{{redirect-distinguish|Phoo|Foo (disambiguation){{!}}Foo|Fu (disambiguation){{!}}Fu|Phu (disambiguation){{!}}Phu}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Use British English|date=December 2011}}

{{Infobox television | image = Phooaction.jpg | caption = Terry Phoo & Whitey Action | genre = Comedy-drama | creator = Jamie Hewlett<br />Mat Wakeham | director = Euros Lyn | starring = Jaime Winstone<br />Eddie Shin<br />Carl Weathers | country = United Kingdom | language = English<br />Cantonese | network = BBC Three | released = {{Start date|2008|02|12|df=y}} }} '''''Phoo Action''''' is a BBC Three 60 minute TV pilot,<ref name=bbcpressoffice>{{cite press release|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/01_january/29/phoo.shtml|work=BBC Press Office|title=Phoo Action - the first of six vibrant new dramas for BBC Three|date=29 January 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref> first broadcast in February 2008 as one of six drama pilots.<ref name=bbcpressoffice/> It is based on Jamie Hewlett's comic strip ''Get the Freebies'', which ran in ''The Face'' from June 1996 to June 1997.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/dearmat23/docs/get_the_freebies_01|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301120251/https://issuu.com/dearmat23/docs/get_the_freebies_01|archive-date=1 March 2023|work=Issuu|title=Get The Freebies Episode 1|first=Mat|last=Wakeham|date=1 June 2008}}</ref> It stars Jaime Winstone as Whitey Action, Carl Weathers as Police Chief Benjamin "Ben" Benson and Eddie Shin as Terry Phoo.

A six-part series was commissioned to begin shooting later in 2008 for broadcast in 2009:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/02/14/bbc-wants-more-phoo-action-86908-20319490/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314045512/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2008/02/14/bbc-wants-more-phoo-action-86908-20319490/|archive-date=14 March 2008|work=Daily Record|title=BBC Wants More Phoo Action|date=14 February 2008}}</ref> however, shortly before production was due to begin the BBC announced that the series had been cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/garethmcleanblog/2008/nov/17/phoo-action-itv-laura-mackie|work=The Guardian|title=Laura Mackie is getting ITV drama back on track|first=Gareth|last=McLean|date=17 November 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

The show is set from the perspective of the disaffected teenage female protagonist, Whitey Action, who joins together with tough guy kung-fu cop Terry Phoo to form a dubious crime-fighting duo who thwart the plans of The Freebies Gang on the streets of London in 2012.

The screen adaptation was written by Matthew Enriquez Wakeham,<ref>{{IMDb name|1561276|Mat Wakeham}}</ref> Jessica Hynes and Peter Martin,<ref>{{IMDb name|0552902|Peter Martin}}</ref> and directed by Euros Lyn.

Production began in September 2007 at a number of Glasgow locations. Some scenes were shot inside the main studio at BBC Scotland's Pacific Quay Studios.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

==Plot== Whitey Action is daughter of Ben Benson, the chief of the London Police. When Queen Elizabeth II is killed by a gang of mutants, known as The Freebies, Whitey guesses they are behind the murder while her father's forces focus their attentions on a single 'a mutant insurgent' suspect. Terry Phoo, a highly-trained combat cop from the Hong Kong Police Force is called in by Benson's superior, Lord Rothwell, as he is supposedly an expert at fighting mutants. However, his investigative skills leave much to be desired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doubleviking.com/real-men-love-phoo-action-8282-p.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208044815/http://www.doubleviking.com/real-men-love-phoo-action-8282-p.html|archive-date=8 February 2012|work=Double Viking|title=Real Men Love Phoo Action|first=Anthony|last=Burch|date=25 March 2008}}</ref>

The Freebies are castigated by a mysterious group of sinister characters known as the Star Chamber for killing the Queen as they were supposed to mutate her, not murder her. The Freebies are given one last chance, demanding that William is mutated before he is crowned. While at a party in the Freebies nightclub, Whitey sees Princes William and Harry being led off by the Freebies, and she causes a big scene, preventing them from being captured but getting herself arrested by Terry Phoo. She convinces him that she is a special agent and he takes her to his hotel room. While looking for chocolate, she finds a case containing the Buddha's loincloth that transforms into a pair of hotpants, which she immediately tries on. She discovers that she can pull anything she desires from the pants, leading Phoo to decide that this means that she is the Chosen One.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/tvandradioblog/2008/feb/13/richardvine|work=The Guardian|title=One-shot wonders|first=Richard|last=Vine|date=13 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

Together Phoo and Action save the Princes from the evil plot to mutate them, and the subsequent plot to set the lead mutant, Jimmy Freebie, on the throne. The story ends, however, with William beginning to mutate during his coronation. The Freebies are eventually arrested for the Queen's murder.<ref name=thetimes>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3357273.ece|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517081802/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3357273.ece|archive-date=17 May 2011|work=The Times|title=Phoo Action; Horizon; Mistresses {{!}} Last Night's TV|first=Andrew|last=Billen|author-link=Andrew Billen|date=13 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/phoo-action-review/|work=Den of Geek|title=Phoo Action review|first=Robert|last=Mclaughlin|date=13 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

==Reception== On 8 September 2007, before principal photography had begun, John Patterson writing in ''The Guardian'', placed Phoo Action at number 13 in his list of '50 must-see shows' of Autumn.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/08/comment.tvandradioarts|work=The Guardian|title=50 must-see shows|date=8 September 2007|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

On transmission, ''Phoo Action'' received mixed reviews. Michael Deacon, for ''The Daily Telegraph'', wrote "BBC3 has had a revamp. Judging by Phoo Action, though, the channel remains unwavering in its commitment to diabolical television",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/organgrinder/2008/feb/13/bbc3relaunchhowwasitfory|work=The Guardian|title=BBC3 relaunch: How was it for you?|first=Leigh|last=Holmwood|date=13 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref> whereas ''The Times''{{'}} Andrew Billen "(found himself) enjoying to an almost indecent degree".<ref name=thetimes/> Writing in ''The Independent'', Hermione Eyre stated that "BBC3 struck gold with Phoo Action, a cult comedy in the making".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/review-lily-allen-and-friends-bbc3-phoo-action-bbc3-skins-e4-attila-the-hun-bbc1-783239.html|work=The Independent|title=Review: Lily Allen and Friends, BBC3; Phoo Action, BBC3; Skins, E4; Attila The Hun, BBC1|first=Hermione|last=Eyre|date=16 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

Audience figures were reported at 232,000, 105,000 fewer than the average for the time slot, with a proportionately lower audience share.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2008/feb/13/tvratings.television1|work=The Guardian|title=BBC3 relaunch brought down to Earth|first=Leigh|last=Holmwood|date=13 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

==Awards== The pilot featured in the "Best Pilots" section of the second annual {{interlanguage link|Italian Global Series Festival|it}}, which took place in July 2008.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/07_july/italian_passion.shtml|work=BBC Press Office|title=Italian passion for British drama at Rome Fiction Fest|date=9 July 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref>

''Phoo Action'' won the BAFTA Scotland award for best television drama.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/scotland/awards/ceremony/nominees-winners/british-academy-scotland-awards-winners-in-2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103161403/http://www.bafta.org/scotland/awards/ceremony/nominees-winners/british-academy-scotland-awards-winners-in-2008|archive-date=3 November 2014|work=BAFTA Scotland|title=British Academy Scotland Awards: Winners in 2008|date=9 November 2008}}</ref>

==Cancellation== In February 2008, prior to the pilot's broadcast, the BBC announced that it had commissioned a six part series of ''Phoo Action'', stating "We really believe in the originality and boldness of ''Phoo Action'' ... It's fantastic news that the work of Jamie Hewlett and the rest of the crew will be back on the channel."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a89360/phoo-action-to-return-for-series/|work=Digital Spy|title='Phoo Action' to return for series|first=Dave|last=West|date=14 February 2008|access-date=18 January 2026}}</ref> However, in November 2008 BBC Scotland notified the actors' union BECTU that production had been cancelled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bectu.org.uk/2008/11/14/bbc-cancels-phoo-action/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218200556/http://www.bectu.org.uk/2008/11/14/bbc-cancels-phoo-action/|archive-date=18 February 2012|work=BECTU|title=BBC cancels Phoo Action|date=14 November 2008}}</ref> The cost of cutting the show, which was due to start filming in November 2008, was reported to be approximately £500,000 in contract payments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/11/16/kung-fu-chopped-78057-20898148/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503094327/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/11/16/kung-fu-chopped-78057-20898148/|archive-date=3 May 2012|work=Daily Record|title=Kung Fu Chopped|date=16 November 2008}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|id=1116185|title=Phoo Action (2008) (TV)}}

Category:Television shows set in London Category:Television pilots not picked up as a series Category:2008 television specials Category:British comedy-drama television shows Category:British surreal comedy television series Category:Films based on British comics Category:Films based on comic strips Category:Television shows based on comic strips Category:Live-action films based on comics Category:Films directed by Euros Lyn Category:Television shows based on British comics