QUEEN OF OZ
NEW FRIDAY, 9.30PM, BBC1
COMEDY (BOX SET, BBC IPLAYER)
On a Wednesday in May, TV Times is tucking into a scrumptious afternoon tea comprising scones with lashings of clotted cream and an array of delicate patisserie as Catherine Tate holds court in London’s stylish Soho Hotel.
The award-winning actor and comedian is telling us about her brand-new sitcom, Queen of Oz, which sees her star as Princess Georgiana, a thoroughly unlikeable member of a fictional British royal family.
‘Georgiana is entitled and deeply unpleasant, which makes her a great character to play,’ smiles Catherine, 53, who is, delightfully, a ball of energy throughout our audience with her. ‘She gets a very rude awakening when she is shipped off to Australia as their newly crowned Queen!’
Here, Catherine, who also cocreated and wrote the six-part series, tells us more and reveals why she’d make a terrible royal…
How did the premise for this comedy come about?
The idea came from Canadian producer Borga Dorter, who got in touch with me and said he wanted to make a show about a minor member of a royal family who gets sent to Canada. I loved the idea and we pitched it to Canadian TV studios but we’re still waiting to hear back… That was four years ago!
We decided it might be better situated in Australia, so that’s how it came to be Queen of Oz and not Queen of Canada!
What kind of person is Princess Georgiana?
This story is from the June 10, 2023 edition of TV Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 10, 2023 edition of TV Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
24CRACKERS CHRISTMAS
Madame Blanc stars SALLY LINDSAY and STEVE EDGE lead our sparking preview
Penniless POLLARD
The foolish pensioner loses his and Brenda's money - will he lose his fiancée, too?
KIDNAPPED!
April pays the price for Jade's feud with Ross
Confession TIME?
The pressure mounts for cheating Cindy when Kojo wakes up and lan makes a discovery...
Back TOGETHER
Eve and Suki reunite, but could incarcerated Nish spoil the party?
REVENGE plan!
Leanne is on a mission after discovering that Toyah and Nick are still together
Shona the CHEAT?
Furious with David, she does something she later regrets...
Let it SNOW!
Filmmaker RICHARD CURTIS on a magical animation in which things turn upside down at Christmas
Thriller SECRETS & SPIES
KEIRA KNIGHTLEY and SARAH LANCASHIRE on the thrill of playing dangerous double agents
POWERING change
DENISE VAN OUTEN on her mission to help us cut our heating bills