Tracey Breaks the News is a British topical comedy programme starring Tracey Ullman. It premiered on BBC One on 27 October 2017 following a one-off special that aired on 23 June.
After the success of the one-off special, on 13 September 2017, the BBC announced that it had ordered three new episodes of Tracey Breaks the News. Like the pilot, the three new shows would tackle topical stories and current issues in a sketch show written and filmed right up to the day of broadcast. It was also reported that Ullman would impersonate the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron, and the Leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn.
On 15 May 2018, it was formally announced that the show had been picked up for a second series, which aired in June on BBC One.
The show has been recut and sold internationally under the Tracey Ullman's Show banner.
Premise Tracey Ullman and her cast of characters take on current events.
Cast Starring Tracey Ullman as Various
Supporting
Zahra Ahmadi Chizzy Akudolu William Andrews Gemma Arrowsmith Ben Ashenden Anthony Atamanuik as Donald Trump Michael Brandon Jade Ewen Jason Forbes Steve Furst Tony Gardner Leila Hoffman Liam Hourican Laurence Howarth Martha Howe-Douglas Katherine Jakeways Dave Lamb Georgia Maskery Ben Miller as Rupert Murdoch Lucy Montgomery Dominique Moore Olivia Morgan Carlotta Morelli Aaron Neil Sue Elliott-Nicholls Tracy-Ann Oberman Laurence Rickard Christopher Ryan Dan Skinner Samantha Spiro Nico Tatarowicz Brona C. Titley Tony Way Ben Willbond
Background Early in her career, Ullman made a conscious decision to steer clear of "straight-up" impersonations of celebrities, believing that doing so was delving into Saturday Night Live Live territory. She instead opted for "amalgamations"—combining elements of well-known people (look, voice, mannerisms, and profession) to create original characters.
However, by the dawn of the new millennium, she felt that the world’s celebrity-driven culture required her to finally add famous figures to her repertoire, which she did with her show Tracey Ullman's State of the Union.
Critics noted a shift in the usually non-political Ullman; State of the Union took on lofty topics such as healthcare, immigration, gun culture, war, and the 24-hour news media. Her impersonations included political figures such as then—House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, former First Ladies Laura Bush and Carla Bruni, Congressman Barney Frank, and political pundits Arianna Huffington, Rachel Maddow, and Meghan McCain, as well as journalist Christiane Amanpour.
When the BBC approached her in 2014 about returning to the broadcaster to create a new show, Ullman was keen on exploring modern-day Britain and its "national treasures". Political figures such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon were among those impersonated. She saw Britain as a global hub and a melting pot and wanted to center the show on that concept. However, by 2016, Brexit loomed as the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The irony of this shift, given the show's original conception, was not lost on Ullman.
Two days before filming the second series of Tracey Ullman's Show, the Brexit vote took place, forcing the writers to perform quick rewrites for the Angela Merkel sketches. Because the show typically filmed six months ahead of transmission, the schedule proved poorly suited for topical comedy. Consequently, when the BBC ordered a post-election special for the summer of 2017, Ullman developed a new format and production schedule: the show would be written, filmed, and transmitted in quick succession to keep the material "up to the minute". As Ullman noted, "We've decided to shake it up with a more topical format because things move so fast these days—it's like every 10 minutes I'm voting for something." The show aired on 23 June.
Whilst promoting the first two series of Tracey Ullman's Show, Ullman began petitioning for the return of the British satirical puppet show Spitting Image, feeling that there was a satirical gap in British comedy. In an interview with Rolling Stone she further explained: "I mean I came [to the United States] in Reagan's era. I grew up with Spitting Image being on in England at that time, a really political satirical show with puppets. We used to have the 'President's Brain Is Missing...' for Reagan. And they tried to stop that show in America. We have always turned to satire with Private Eye and go back to Beyond the Fringe, and that's what the week was [sic]."
The special, which served as the pilot episode, proved highly successful, drawing a total of 4.2 million viewers: 2.4 million for its premiere and an additional 1.8 million during its encore showing. Unlike its predecessor, Tracey Breaks the News does not feature a laugh track.Consolidated viewing figures retrieved from Overnights.tv on 26 June 2017
Production Writing and filming The series was filmed close to transmission, with ten minutes of topical material filmed just 48 hours before each episode airs. "[W]hich is as close... to Saturday Night Live as anyone in England gets at the moment," Ullman revealed to Rolling Stone magazine. "So if [Jeremy] Corbyn or Theresa May—or if something extraordinary happens—we can go in and do a piece about that."
On 13 September 2017, the BBC formally announced that it had ordered a first series of three episodes. In a press release, it was revealed that along with Angela Merkel, Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May, Ullman would be adding her take on the current First Lady of France Brigitte Macron and British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. "I am thrilled to be allowed to Break the News again with my fantastic team of writers and performers. It's wonderful that there is so much comedy to be found in the world's current terrifying doom spiral. These are uncertain times, but I have my money on Angela Merkel to win the German election—don’t let me down Angela, you are like my Dot in EastEnders. Theresa May—hang in there, I'm not done with you yet, and Nicola Sturgeon—all power to your elbow hen, I promise my accent will be 10% better this season. I can't wait to play new characters including First Lady of France Brigitte Macron and a certain Labour leader, who we imagine has a marvellous sense of humour and will no doubt be delighted to see himself depicted by a middle aged woman (please don't shave your beard off Jeremy, we've just had one made). Onward!"
Location filming began on 25 September. Writing and filming continued the week of transmission.
In February 2018, Ullman revealed to writer and broadcaster Claire Fordham that writing for the second series had already begun. Filming on the new series commenced on 30 April 2018. On 15 May 2018, it was confirmed that the show would return to BBC One on 1 June with a new series consisting of three episodes.
On 16 May, the BBC released a photo of Ullman in costume as British Conservative politician Michael Gove, the then-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It was further revealed that British politician Jacob Rees-Mogg, played by actor Liam Hourican, would be added to the show's long roster of impersonations. Rees-Mogg is presented as one-half of a double act, accompanied by his "very long-suffering nanny." Also returning to the series is Ben Miller as Rupert Murdoch, playing opposite Ullman as his wife, Jerry Hall.
Characterisations
The show encompasses a wide variety of world leaders and figures portrayed by Ullman. "I don't really impersonate them, I just try to interpret them, really."
Critics found the show's take on British Prime Minister Theresa May to be both biting and sympathetic. The results of the 2017 general election left an already beleaguered May searching high and low for any sign that she was about to be ousted. Her husband, Philip (played by actor Laurence Rickard), is always on hand to lend an ear and offer emotional support while partaking in online gambling—specifically betting on how much longer his wife will remain Prime Minister.
Ullman describes May's voice as "always sounding hysterical". She further explained: "I know that English woman so well. She sort of talks like that. It's all very [as Theresa May] 'Well, let's get on, shall we?' She's a vicar's daughter from Maidenhead. And I know exactly where she's from. My sister's the same age as her. We grew up near her. And you couldn't be more different—me or Theresa May."
Ullman describes May's look as if Nosferatu and Oscar Wilde had a child. "She looks like the vicar from The Barchester Chronicles, the [Anthony] Trollope novel. She's just Dickinson looking."
Ullman admitted to being hesitant playing May right after the election and Grenfell Tower fire, feeling that it was the last thing she (May) needed. “I thought, can I do this? There's suddenly so much suffering this woman can go through and then Tracey Ullman impersonates her in primetime. It's like, leave her alone, you know? But then we did it and it was just fabulous fun and the nation needed it."
Ullman's Angela Merkel has moved on from her crush on former United States President Barack Obama and has now set her sights on new world leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron (played by Ben Willbond), who she Skypes multiple times a day. "[A]nd his eye for the mature sex machine is of no relevance, Birgit, nein.” The one leader Angela does not relish conferencing with is United States President Donald Trump, or Herr Trump, as she refers to him. "He hates me, and I hate him more!"
Ullman was thrilled to cast actor Anthony Atamanuik as Donald Trump for the show. "I saw him during the election, and I just thought that he was the best Trump. I mean, Alec Baldwin is amazing, but I love Anthony's take... We wanted to have Angela Merkel and Theresa May interacting with Trump, and Anthony is always in character as Trump, so it’s perfect," she noted. "He's been fantastic with what we've done so far. I'm going to have all sorts of people talking with him." In contrast to the grounded political figures, his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, is portrayed as a Westworld robot created by the Russian government; she continuously malfunctions and must be flown back to Russia for repairs.
Nicola Sturgeon, depicted as a Bond-style villain alongside her henchman Mhairi Black (referred to as "Wee Mhairi"), continues her quest for Scottish independence at any cost. Both the real Nicola Sturgeon and Mhairi Black have voiced support for their portrayals in the show—as have Sturgeon's political rivals. Available at allabouttracey.com While the show pokes fun at Sturgeon's repeated calls for referendums, Ullman has stated that she admires her. Nevertheless, the depictions did draw the ire of several online SNP supporters.
The show lampoons the entire political spectrum. Ullman, a lifelong Labour supporter, has been openly critical of the party in recent years, describing herself as feeling "party-less." The show's 2017 post-election pilot episode features a sketch in which a newly elected Labour MP is sent to a "voluntary mandatory re-education program" at Labour headquarters. There, the MP is brainwashed into believing that then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (portrayed by Ullman in series one) has "defeated Toryism" and that the number of seats won by the party is larger than it appears. The ultimate torture technique featured in the sketch: sending in Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell (Laurence Howarth).
Corbyn is portrayed as a politician keen on giving the impression that he understands the plight of "the worker" while simultaneously reveling in his newfound celebrity. McDonnell is depicted as increasingly resentful of Corbyn for making decisions without consultation, fearing what his colleague is becoming.