If you’re looking for a gripping miniseries to stream in one sitting this week, we’ve got you covered. Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville’s TV drama, Douglas is Cancelled, is now available on Disney+ – and it might just be the perfect one-night TV binge.
The series, which first aired on ITV in 2024, consists of just four episodes, all around 40 minutes long. Set in the world of television news, the series follows national treasure Douglas Bellowes, whose broadcasting career is thrown into jeopardy after a sexist comment he made leaks online.
Hugh Bonneville is brilliant as the titular bumbling TV anchor in this tense and witty drama, which tackles social media-driven cancel culture with dark humour, while also addressing workplace power dynamics.
The series, which holds a solid Rotten Tomatoes rating of 78 per cent, comes from BAFTA-winning writer Steven Moffat, known for co-creating the hit detective show Sherlock and for his work on Doctor Who. Plus, the series boasts an impressive cast, including Karen Gillan (Doctor Who) and Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso).
Keep reading to find out more…
What is Douglas Is Cancelled about?
The series centres around middle-aged current affairs news anchor Douglas Bellowes, who “loves the life he’s created with his newspaper editor wife, Sheila”.
Despite being a respected and experienced broadcaster, Douglas seeks constant reassurance from his younger co-anchor Madeline, who “appears to be able to wrap him around her little finger”.
© Sally MaisBut his privileged life as a national treasure is thrown into chaos when he comes under fire for an ill-advised joke he made at his cousin’s wedding.
The synopsis continues: “Speculation is rife and during the ongoing hysteria and digital storm, Douglas’s alleged indiscretion is dissected, analysed and blown out of all proportion. Everyone appears to have an opinion and Douglas is struggling to escape the controversy.
© Sally Mais“It’s a chaotic and unmanageable situation, but can Douglas count on the support of his agent and colleagues? What will Douglas do next? Is he a casualty of ‘cancel culture’? With 2 million followers, what is Madeline’s motivation to social post on Douglas’s behalf? Friend or foe? That is the question.”
What have viewers and critics said about the show?
Viewers have praised the series as “superb” and a “must-watch”. One person hailed the show as “one of the best mini series I’ve watched in a long while,” adding: “The acting by everyone is absolutely top notch probably because the writing and direction is of an extremely high standard.”
A second viewer penned in an online review: “Watched this series in one sitting and it’s one of the best. The storyline is stylishly crafted and all brought together in the last 10 minutes to a totally satisfying ending which resonates with the strange times we live in.”
© Sally MaisThe series was met with mixed reviews from critics, with The Guardian describing the series as “fast, fun – and furious about every liberal taboo,” in its four-star review, while The Independent gave just two stars, writing: “This is a subject matter that deserves ambiguity, grey areas and hard questions, but Moffat offers only sermons, moral binaries and easy answers.”
How to watch Douglas is Cancelled
Douglas is Cancelled is available to stream on Disney+. Viewers can also watch the series on ITVX.
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