Get ready for a masterclass in comedic chaos as Domhnall Gleeson takes the helm of a sinking ship in The Paper, the uproarious new mockumentary landing on BBC Two this autumn.
Gleeson, famed for his roles in Star Wars and The Revenant, trades galactic battles for a very terrestrial crisis: saving a beloved but terminally unfashionable local newspaper from oblivion. He plays the earnest, hopelessly out-of-touch editor, Arthur Flagg, a man armed with little more than a tweed jacket and dangerously outdated ideas.
The Premise: A Newsroom on the Brink
The series follows the dedicated but beleaguered staff of The Post as they face their greatest challenge yet. Their circulation is plummeting, their advertisers are fleeing, and their new owner has sent in his hapless son-in-law, Arthur, in a last-ditch effort to stop the presses for good.
Viewers are taken behind the scenes into a world of journalistic desperation, where reporters chase non-stories, the classifieds section is the most exciting part of the paper, and the biggest scoop of the week is a disputed sighting of a local badger.
A Stellar Supporting Cast
Gleeson is not alone in this comedic venture. He is joined by a powerhouse ensemble including Andrea Riseborough as the fiercely pragmatic deputy editor, David Morrissey as a veteran hack clinging to the old ways, and Siobhán McSweeney as the no-nonsense office manager who has seen it all.
Together, they navigate the absurdities of the digital age, from launching a disastrous TikTok channel to debating whether a viral story about a cat in a tree is 'real news'.
More Than Just Laughs
While the series promises relentless laughs, it also delivers a surprisingly poignant and sharp-edged satire on the state of local media, the fight for relevance in a digital world, and the importance of community journalism. It’s The Office meets Front Page for the 21st century.
Produced by the BAFTA-winning People Just Do Nothing team, The Paper is set to be one of the must-watch comedy events of the season. Tune in for the cringe-worthy pitches, the editorial meltdowns, and a heartfelt look at the people who believe the news, no matter how small, still matters.
The Paper premieres Thursday, 18th September on BBC Two and will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
