The Life and Times of Vivienne Vyle

Season 1
Jennifer Saunders takes a sideways swipe at the talk show format. It's Ab Fab meets The Larry Sanders Show with quite a bit of Ricki Lake and Oprah thrown in for good measure. 'The Vivienne Vyle Show' is Britain's most loved, most watched and most talked about talk show. Vivienne Vyle is the show's host and she will do anything to maintain her celebrity status - her brand. She is not afraid to say exactly what she thinks and offer her own unique, frank advice. According to Vivienne, the only way to solve a problem is through honesty and openness. This comical satire on modern celebrity reveals how Vivienne's show uses people and spits them out and also peers into her own private life.
IMDb 7.120076 episodes18+
Available to buy

Episodes

  1. S1 E1 - Episode 1
    September 7, 2008
    29min
    13+
    When Vivienne reveals on her show that a man is not the father of his former girlfriend's child, he attacks her and in the ensuing brawl a security guard falls on her. She then ends up in hospital and is on the verge of a mental breakdown. In her absence Fern Britton replaces her as the host of The Vivienne Vyle Show, while Helena sacks runner Abigail only for Vivienne to re-instate her.
    Available to buy
  2. S1 E2 - Episode 2
    October 10, 2007
    29min
    13+
    Vivienne decides she needs to revive her show, and attempts to copy the style of her rival Chris Connor by speaking to the audience. However, none of the audience talk to her. Vivienne then has a meeting to discuss the show's image with two promotion experts, Joshua and Rose. After little success at the meeting, she sacks them and seeks the advice of Miriam. Following her advice, she makes a personal appearance at a cash and carry in Slough.
    Available to buy
  3. S1 E3 - Episode 3
    October 17, 2007
    29min
    13+
    Vivienne and Jared argue in the morning over the plumbing and she then goes off for an interview with a tabloid journalist who calls her a "one-trick pony" and Jared a "kept man". Vivienne goes to work and then on to a production meeting. Helena throws her mobile phone at Carol while Jonathan is after his own show. When she gets home, Jared has failed to fix the plumbing.
    Available to buy
  4. S1 E4 - Episode 4
    October 24, 2007
    29min
    18+
    Vivienne's programme is nominated for the publicly-voted TV Pick Award for "Best Daytime Talk Show". As the show is up for an award, they allow GMTV presenter Lynn Faulds Wood to film behind the scenes on a "catch-up" show. On the way to the awards ceremony, Vivienne discovers her football team are playing and so she and Jared go to watch them play instead. During the match, the awards ceremony is shown live and Vivienne wins the award. Fern Britton and Paul O'Grady make cameo appearances.
    Available to buy
  5. S1 E5 - Episode 5
    October 31, 2007
    29min
    13+
    The morning after their success at the TV Pick Awards, the crew of The Vivienne Vyle Show discuss the after-show party. When she wakes up, Vivienne feels dizzy and is unable to walk. A video conference is then held with Dr. Jonathan and Helena at the studio and Vivienne and Jared at their house. Jonathan manages to 'cure' Vivienne, who appears to have been suffering from psychological problems. During the conference, Jonathan and Helena, unbeknown to anyone else, kiss passionately.
    Available to buy
  6. S1 E6 - Episode 6
    November 7, 2007
    27min
    13+
    Janey (Harriet Thorpe), a journalist from Daily Mail, informs Jared that she has evidence of him at a gay party where a young rent boy fell off a balcony and died. Miriam comes up with ideas for damage limitation. However, The Vivienne Vyle Show is being broadcast live to mark the end of the season and at the end of the show, Vivienne does an unexpected piece to camera about the party and brings Jared on to admit he is an alcoholic, but does not mention he is gay. She then says she was abused as a child and, as the live show ends, gets a warm welcome from the audience.
    Available to buy

Details

More info

Subtitles
None available
Directors
Rupert Jones
Producers
Jo SargentJon Plowman
Cast
Jennifer SaundersMiranda Richardson
Studio
BBC
By clicking play, you agree to our Terms of Use.