Starstruck (2021 TV series)

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Starstruck
GenreComedy[1]
Created byRose Matafeo
Written byRose Matafeo
Alice Snedden
StarringRose Matafeo
Nikesh Patel
Emma Sidi
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producersJon Thoday
Richard Allen-Turner
Rob Aslett
Toby Welch
ProducerClaire McCarthy
Running time21 minutes
Production companyAvalon Television
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release25 April 2021 (2021-04-25) –
present

Starstruck is a BBC comedy series created by Rose Matafeo, co-written with Alice Snedden, directed by Karen Maine, and starring Matafeo and Nikesh Patel with Minnie Driver in a special guest starring role. A second series was commissioned before the first series aired. Series one premiered 25 April 2021 and series two was released on 2 February 2022. In June 2022, the series was renewed for a third season.[2] The series received positive critical reception.[3][4]

Premise[edit]

A screwball comedy about a 20-something New Zealand woman living in Hackney, London, working jobs in a cinema and as a nanny. After a one-night stand on New Year's Eve, she discovers she slept with a famous movie star.[5]

Cast[edit]

Main[edit]

  • Rose Matafeo as Jessie, a New Zealander living and working in London who has a one-night stand with a stranger who turns out to be a movie star
  • Nikesh Patel as Tom Kapoor, an A-list actor and Jessie's love interest
  • Emma Sidi as Kate, Jessie's best friend and flatmate

Recurring[edit]

Guest[edit]

Episodes[edit]

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1625 April 2021 (2021-04-25)
267 February 2022 (2022-02-07)

Series 1 (2021)[edit]

No.Title [6]Directed byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"NYE"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A
2"Spring"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A
3"Summer"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A
4"Autumn"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A
5"Winter"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A
6"Christmas"Karen MaineRose Matafeo and Alice Snedden25 April 2021 (2021-04-25)N/A

Series 2 (2022)[edit]

No.Title [6]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [6]U.K. viewers
(millions)
7"Stay"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A
8"Christmas, Again"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A
9"Housewarming"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A
10"Funeral"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A
11"Valentine's"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A
12"Party"Jamie Jay JohnsonRose Matafeo, Nic Sampson, and Alice Snedden7 February 2022 (2022-02-07)N/A

Production[edit]

Sidi and Matafeo are real life flatmates in London.[7] The idea for the plot came in part from a group of Matafeo's Kiwi friends who one night in a London pub ran into a major Hollywood actor and hung out with him all night.[8] Filming was due to begin in March 2020 but was postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic until October 2020.[9]

HBO Max announced that Starstruck was renewed for a second series on 10 June 2021, the day it debuted on the streaming network. Russell Tovey was announced as a new cast member for series two.[10]

In June 2022 it was announced the series had been renewed for a third season.[11] In January 2023 Matafeo uploaded photographs from the set to her Instagram.[12]

Release[edit]

Starstruck series 1 started broadcast in the UK on 26 April 2021 on BBC One, with the whole series available from 25 April 2021 on BBC iPlayer.[13] It screened on TVNZ in New Zealand, ABC TV in Australia.[14] Series 1 was released on HBO Max on 10 June 2021.[15] Series 2 was released online in its entirety on BBC iPlayer on 7 February 2022.

Reception[edit]

The series received critical acclaim. The Times described it as "expertly crafted old-school screwball comedy, crackling with wit and sexual chemistry."[16] Series one holds a 100% on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.[1]

Accolades[edit]

In January 2023 Matafeo received a nomination for Outstanding Comedy Actress for her work on Starstruck at the National Comedy Awards 2023.[17]

Matafeo was nominated in the Comedy Performance (Female) category at the Royal Television Society Programme Awards in March 2023.[18]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Starstruck: Season 1 (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Rose Matafeo's romcom Starstruck commissioned for a third series by BBC Three". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Starstruck - BBC3 Sitcom". British Comedy Guide.
  4. ^ "Rose Matafeo gets a second series of her BBC sitcom Starstruck". Comedy.co.uk. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  5. ^ Laws, Chloe (20 April 2021). "Rose Matafeo on Starstruck, her new rom-com sitcom that *everyone* will be binge-watching". Glamour UK.
  6. ^ a b c "Starstruck – Episodes". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  7. ^ Barr, Sabrina (20 April 2021). "BBC star recalls 'crazy' meeting with cut-throat LA exec who said to 'f*** your friends' on road to stardom – Metro".
  8. ^ "Why Rose Matafeo couldn't get a date in New Zealand". Stuff. 21 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Rose Matafeo interview: There should have been a blanket ban on male comedians doing material on #MeToo". Stamdard.co.uk. 26 April 2021.
  10. ^ Porter, Rick (10 June 2021). "HBO Max Renews 'Starstruck' for Second Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  11. ^ "'Starstruck' Renewed for Season 3 at HBO Max". Variety. 13 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Rose Matafeo". Instagram.
  13. ^ Clarke, Annaleigh Rose (14 April 2021). "Starstruck cast and first look at new BBC comedy". TellyMix.
  14. ^ "Starstruck: Rose Matafeo's new sitcom hits New Zealand screens". NZ Herald.
  15. ^ "Shows A-Z - Starstruck on hbo max | TheFutonCritic.com". thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  16. ^ Armstrong, Stephen. "Rose Matafeo on her new sitcom, Starstruck" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  17. ^ "National Comedy Awards 2023 shortlists revealed". Chortle.
  18. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (7 March 2023). "Kate Winslet, Kit Connor, Billie Piper in the Mix at Royal Television Society Program Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2023.

External links[edit]