{{Short description|British BBC TV sitcom 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}} {{Use British English|date=December 2015}} {{Infobox television | image = | genre = [[Sitcom]] | creator = Jonathan Thake | director = [[Tristram Shapeero]] | starring = [[Iain Lee]]<br>[[Simon Farnaby]]<br>[[Adam Buxton]]<br>[[Jarred Christmas]]<br>[[Daisy Haggard]] | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 6 | executive_producer = [[Iain Morris]]<br>[[Damon Beesley]] | runtime = 30 minutes | company = [[Bwark Productions]] | network = [[BBC Two]] | first_aired = {{Start date|2010|01|13|df=yes}} | last_aired = {{End date|2010|02|17|df=yes}} }}

'''''The Persuasionists''''' is a sitcom broadcast on [[BBC Two]] set in the world of advertising starring [[Iain Lee]], [[Simon Farnaby]], [[Adam Buxton]], [[Jarred Christmas]] and [[Daisy Haggard]], and featuring [[Natalie Gumede]] (amongst others). It was the sitcom writing debut for Jonathan Thake, best known until then for ‘the slag of all snacks’ campaign for [[Pot Noodle]]. The Persuasionists premiered on Wednesday 13 January 2010.

Bwark Productions (creators of ''[[The Inbetweeners]]'') produced the series, [[Iain Morris]] and [[Damon Beesley]] were the executive producers and [[Tristram Shapeero]] directed. [[Andrew Collins (broadcaster)|Andrew Collins]] acted as script editor.

==Synopsis== The sitcom focuses on the lives of five overpaid and underworked employees at fictional advertising agency HHH&H.

==Reception== The first episode received generally negative critical reviews from the press with critics suggesting that while the cast showed promise, they were let down by a poor script, bad direction and poor characterisations.<ref>Times review [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6976644.ece]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>Guardian review https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2010/jan/13/american-idol-horizon-the-persuasionists</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-01-01 |title=The Persuasionists - The hard sell as soft option |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-persuasionists-the-hard-sell-as-soft-option-1854586.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> Some held out hope that future episodes might improve; however, even after further airings, critical response remained negative, with heavy editing and excessive use of canned laughter blamed in part for the show 'not working'.<ref>How these brutal edits are ruining comedy http://www.chortle.co.uk/correspondents/2010/01/15/10343/how_the_bbcs_brutal_edits_are_ruining_comed</ref>

Half-way through the series, the show was moved to a "graveyard" slot at 11.20pm, due to below-average ratings and poor reviews from the press and bloggers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/00000257/the_persuasionists_moved_to_graveyard_slot/|title=The Persuasionists moved to 'graveyard' slot|publisher=[[British Comedy Guide]]|date=3 February 2010|accessdate=3 February 2010}}</ref> It was not renewed for a second series.

==The Scum Also Rises== The project began in 2007 as a pilot for [[BBC Three]] called "The Scum Also Rises", which starred [[Chris Barrie]] and [[Kevin Bishop]]. A second unbroadcast pilot was produced in 2008. The show had been through many changes by the time that the full series aired in 2010, including an almost complete re-cast.<ref>[http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/the_persuasionists/ Comedy] Accessed 2010</ref>

==Sources== {{reflist}} *Curtis Brown Literary and Talent Agency http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/tft/client/user1231/ *Taylor Herring PR http://www.taylorherring.com/blog/index.php/tag/jonathan-thake/

==External links== * {{BBC programme}} *{{British Comedy Guide|tv|the_persuasionists}} *{{IMDb title|id=1584617|title=The Persuasionists}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Persuasionists, The}} [[Category:2010s British sitcoms]] [[Category:2010 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2010 British television series endings]] [[Category:BBC high definition shows]] [[Category:BBC television sitcoms]] [[Category:English-language British television shows]] [[Category:Television series by Banijay]]