Orrible: The Disastrous BBC Sitcom That History Got Wrong

Visit our new store at https://britstalgia-shop.fourthwall.c... In 2001, fresh off the massive success of Channel 4's The Big Breakfast, the BBC handed Johnny Vaughan a reported £2.5 million deal and a blank cheque. The result? 'Orrible — a gritty, Guy Ritchie-inspired West London sitcom following illegal minicab driver and wannabe criminal mastermind Paul Clark. After premiering to 2.5 million viewers, ratings plunged to 1.5 million in just a fortnight. Panned by critics and never repeated by the BBC, 'Orrible was swiftly written off as one of British television's most notorious flops. Was history too harsh on it? In this episode of BritStalgia, we look back at the forgotten 2001 BBC2 comedy, examine why its deluded antihero formula predated hits like 'People Just Do Nothing' by over a decade, and uncover the surprise acting debut of The Inbetweeners star James Buckley. 🔔 Subscribe to BritStalgia for more retrospectives on classic, banned, and forgotten British TV: [Insert Subscribe Link] TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - The BBC Sitcom That Vanished 0:46 - Johnny Vaughan’s £2.5M Blank Cheque 1:40 - The Plot: Guy Ritchie Meets BBC Two 2:38 - Philip Madoc, Hitmen & High Hopes 3:12 - The Ratings Crash & Critical Backlash 4:00 - Why History Got It Wrong (Ahead of Its Time?) 5:14 - The Secret Inbetweeners Cameo 5:30 - Verdict: A Fascinating Misfire What's the worst-reviewed British sitcom that you secretly love? Let us know in the comments below! #BritishTV #Sitcom #BBC #JohnnyVaughan #RetroTV #TVHistory