5.6 /10 1 Votes
2/5 The List Created by Rob Newman No. of series 1 First episode date 30 October 2007 Network BBC Four Program creator Robert Newman | 7.3/10 IMDb Genre Comedy mockumentary Country of origin United Kingdom No. of episodes 6 Final episode date 4 December 2007 Number of episodes 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Starring Rob Newman
Anton Lesser
Richard McCabe
Colin McFarlane
Lucy Liemann
Jim Howick
Su-Lin Looi Cast Anton Lesser, Richard McCabe, Colin McFarlane Similar Newman and Baddiel i, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, Reggie Perrin, Moving Wallpaper, The Kevin Bishop Show | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The history of the world backwards episode 2
The History of the World Backwards is a comedy sketch show written and starring Rob Newman. It is a mock history programme set in an alternative world, where time flows forwards, but history flows backwards. It was shown on BBC Four, starting on 30 October 2007, and later shown on BBC Two. It was Newman's first television project for 14 years.
Contents
The history of the world backwards episode 1
Plot
The History of the World Backwards tells the story of the world, but in a world where time flows forwards whilst history told backwards. In other words, if you were born in 2007, you would be 60 years old in 1947. All the major historical events happen backwards, so for example, Nelson Mandela enters jail a Spice Girls fan, and comes out as a terrorist intent in overthrowing the state. There are several recurring themes, such as the "Technology collapse", where scientific discoveries are lost, forgotten or made unworkable.
Reception
Most reviews of the show have been critical of it. One reviewer said, "Here, we are relying largely on Newman alone and he ends up being bogged down into too many sketches that fail to go anywhere and stretch far too long", and also said it was too similar to Time Trumpet. Another claimed the show was too confusing and that, "The sketches are nonsensically unfunny, and any serious points get lost in the absurdity." A. A. Gill said that, "It's a sketch show written by Stephen Hawking's wheelchair. It collapses under the weight and restrictions of its own concepts."