comments section...

THE BIRTH OF THE VAMPIRE

Bram Stoker's 18^th Century creation 'Count Dracula' is undoubtedly the most famous vampire of all time. However, it's said that the first fictional vampire was actually created by a young physician named John Polidori in the short story 'The Vampyre,' which was believed to have been based on his master, Lord Byron. The gothic story was a great success and vampirism exploded on a global scale, with gothic writers such as Edgar Allan Poe and William Blake all writing vampire fiction in later years.

THE LEGENDARY 'DRACULA'

Stoker's infamous Count was based on an historical figure known as Vlad Tepes, a ruthless ruler of Wallachia, a province of Romania.'Big bad Vlad' is said to have tortured his victims by driving a stake through the body until it appeared through the mouth. (Ouch...)It is believed that these were acts of vengeance against those responsible for his father's and brother's premature deaths. The story goes that his father, Vlad II, was a member of the Order of the Dragon and due to this became known as Dracul, meaning 'Dragon' in Romanian. The name was then inherited by his son who was branded Dracula, son of the dragon, which in Romania has connotations with the devil.

COFFIN CULTURE

Ever wondered why vampires are often depicted in coffins?Well, a few centuries ago it's said that vampirism was becoming a serious fear for ordinary citizens, sparking hysteria in many regions across Europe.Apparently, part of this hysteria involved coffins being dug up and the bodies inside decapitated, staked or burned to ensure that the 'vampires' were truly dead.And thus the coffin became the home of the vampire forevermore...well, until Being Human, when it became a flat in Bristol.

A STAKE IN THE HEART

As I'm sure Lauren and Seth will tell you, stakes are bad for vampires.Legend has it that this comes from suspected vampires' bodies being dug up and staked in the chest to kill the 'undead' corpse.When this happened, gases would leak from the corpse, creating a squealing sound. Many presumed this was the soul of the vampire escaping as it died, hence why staking is seen as the ultimate vampire-killing act.

DAYLIGHT

Folklore has it that vampires have an aversion to light and can spontaneously combust if exposed to sunlight. However, Stoker is one of many gothic authors to employ poetic license in his writings, as his vampire is able to endure the sunlight.However, his powers are reduced and acts such as shape-shifting are no longer possible.

BLOODSUCKERS

As a body decomposes, gases put pressure on the lungs and force the liquid from blood-filled organs into the mouth. Years ago, when people looked into the mouth of a dead body and saw blood, they often came to a ghoulish conclusion... that the corpse must have risen from the dead and been drinking from a living victim. An alternative reason why blood and vampires are synonymous is because blood is often portrayed as the elixir of life, so helping the vampire to live for eternity...

But this is just a legend, so don't go trying it at home.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?