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Telegraph
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Danny Dyer deserves his Bafta, but not for Mr Bigstuff
Danny Dyer won a Bafta this year for Mr Bigstuff (Sky Max), and enlivened that most boring of awards ceremonies in his trademark style. He swore three times in 90 seconds, had the audience in stitches, and praised the show's creator, Ryan Sampson, for being multi-talented: 'He's never done the same thing twice, which is not something I can say.' Alas, the speech was funnier than Mr Bigstuff itself. I suspect Bafta wanted to honour Danny Dyer just for being Danny Dyer, because he's approaching national treasure status, rather than to show their love for this show in particular. They should have given it to him for Rivals, in which he really did give us something different. He's a talented actor. However, in Mr Bigstuff he's just playing a larger-than-life version of Danny Dyer, who is larger than life in the first place. The first series drew on the odd couple dynamic between Lee (Dyer) and Glen (Sampson). The long-lost brothers couldn't be more different: Glen is living the mildest of lives as a World of Carpets salesman until Lee turns up to sow chaos. In series two, they set off in search of the dad they thought was dead, but who turns out to be living in Tenerife. Glen's fiancee, Kirsty (Harriet Webb from Big Boys), is trying to spice up her marriage with some light S&M, while being targeted by a blackmailer who has incriminating snaps of her kissing Lee. Series two feels like a retread, but with Sampson trying to push the Dyer scenes that little bit further. So, in series one, Lee spent a lot of time in a dressing gown, and in series two he is still wearing a dressing gown but it's filthy on account of the fact that he mostly lives in an armchair on the street while knocking back bottles of vodka and listening to Barry Manilow. In series one, he got annoyed about non-recyclable packaging, and in series two he yells at neighbours who put their yoghurt pots in the wrong bin. By the end of the opening episode, he has dispensed with the armchair altogether and runs down the street naked, just after a scene in which he has a sanitary towel stuck to his head on a petrol station forecourt. Meanwhile, fans of Rula Lenska will be delighted to learn that she makes a sultry appearance in episode two. Lee tells her he's come round to mend her guttering. 'My guttering is f----ing immaculate,' she says, and she's not talking about the downpipe on her house. It's silly, ribald fun, featuring an accomplished cast, but the whole thing is held together by Dyer's charisma. Try to imagine any other actor speaking Lee's lines and it would fall flat.


Scotsman
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Mr. Bigstuff cast: who is in the season 2 cast
Sky's Mr. Bigstuff is back and features plenty of familiar faces in season 2 👀 Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Mr. Bigstuff is back for a second series on Sky. Danny Dyer won a BAFTA for his role in season one. But who else will be appearing in the latest episodes? The Campbell brothers are back for another season of hijinks and chaos. Sky Max's hit comedy has returned with a fresh batch of new episodes. Danny Dyer won his first ever BAFTA award for his role in series one. He is back along with Ryan Sampson - who also created the show. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show first debuted back in July 2024 and after a 12 month wait it is finally about to return. It will pick-up after the shocking revelation that the brother's dad was not in fact dead - he simply just left them. But who is in the cast for series 2 of Mr. Bigstuff? Here's all you need to know: When does Mr. Bigstuff season 2 start? Danny Dyer (L) and Ryan Sampson (R) in Mr. Bigstuff season 2 | Sky Max The latest episodes from the hit comedy are set to arrive on Sky and Now TV today (July 24). Viewers can tune in and binge the full season - or watch it on Sky Max this evening. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr. Bigstuff will be on at 9pm with the second episode of series two will follow at 9.30pm. Each episode of the show lasts approximately 30 minutes, including adverts. The synopsis for the season, from Sky, reads: 'Series two picks up two weeks after the shock news that the brothers' dad's not actually dead, and Lee and Glen are handling it very differently. 'But, with chaos mounting and questions piling up, the brothers unite on a mission to track him down. Meanwhile, Kirsty's taking charge in the bedroom and the boardroom, but one badly timed kiss—and a mysterious blackmailer—threaten to bring it all crashing down. 'With secrets spilling and tempers flaring, it's only a matter of time before the family blows up—again.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Who is in the cast of Mr. Bigstuff? Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson have returned as the Campbell brothers - Lee and Glenn. Also returning is Harriet Webb, who plays Kirsty in the show. Audiences will recognise Danny Dyer from his long career across TV and film, including a spell on EastEnders as Mick Carter. He was also part of the cast for Disney+'s Rivals in 2024. Ryan Sampson was in ITV's historical comedy series Plebs - playing slave Grumio across five seasons and a special. He is also Tommo in Sky's dramedy Brassic. Harriet Webb (L), Ryan Sampson (C) and Danny Dyer (R) in Mr. Bigstuff | Sky Max Viewers may have seen Harriet Webb in Channel 4's Big Boys. She played Shannon in all three seasons of the acclaimed comedy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Also joining series two are Ryan Sampson's Brassic co-stars Tom Hanson and Parth Thakerar, as well as Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street) David Mumeni (Stath Lets Flats) and Alan Ford (Snatch). Returning cast includes Adrian Scarborough (Gavin & Stacey), Fatiha El-Ghorri (Taskmaster), Victoria Alcock (Bad Girls), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders) and Clive Russell (Ripper Street). Who are the guest stars in Mr. Bigstuff season 2? A number of high-profile guest roles for the new episodes have been confirmed. It includes: Rula Lenska as Rita: Guest-starring in episode two, Rula Lenska—renowned for her roles in Coronation Street and her memorable appearance on Celebrity Big Brother—delivers high comedy as Rita, an eccentric and flirtatious woman the brothers believe is connected to their missing dad, Don Campbell. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Linda Henry as Pam: Known for her portrayal of Shirley Carter in EastEnders, Linda Henry reunites with Dyer to play Pam, a no-nonsense, hands-on mechanic at the family haulage firm. Shaun Williamson as an angry clown: The EastEnders and Extras favourite appears in episode five in a whole new light, playing a furious children's entertainer who finds himself at the centre of another brotherly showdown. If you love TV, check out our Screen Babble podcast to get the latest in TV and film.


Scotsman
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Mr. Bigstuff cast: who is in the season 2 cast
Sky's Mr. Bigstuff is back and features plenty of familiar faces in season 2 👀 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Mr. Bigstuff is back for a second series on Sky. Danny Dyer won a BAFTA for his role in season one. But who else will be appearing in the latest episodes? The Campbell brothers are back for another season of hijinks and chaos. Sky Max's hit comedy has returned with a fresh batch of new episodes. Danny Dyer won his first ever BAFTA award for his role in series one. He is back along with Ryan Sampson - who also created the show. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The show first debuted back in July 2024 and after a 12 month wait it is finally about to return. It will pick-up after the shocking revelation that the brother's dad was not in fact dead - he simply just left them. But who is in the cast for series 2 of Mr. Bigstuff? Here's all you need to know: When does Mr. Bigstuff season 2 start? Danny Dyer (L) and Ryan Sampson (R) in Mr. Bigstuff season 2 | Sky Max The latest episodes from the hit comedy are set to arrive on Sky and Now TV today (July 24). Viewers can tune in and binge the full season - or watch it on Sky Max this evening. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr. Bigstuff will be on at 9pm with the second episode of series two will follow at 9.30pm. Each episode of the show lasts approximately 30 minutes, including adverts. The synopsis for the season, from Sky, reads: 'Series two picks up two weeks after the shock news that the brothers' dad's not actually dead, and Lee and Glen are handling it very differently. 'But, with chaos mounting and questions piling up, the brothers unite on a mission to track him down. Meanwhile, Kirsty's taking charge in the bedroom and the boardroom, but one badly timed kiss—and a mysterious blackmailer—threaten to bring it all crashing down. 'With secrets spilling and tempers flaring, it's only a matter of time before the family blows up—again.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Who is in the cast of Mr. Bigstuff? Danny Dyer and Ryan Sampson have returned as the Campbell brothers - Lee and Glenn. Also returning is Harriet Webb, who plays Kirsty in the show. Audiences will recognise Danny Dyer from his long career across TV and film, including a spell on EastEnders as Mick Carter. He was also part of the cast for Disney+'s Rivals in 2024. Ryan Sampson was in ITV's historical comedy series Plebs - playing slave Grumio across five seasons and a special. He is also Tommo in Sky's dramedy Brassic. Harriet Webb (L), Ryan Sampson (C) and Danny Dyer (R) in Mr. Bigstuff | Sky Max Viewers may have seen Harriet Webb in Channel 4's Big Boys. She played Shannon in all three seasons of the acclaimed comedy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Also joining series two are Ryan Sampson's Brassic co-stars Tom Hanson and Parth Thakerar, as well as Shobna Gulati (Coronation Street) David Mumeni (Stath Lets Flats) and Alan Ford (Snatch). Returning cast includes Adrian Scarborough (Gavin & Stacey), Fatiha El-Ghorri (Taskmaster), Victoria Alcock (Bad Girls), Ned Dennehy (Peaky Blinders) and Clive Russell (Ripper Street). Who are the guest stars in Mr. Bigstuff season 2? A number of high-profile guest roles for the new episodes have been confirmed. It includes: Rula Lenska as Rita: Guest-starring in episode two, Rula Lenska—renowned for her roles in Coronation Street and her memorable appearance on Celebrity Big Brother—delivers high comedy as Rita, an eccentric and flirtatious woman the brothers believe is connected to their missing dad, Don Campbell. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Linda Henry as Pam: Known for her portrayal of Shirley Carter in EastEnders, Linda Henry reunites with Dyer to play Pam, a no-nonsense, hands-on mechanic at the family haulage firm. Shaun Williamson as an angry clown: The EastEnders and Extras favourite appears in episode five in a whole new light, playing a furious children's entertainer who finds himself at the centre of another brotherly showdown.


Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Danny Dyer impersonators don their finest tracksuits as they take part in lookalike competition with the seal of approval from the man himself - but do YOU think they picked the right winner?
A host of tracksuit clad, bearded blokes flocked to London on Wednesday all vying for the same prize - to be crowned Danny Dyer 's best lookalike. The event was announced by the actor's Mr. Bigstuff co-stars Ryan Sampson and Harriet Webb on the weekend, who asked the country: 'Britain, do you look like Danny Dyer? Do you smoke a lot of fags?' And it seems a fair few 'stubbly blokes', as Ryan described them, thought they fit the bill, with Shoreditch's Hoxton Square full with Danny doppelgangers clad in their best Sergio Tacchini jackets for the competition. One of whom was the former EastEnders star's official lookalike, who is actually signed to an agency thanks to his striking resemblance to the man himself. Rocking Danny's brown beard and slicked back hair, the similarities between him and the actor, now 47, were nothing short of uncanny. But perhaps surprisingly, he was pipped to the prize by another contender. The day's winner was jubilant after being crowned the 'Best Danny', and was pictured celebrating in front of the crowds who turned up for the occasion. Despite looking perhaps less like Danny in the face than his most fierce competition, he was likely victorious for his outfit, with the winner sporting a white and maroon Sergio Tacchini jacket akin to those rocked by the iconic Brit in his 2005 movie The Business. With a crown perched on his head and a ribbon tied around his torso, the day's victor posed for a photo alongside judges Ryan and Harriet and, of course, a cut out of Danny Dyer himself. He beat off competition from more than ten potential lookalikes sporting Fila jackets, sunglasses and almost all with their hair jelled and slickly combed back just like the East London icon, who sadly was not present. This competition had the seal of approval from Danny himself, who took to Instagram to repost a video of a fan claiming they'd be taking the day off work to attend the event. As Ryan and Harriet referenced in their promotion of Wednesday's event, the Danny lookalike competition comes after a growing global trend of celebrity doppelganger contests. An army of budding Harry Styles doubles descended upon on the English capital late last year for instance for a head-to-head. Judged by a mix of notable names and One Direction super fans, competitors were encouraged to dress up in bold outfits inspired by the singer's famously flamboyant wardrobe. One of those in attendance was the former EastEnders actor's official lookalike (pictured), who is signed by an agency as a Danny Dyer lookalike With a crown perched on his head and a ribbon tied around his torso, he posed for a photo alongside judges Ryan and Harriet and, of course, a cut out of Danny himself The panel of judges included Ryan Lanji, a party planner known for his work on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, and the author of The Book of Harry, Bonnie McLaren. Prizes ranged from £50 for the winner and a selection of hair products for the victor in the 'best hair' category to a six-pack of organic wine for the 'best style'. And even the entrant unfortunate enough to be ranked as the worst Styles lookalike did not leave the event empty-handed, as they claimed a four-pack of cheap beer. Eventually Oscar Jorneaux won the contest, a 22-year-old musician who admitted he entered for 'publicity'. Just weeks earlier New York hosted a similar Timothee Chalamet competition, with fans left in a frenzy when the actor and boyfriend of Kylie Jenner arrived unannounced. Flanked by bodyguards, the actor posed for photographs with his curly-haired doppelgangers - some of whom had dressed as his characters, including Willy Wonka and Dune protagonist Paul Atreides. So impressive were the day's competitors that some fans heaped their attention onto them, mistaking them for Timothee himself. Noah Wildie, 23, told it was 'insane' when the actor arrived, as hundreds of fans passionately screaming.


Sky News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Danny Dyer on Mr Bigstuff, Oasis, and his surprising screensaver
Why you can trust Sky News From Human Traffic and The Business to his critically acclaimed performance in the raunchy TV adaptation of Rivals, via a stint as Queen Vic landlord Mick Carter in EastEnders, Danny Dyer has been on our screens for more than 30 years. But it was his performance in the TV comedy Mr Bigstuff that earned him his first BAFTA win - and one of the ceremony's biggest cheers from the audience - earlier this year. Now, he returns to his prize-winning role for the second series of the Sky show, which tells the story of two estranged brothers - Glen (played by creator Ryan Sampson), an anxious carpet salesman living his ideal suburban life with fiancee Kirsty (Harriet Webb), and Lee (played by Dyer), an alpha male who struts back into his brother's life carrying their father's ashes. Several EastEnders alumni feature, including Nitin Ganatra, Victoria Alcock and Linda Henry, who played Dyer's on-screen mother, Shirley Carter. Reflecting on some of Albert Square's most famous characters and who would work well in Mr Bigstuff, Dyer says he would have loved to see the late June Brown, who played the chain-smoking hypochondriac Dot Cotton for 35 years, taking on a role. "Absolute legend," he says. Sampson suggests the late Dame Barbara Windsor, who played the formidable Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell, but has a clear pitch if season three gets the green light. "It could still be a possible, it would be amazing," he says. "You want your Pat Butcher, don't you? You want Pam St Clement. Why hasn't she played a mafia boss yet? She'd be amazing. She'd be incredible at it." Dyer reveals his screensaver After his long career on screen, Dyer is now enjoying playing a variety of roles alongside the Cockney geezer types that became his bread and butter in the early noughties. His nuanced performance as awkward entrepreneur Freddie Jones in Rivals brought him praise from fans and critics alike, and Mr Bigstuff his BAFTA. But Dyer always had range. After small TV roles in shows including The Bill and A Touch Of Frost, he grew close to the Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter in 2000 after auditioning and earning the role of a waiter in his play Celebration at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, north London. "I've got Harold Pinter as a screensaver on my phone," he says. "I always feel that he's sort of looking down on me or close to me, so I like to just feel that he's around me." Dyer continued the role in Celebration both in the West End and on Broadway, with Pinter becoming his mentor in the process. In 2020, he presented a Sky Arts documentary, Danny Dyer On Pinter, which explored the life, career and impact of the playwright and screenwriter, who died in 2008. He also has plans to develop a stage tribute to his friend, currently titled When Harry Met Danny. Reflecting on his entry into the industry, he says theatre was quite inaccessible at the time, but Pinter opened it up to him. "I think it's even worse now, which I feel is a sad state of affairs," he says. "I don't know why that is. Everything's become quite elite. All the elite f****** looking after themselves, so that needs to change." 'Love in the air' at Oasis gig But Pinter isn't his only big influence - Dyer was one of the thousands of fans to see Oasis make their return to the stage in Cardiff earlier this month. "It was really emotional seeing them come out," he says. "There was a lot of love in the air, a lot of good energy. "You know, there's a lot of f****** shit going on. I think people, of my age as well, just want to jump around and sing them songs at the top of their lungs. So I'm still recovering, I'm not going to lie."