Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe is a British television review programme broadcast on BBC Four written and presented by Charlie Brooker. The programme contains reviews of current shows, as well as stories and commentary on how television is produced. Series one was referred to by Brooker as a "series of three pilots", after which the programme was commissioned for a longer run.[1] The series has run for five series, plus several specials on BBC Four, although repeats have been shown on BBC Two.
Brooker talks about the actual cost of making simple TV and how TV companies claw the money back from phone in shows. He also discusses the different types of TV presenters as well as reviewing The Jeremy Kyle Show and The Apprentice. Robert Popper talks about his dislike for the TV show Star Quality.
2
1
2
9 March 2006
Brooker talks about the process of actually getting an idea onto TV. He reviews 24, Deal or No Deal and breakfast TV and he discusses TV giving itself a pat on the back. Dr Ben Goldacre discusses "bad" science on television.
3
1
3
16 March 2006
Brooker discusses TV scaremongering thanks to 24-hour news and reconstruction programmes. He reviews Music channels and TV makeover shows. Simon Farnaby talks about Last of the Summer Wine.
Series 2[]
Total
Series
Episode
Original airdate
4
2
1
20 July 2006
Brooker talks about how difficult it is to actually make the smallest bit of TV. Brooker reviews the morning slots on television, Doctor Who, EastEnders and aspirational TV. Jamie Whyte talks about advertising on TV.
5
2
2
27 July 2006
Brooker discusses why some people want to be famous and will do anything to get on TV. He reviews psychic and medium programmes, Big Brother and Love Island. David Quantick discusses his gripes with "list" shows.
6
2
3
3 August 2006
Brooker looks into sex on television. He reviews where TV is heading in the future and where it is now, Emmerdale, cookery shows and Deadwood. talks about unrealistic sex on television.
7
2
4
10 August 2006
Brooker goes in depth into how you can get an idea on TV. He reviews TV consumer shows, Hollyoaks and Dragons' Den. A spoof voice commentary from the director of The Mint is supplied (by Adam Buxton).
8
2
5
17 August 2006
Screenwipe USA. In this USA special, Brooker goes in depth into American TV and compares the main differences between British and American Television. He reviews American soap operas, American reality crime shows, To Catch a Predator and The Wire. Lewis Black talks about his experiences with television.
2006 Christmas specials[]
Series
Episode
Original airdate
Special
21 December 2006
A Very Screenwipe Christmas. In this Christmas special, Brooker talks about Christmas television from past to present. He reviews Noel Edmonds' Christmas shows, Christmas EastEnders and primetime Christmas Day TV. Rhys Thomas talks about The Box of Delights.
Special
31 December 2006
Review of the Year 2006. In this end of year special, Brooker looks back at TV from the year gone by. He reviews shows that tell us how to live, broadcasting landmarks, reality TV and TV comebacks. Grace Dent reviews Britain's soap operas. Mark Gatiss talks about Nigel Kneale who died during the year.
Series 3[]
Total
Series
Episode
Original airdate
9
3
1
5 February 2007
Brooker talks about the guidelines that TV has to adhere to. He reviews Celebrity Big Brother 5, and Battlestar Galactica. Doug Stanhope gives his views on television.
10
3
2
12 February 2007
Brooker discusses what TV ratings are and how they work. He reviews 24, video games not getting as much respect as television and Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway. Gia Milinovich talks about video on the web.
11
3
3
19 February 2007
Brooker discusses what it's like to be the "talent" on a TV show. He reviews shows aimed at men; Ross Kemp on Gangs, Top Gear and Britain's Hardest. He also reviews courtroom reality show The Verdict. Reginald D Hunter talks about British TV from an American perspective.
12
3
4
26 February 2007
Brooker talks about how video and editing techniques and technology have improved over time. He reviews Primeval and The Sex Inspectors. Stewart Lee talks about how the perception of teenagers on TV has changed over the years. Grace Dent talks about love storylines in soap operas.
Series 4[]
Total
Series
Episode
Original airdate
N/A
Special
18 September 2007
'How to' compilation show. In this Compilation show Brooker looks back at the actual cost of making television, how to get your ideas on TV, how the smallest piece of TV is difficult to make, what it's like being the "talent" on a TV show and how videoing and editing techniques have improved over time
13
4
1
25 September 2007
Brooker looks into the lies TV tells us. He reviews Heroes, Have I Been Here Before? and The X Factor. Nicholas Parsons talks about Saturday night entertainment.
In this television news special, Brooker talks about the need to entertain on the news and also the rise of 24-hour news. Adam Curtis talks about the rise and fall of the television journalist.
Brooker looks into TV elimination shows and he creates his own to demonstrate how they can be edited to distort the truth. He reviews Pete's P.A. and Any Dream Will Do.
N/A
Special
19 December 2007
Review of the year 2007. In this end of year special, Brooker looks back at TV from the year gone by. He reviews show highlights from the year month by month. Grace Dent reviews Britain's soap operas.
Brooker talks about television advertising; the guidelines, its history and how they work. He reviews Mad Men. Tim Key recites another poem.
20
5
3
2 December 2008
In this slightly extended episode, Brooker is joined by some of the best TV writers in the business today. They talk about how they started out and how they go about writing a television show. Featured in this episode are; Russell T Davies, Paul Abbott, Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain, Graham Linehan and Tony Jordan.
21
5
4
9 December 2008
Brooker talks the about the change in direction that modern day documentaries have taken. He launches his own mission documentary; "Konnie's Great British Wee", fronted by Konnie Huq. Brooker reviews Miss Naked Beauty, Jamie's Ministry of Food and .
Review of the year 2008. In this end of year special, Brooker looks back at TV from the year gone by. He reviews show highlights from the year month by month.
Brooker discusses the Charlie Hebdo shooting and Moneysupermarket advert "Epic Strut". Cunk and Shitpeas review Fifty Shades of Grey. Brooker then covers the reburial of Richard III and the year's UK general election. Cunk presents a "Moments of Wonder" segment on feminism. Brooker comments on Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party and the aftermath of the election, then moving onto the killing of Cecil the lion. After a negative review of BBC show Frank Sinatra: Our Way, Brooker discusses the allegation that David Cameron put his penis into a dead pig's mouth at university ("Piggate"), along with the media's reaction, and how it mirrored the Black Mirror episode "The National Anthem", which he wrote years prior. Brooker then discusses the Ashley Madison data breach, Britain's intervention in Syria against ISIS (Operation Shader) and Donald Trump's presidential campaign.
2016 Wipe[]
Series
Episode
Original airdate
Special
29 December 2016
After an introduction where Brooker briefly discusses the main stories of the year, he provides commentary on news coverage of the Drummond Puddle Watch and David Bowie's death, and lists celebrities who died in 2016. He then moves on to early Brexit campaigning, Elizabeth II's official 90th birthday celebrations. Barry Shitpeas reviews The Night Manager, under the impression it is a reboot of Fawlty Towers. The show moves onto Donald Trump's presidential campaign, and then EastEnders. This is followed by discussion of later campaigning for Brexit and the result and early aftermath of the referendum. Brooker covers Top Gear and Pokémon Go, along with the Conservative leadership election. Philomena Cunk reviews The Great British Bake Off, before Brooker covers Jeremy Corbyn's Labour leadership. More coverage of Trump's campaign follows, along with the phrase "Brexit means Brexit". A Cassetteboy remix of Trump's speeches is played, and Cunk does a "Moments of Wonder" segment on apocalypse featuring an interview with Brian Cox. The show ends with a satirical "Fake BBC News" segment.
The Best of 2010–2015 Wipe with Charlie Brooker[]
Series
Episode
Original airdate
Special
30 December 2019
End of decade compilation show with new introduction by Philomena Cunk. Was followed by a repeat of 2016 Wipe.
Antiviral Wipe[]
Series
Episode
Original airdate
Special
14 May 2020
Charlie Brooker is back, and he takes a look at life before and after the coronavirus lockdown. As well as coverage of the crisis itself, Charlie also explores what the public have been watching to while away the hours. Guest contributors joining him, from a safe distance, include the ever-insightful Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas.