Douglas is Canceled Star Hugh Bonneville Teases New Drama

Douglas is canceled focuses on the explosive fallout after a veteran TV presenter finds himself caught in a media storm that could end his career.

Written by Doctor Who And Sherlock from writer Steven Moffat, the four-part comedy-drama airs on ITV1 in the UK from Thursday June 27 and is also available as a box set on streaming site ITVX from the same date.

We see Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey, Gold), plays famous broadcaster Douglas Bellowes, who presents an evening news show Live at six o’clock with astute co-host Madeline Crow, played by Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, guardians of the galaxy).

Douglas is, however, facing “cancellation”, after he was accused of telling a sexist joke at a family wedding and a horrified guest raised the issue on social media. Douglas claims not to remember what he said, but he, his cynical producer Toby (Diversion Ben Miles), and the illusory actor of the series, Morgan (Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed) must try to deal with the consequences…

Here, Hugh Bonneville and Karen Gillan share what to watch out for Douglas is canceled…

Douglas is Canceled marks two reunions with Steven Moffat for you, after working with him on Doctor Who. Did you like teaming up with him again?

Karen Gillan: “Steven is one of my favorite writers. I love his dialogues full of brilliant lines. I first read this as a play (Steven Moffat originally intended it for the stage), so when Steven said, “We’re making this into a TV show.” Would you like to play Madeline? I was excited.

Hugh Bonneville: “Yes, it was a great honor to receive a script from Steven. And what I loved was that the laughs from the first two episodes, as well as the wonderful satire and commentary on society, were slowly left to sink in at the end. You are ashamed of what you laughed about. That’s the genius of Steven’s writing: he draws you in and then punches you in the face! »

Hugh Bonneville as Douglas in a suit reads a script while sitting on a sofa next to Karen Gillan as Madeline in a brown dress reading an iPad in Douglas is Canceled

Douglas (Hugh Bonneville) and Madeline (Karen Gillan) make a perfect presenting duo, but trouble is brewing in Douglas is canceled. (Image credit: ITV)

How do you view your characters?

Hugh Bonneville: “Douglas resides on the throne of respectability on a sofa every night, but he was a noted front-line journalist. He would say that he is a successful leader with a generous heart. I don’t think he likes the idea of being a national treasure, but he’s avuncular and comfortable, so nothing can go wrong…”

Karen Gillan: “Madeline is difficult to read. People would say she’s “calculated” or “manipulative”, but as the series goes on we understand her more and show why she put up barriers to feel safe and have power over the characters masculine.

Ben Miles in blue shirt as Toby stands in Douglas' studio is canceled

Live At Six producer Toby (Ben Miles) tries to deal with the fallout from the Douglas scandal in Douglas is Cancelled. (Image credit: ITV)

How do they each react to what is happening?

Karen Gillan: “I can’t say much, but Madeline wants Douglas to take responsibility. From his point of view, it’s his fault that things have gone this far.

Hugh Bonneville: “Douglas thinks he can get away with what he considers to be inconsequential comments, while every comment lands. And he also ignores that younger generations are wiser and could attack his work. But your sympathies shift in one direction, and then there’s a quick and ugly reversal.

Alex Kingston in a dark jacket as Sheila Bellowes stands in an office in Douglas is canceled

Will Douglas’ tabloid editor-in-chief wife Sheila (Alex Kingston) support him in Douglas is Cancelled? (Image credit: ITV)

Does Douglas’ wife Sheila, the newspaper’s editor, played by Alex Kingston, support him?

Hugh Bonneville: “There’s a casual inhumanity about her! She loves him but is mystified that he’s so stupid – his job in the public eye is to be boring and bland.

Alex played River Song, Amy Pond’s daughter, in Doctor Who, and she starred with you, Hugh, in Lost in Austen in 2008. Did you enjoy working together again?

Karen Gillan: “It’s the best!” She’s an amazing actress and one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. And it was like a beautiful Doctor Who reunion with Hugh too.

Hugh Bonneville: “Alex and I were at the National Youth Theater together, I love working with her – she has the enthusiasm of a puppy! But Karen is also in a class of her own, it was an honor to be dragged along in her wake! Ben Miles is also the ideal wicketkeeper to bounce around, and (Dragon House star) The character of Simon Russell Beale (Douglas’ useless agent Bently) evolved brilliantly.

Simon Russell Beale as Bently sits opposite Hugh Bonneville as Douglas in Douglas is Canceled

Douglas (Hugh Bonneville) receives a lack of help from his selfish agent Bently (Simon Russell Beale) in Douglas is Canceled. (Image credit: ITV)

Has the show made you think about how easily someone can be “canceled”?

Hugh Bonneville: “Yes, it’s about speed and enormity. I have in mind a combination of a tsunami wave and a wolf! He faces destruction in his path and until he tastes a kind of death, he is not satisfied.

Karen Gillan: “It’s a scary time to exist on social media. We’re seeing people being held accountable who wouldn’t have been held accountable before. But there’s also the terrifying nature of how people make up their minds about someone, even though it might be too early.”

Nick Mohammed in gray fleece as Morgan stands against wall near factory in Douglas is canceled

Series writer Morgan (Nick Mohammed) tries to help defuse the situation in Douglas is Canceled. (Image credit: ITV)

How would you fare as a TV presenter?

Hugh Bonneville: “I would be desperate!” I need a storyline and to hide behind a character. On the show we visited Kate Garraway (who interviews Douglas and Madeline). These people have great skills that I do not possess! »

Karen Gillan: “That would be my personal hell!” Having to read aloud, which is my greatest fear, would be the worst job for me. I have so much admiration for the people who do it.

And what’s next for you both?

Karen Gillan: “I have a film about to come out called Late blooms, which is about a drunk millennial who breaks his hip and then befriends an older Polish lady and they strike up an unlikely friendship. And I just finished a movie called Let’s have children, and it’s about two women who decide to get pregnant at the same time. But my character can’t get pregnant, so she’s dealing with all these fertility issues, and it’s really interesting. I’m excited for that too.

Hugh Bonneville: “We’re in the middle of filming Downton Abbey 3 at present. And we’re about to begin a stint with Paul Giamatti, who returns to play with us, after starring in the TV version (as Cora’s brother Harold), alongside Dominic West. And we have Paddington 3 released in November. And also Gold the second series, which we have just finished. We shot a lot in the UK and then we shot another eight weeks in Tenerife! »

Douglas is canceled will be broadcast in the UK from Thursday June 27 at 9pm on ITV1 and is also available as a box set on streaming site ITVX from the same date. We’ll let you know about a US release when it’s announced.