Toast of London explained

Alt Name:Toast of Tinseltown
Director:Michael Cumming
Producer:Kate Daughton (Toast of London)
Charlie Leech (Toast of Tinseltown)
Runtime:23 minutes (Toast of London)
28 minutes (Toast of Tinseltown)
Language:English
Genre:Sitcom
Company:Objective Media Group
Objective Fiction (2022)
wiip studios (2022)
Country:United Kingdom
Network:Channel 4
Network2:BBC Two
Open Theme:"Take My Hand"
Theme Music Composer:Matt Berry
End Theme:"Beatmaker" (Toast of Tinseltown)
Num Series:4
Num Episodes:25
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes

Toast of London is a British television sitcom. It was created by Arthur Mathews and Matt Berry and stars Berry as Steven Toast, an eccentric, middle-aged actor with a chequered past who spends more time dealing with his problems offstage than performing on it.

Its fourth series, set in the United States, was titled Toast of Tinseltown.

Production

All episodes are directed by Michael Cumming.

Three series, under the title Toast of London, were broadcast on Channel 4. Series 2 and 3 were shot at the West London Film Studios. In the United States, Toast of London was available on IFC.

In November 2017, after reports of a fourth series, Berry clarified that it will return "in some form at some point", but nothing was currently being written. Mathews later said that they had an idea for "Toast in America", but that no deadline was set.[1] In December 2017, Channel 4 officially renewed the show for another series.[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created, whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown. The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.

Cast and characters

Overview

CharacterPortrayed byToast of LondonToast of Tinseltown
Main characters
Steven ToastMatt Berrycolspan="6"
Jane PloughFiona Mollisoncolspan="5"
Doon Mackichancolspan="2"
Brooke
Hooberman
Ed
Howzer-Black
Robert Bathurstcolspan="6"
Rupert
Howzer-Black
colspan="3"
Ray "Bloody" PurchaseHarry Peacockcolspan="6"
Bill Purchasecolspan="2"
Danny BearTim Downiecolspan="6"
Clem FandangoShazad Latifcolspan="6"
Mrs. PurchaseTracy-Ann Obermancolspan="6"
Russ Nightlife
Fred Armisen
Billy TarzanaRashida Jones
Milly Tarzana

Main

In Toast of Tinseltown, additional main characters include:

Recurring

Guest

Episodes

COVID-19 Specials (2021)

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created,[3] whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown.[4] The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.[5] [6] [7]

Series 4: Toast of Tinseltown (2022)

Music and songs

The theme music, "Take My Hand" was composed by Matt Berry and was released on the album Witchazel.[8] Each episode of Toast of London also features a novelty song sung by Berry's character Toast, and others. The songs are sometimes sung partly to the fourth wall.

Toast of Tinseltown employed a new end theme, a cover version of Swedish pop singer Doris' "Beatmaker" performed by Matt Berry and Emma Noble.[9]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an approval rating of 84% to 90% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[10] [11]

Awards

At the 61st Rose d'Or awards in 2022, Toast of Tinseltown was named as the best comedy.[12]

Book

In 2015, Matt Berry and Arthur Mathews published Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice, a spoof autobiography of Steven Toast.[13] It was also released as an audio book read by Matt Berry.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Big Train at 20 – interview with Arthur Matthews . The Digital Fix . 23 July 2018 . 13 August 2018 .
  2. News: Toast of London Series 4 Renewal Announced by Channel 4. Premiere Date.
  3. Web site: Toast of London . 24 July 2021. YouTube.
  4. Web site: 'Toast of London' moves to BBC One with sequel series. NME. 10 February 2021.
  5. Web site: BBC Two – Toast of Tinseltown – Available now. BBC.
  6. Web site: BBC Two – Toast of Tinseltown, Series 1, Monster Mash. BBC.
  7. Web site: Toast of London. www.bbc.co.uk.
  8. Web site: Toast of London's Matt Berry set to make history by playing theme tune live over show's credits. Radio Times. 27 October 2019.
  9. Web site: Listen to Matt Berry and Emma Noble's 'Beatmaker' from Toast of Tinseltown. NME. 5 January 2022 . 9 February 2022.
  10. Web site: Toast of London (Season 3). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. 9 November 2023.
  11. Web site: Toast of London. Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. 9 November 2023.
  12. Web site: Winners of 61st Rose d'Or awards announced – Rose d'Or Awards. 28 November 2022. 9 November 2023.
  13. Web site: Toast on Toast by Steven Toast . Waterstones . 27 October 2019.
    - Web site: Steven Toast's 'Toast on Toast': read the first chapter. Time Out London. 19 October 2015 . 27 October 2019.