WAR of WORDS

Hugh Bonneville and Karen Gillan star in a comedy drama about a TV presenter accused of inappropriate behaviour...

- CAREN CLARK

Douglas Is Cancelled

Thursday, 9pm, ITV1 (box set, ITVX)

Cancel culture, the power of social media and the intricacies of workplace and gender politics are all placed under the spotlight in ITV1’s timely comedy drama Douglas Is Cancelled.

In the four-part series, penned by Doctor Who and Sherlock writer Steven Moffat, Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville plays veteran presenter Douglas Bellowes, who hosts news show Live at 6 with his younger, talented co-star Madeline Crow, portrayed by Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan.

But Douglas’ life goes into free fall and he faces being ‘cancelled’ when he is overheard telling a sexist story at a family wedding and a disgusted fellow guest draws attention to the matter on social media.

Although Douglas claims not to remember exactly what he said, he and his cynical producer Toby Patterson (Ben Miles) gradually realise the potentially damaging consequences, particularly when the scandal escalates after Madeline also posts on social media, ostensibly to back Douglas. But what are her real motivations?

TV&Satellite Week joined Bonneville, 60, and Gillan, 36, to find out more about the series…

Karen, you worked with Steven Moffat on Doctor Who, and Hugh, you guest-starred as a pirate on the show in 2011. Did you enjoy teaming up with him again?

Gillan Steven’s one of my favourite writers. I love his dialogue – it’s clever and full of brilliant one-liners.