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Toast of London
Title card for series 1–3
Also known asToast of Tinseltown
GenreSitcom
Created by
Written by
  • Matt Berry
  • Arthur Mathews
Directed byMichael Cumming
Starring
Theme music composerMatt Berry
Opening theme"Take My Hand"
Ending theme"Beatmaker" (Toast of Tinseltown)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes25
Production
ProducersKate Daughton (Toast of London)
Charlie Leech (Toast of Tinseltown)
Running time23 minutes (Toast of London)
28 minutes (Toast of Tinseltown)
Production companiesObjective Media Group
Objective Fiction (2022)
wiip studios (2022)
Original release
NetworkChannel 4
Release20 October 2013 (2013-10-20) –
23 December 2015 (2015-12-23)
NetworkBBC Two
Release4 January (2022-01-04) –
8 February 2022 (2022-02-08)

Toast of London is a British television sitcom, created by Matt Berry and Arthur Mathews and starring Berry as Steven Toast, an eccentric, middle-aged actor with a chequered past who spends more time dealing with his problems offstage than performing on it.

Its fourth series, set in the United States, was titled Toast of Tinseltown.

Production

[edit]

All episodes are directed by Michael Cumming.

Three series, under the title Toast of London, were broadcast on Channel 4. Series 2 and 3 were shot at the West London Film Studios. In the United States, Toast of London was available on IFC.

In November 2017, after reports of a fourth series, Berry clarified that it will return "in some form at some point", but nothing was currently being written. Mathews later said that they had an idea for "Toast in America", but that no deadline was set.[1] In December 2017, Channel 4 officially renewed the show for a fourth series.[2]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created,[3] whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown.[4] The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.[5][6][7]

Cast and characters

[edit]

Overview

[edit]
Character Portrayed by Toast of London Toast of Tinseltown
Pilot Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 COVID-19 Specials
2012 2013 2014 2015 2021 2022
Main characters
Steven Toast Matt Berry Main
Jane Plough Fiona Mollison Main Does not appear
Doon Mackichan Does not appear Main Guest
Brooke
Hooberman 		Does not appear Main
Ed
Howzer-Black 		Robert Bathurst Main
Rupert
Howzer-Black 		Does not appear Main Does not appear
Ray "Bloody" Purchase Harry Peacock Main
Bill Purchase Does not appear Main Does not appear
Danny Bear Tim Downie Main
Clem H. Fandango Shazad Latif Main
Mrs. Purchase Tracy-Ann Oberman Main
Russ Nightlife
D. B. Cooper 		Fred Armisen Does not appear Main
Billy Tarzana Rashida Jones Does not appear Main
Milly Tarzana Does not appear Main

Main

[edit]
  • Matt Berry as Steven Gonville Toast, the central character of the series. A bumbling, single, self-important actor who unsuccessfully attempts to become a ladies' man and often the bearer of bad fortune. Toast considers himself a success despite his obviously failing career.
    • Berry also portrays a younger version of Steven's father, Colonel Gonville Toast, in the series 3 episode "Beauty Calls".
  • Doon Mackichan as Jane Plough (which she pronounces "pluff" /plʌf/) like "Clough", Toast's unhelpful agent. Prim and posh, she sees herself as superior to Toast, despite her failure to provide him with decent work. She was played by Fiona Mollison in the pilot.
    • Mackichan also plays Brooke Hooberman, Toast's US agent in Toast of Tinseltown.
  • Robert Bathurst as Ed Howzer-Black, Toast's landlord and an idle retired actor.
    • Bathurst also portrays Ed's father, Rupert Howzer-Black, in the series 3 episode "Beauty Calls".
  • Harry Peacock as Ray "Bloody" Purchase, Toast's fellow actor and rival, and a virulent homophobe. The two hate each other with a vengeance and are constantly in competition. While Purchase often seems to have the upper hand, Toast is still sometimes able to come out on top.
    • Peacock also portrays Ray's albino twin brother, Bill Purchase, in the series 3 episode "Man of Sex".
  • Tim Downie as Danny Bear, a studio sound engineer and stereotypical hipster who regularly hires Toast for voiceover work in a London studio.
  • Shazad Latif as Clem H. Fandango, another hipster who is doing work experience in the recording studio. Clem routinely says to Toast, "Hello, Steven? This is Clem Fandango. Can you hear me?" to which Toast is forced to reply with some variation of "Yes. I can hear you, Clem Fandango."
  • Tracy-Ann Oberman as Mrs. Purchase, the wife of Ray Purchase and a prostitute who is enjoying an affair with Toast. Despite being a prostitute, the only person she ever charges for sex is her husband.

In Toast of Tinseltown, additional main characters include:

Recurring

[edit]
  • Adrian Lukis as Colonel Blair Toast, Steven's eccentric older brother. An army veteran, he lost his hand in the Falklands War and now uses a stuffed rubber glove as a replacement.
  • Amanda Donohoe as Ellen, Toast's abusive and volatile ex-wife. Despite her poor treatment of him, Toast continues to have feelings for her.
  • Alan Ford as Alan, who is a hypnotist and a homeopath. Ford also appears as a taxi driver called "Mick Carriage"
  • Peter Davison plays a fictionalised version of himself.
  • Morgana Robinson makes one appearance in each of the four series, each time as a different character. She portrays Jemima Gina in "Addictive Personality", Lorna Wynde in "Fool in Love", Emma in "Beauty Calls" and Wildcat Lil in "Death Valley".
  • Geoffrey McGivern appears as three separate one-off characters, all of whom were temperamental directors working with Toast. He portrays Cliff Promise in "The Unspeakable Play", Acker Herron in "Afternoon Tea", and Norris Flipjack in "Desperate Measures".
  • Daniel Cook appears as Colin Skittles in series 2, and Cliff Bonanza in series 3.

Guest

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]

Series overview

[edit]
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
Pilot120 August 2012 (2012-08-20)Channel 4
1620 October 2013 (2013-10-20)24 November 2013 (2013-11-24)
263 November 2014 (2014-11-03)8 December 2014 (2014-12-08)
3618 November 2015 (2015-11-18)23 December 2015 (2015-12-23)
Tinseltown64 January 2022 (2022-01-04)8 February 2022 (2022-02-08)BBC Two

Pilot episode (2012)

[edit]
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
"The Unspeakable Play"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry20 August 2012 (2012-08-20)

Toast has recently divorced. He is living with his middle-aged friend Ed and Ed's elderly agoraphobic mistress Goodhouse. Ed's wife lives in Swaziland.

Toast is starring in a play that is so bad and controversial that no-one says its name – and protesters are outside the theatre.

Toast auditions for a part in a TV drama as a gay undercover detective. The producer, Cliff, is in prison for holocaust denial, so Toast has to audition whilst visiting Cliff. Another inmate thinks Toast actually is a policeman and attacks him.

Ray Purchase, a rival actor whose wife is having an affair with Toast, attacks Toast. He is a police artist and frames Toast as a flasher.

Series 1 (2013)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Addictive Personality"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry20 October 2013 (2013-10-20)

Toast is about to have sex with an attractive young woman, Jemima, at her flat. He leaves when he sees that she is wearing an ankle monitor and was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing her boyfriend. She stalks him. Toast meets attractive young journalist Susan. She throws a supermarket trolley in a canal, then tells him that she is a recovering alcoholic. When she takes him to her flat, he sees that she is an extreme hoarder. Jemima turns up at Susan's flat and is arrested by the police. Susan rejects Toast for being weird.

Kikini Bamalam, the daughter of the Nigerian ambassador has been the victim of unscrupulous plastic surgery by Ray Purchase which has made her look like Bruce Forsyth, so Ed invites her to stay at the flat to recuperate.

Toast is informed that he will be the recipient of an acting award, which he is told by his agent Jane Plough is for Best Actor. She later tells him that the award is for Worst Actor. He sends Kikini to accept the award on his behalf.

Guest appearances: Morgana Robinson as Jemima Gina and Emma Fryer as Susan Random.
22"Afternoon Tea"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry27 October 2013 (2013-10-27)

Toast has a part in a new play but tries to get out of it when he hears the director has murdered actors whom he found difficult. The director is displeased with Toast's attitude, so he and Ray confront Toast.

While chasing a romantic endeavour, Toast runs into an old acting classmate. Toast hires a hotel room and a call girl. Things go wrong for Toast when he finds out that he has been set up, unknowingly to both, to be as part of the classmate's documentary about prostitution.

Guest appearances: Geoffrey McGivern as Acker Herron and Emily Bruni as Kika Bright.
33"Vanity Project"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry3 November 2013 (2013-11-03)

In need of money to fund his divorce, Toast agrees to act in a vanity film about Prince Philip.

Guest appearances: Alan Ford as Mick Carriage, Amanda Donohoe as Ellen Toast, James Lance as Martin Aynuss, and Stanley Townsend as Mr. Fasili.
44"Submission"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry10 November 2013 (2013-11-10)

After performing voice-overs for the Royal Navy on a recent project, Toast is invited to the launch of their new nuclear submarine, the "Penetrator".

Guest appearances: Terence Harvey as Lord Fotheringham, Rufus Jones as Toby Hopkinson-Finch, and Rachel Shelley as Commander Scott-Gorham.
55"The End"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry17 November 2013 (2013-11-17)

Toast meets a young Indian woman, Kate, and her aunt, Deepa, in a bar. Kate says that Deepa is deaf and blind. Toast and Kate have sex together twice whilst Deepa is in the room. The footage is uploaded to the internet, where it is viewed 500,000 times.

Toast is tired of doing voice-overs and appearing every night in his bad play. With the help of a new agent, Brooke, he tries to become an author of erotic literature. His manuscript is well received, but it requires an ending, which he has difficulty writing. He decides to have the protagonist spontaneously combust. The laziness of that enrages his literary agent, who spontaneously combusts in front of Toast. Jane is angry with Toast for trying to find a new agent.

Guest appearances: Carol Cleveland as Brooke Hooberman.
66"Bonus Ball"Michael CummingMatt Berry and Arthur Mathews24 November 2013 (2013-11-24)

After losing £20,000 to Andrew Lloyd Webber in a celebrity poker game, Toast finds himself hunted by musical superstar and part-time West End theatre enforcer Michael Ball. Ray becomes determined to kill Toast after discovering Toast's affair with his wife. Ball approaches Toast on stage in the middle of his bad play, while Ray tries to shoot him. Ray shoots Ball instead, who dies on stage. The event is mistaken for part of the play, which receives rave reviews.

Guest appearances: Michael Ball.

Series 2 (2014)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
71"Match Fit"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry3 November 2014 (2014-11-03)

Toast is sent by Jane to what she tells him is an audition to play Charles Dickens. However, the position available is for a tour guide for "What the Dickens", an open-top bus tour of London. Toast reluctantly does the tour, during which he encounters Ray, who is leading Beefeater anti-gay tours.

Toast accepts Ed's invitation to the Celebrities and Prostitutes Blow Football Tournament and becomes determined to win. He pays a prostitute, Wendy Nook, to be his partner. They lose the final against Ray and his wife. However, the Purchases are disqualified because Mrs Purchase is not a genuine prostitute, so Toast and Wendy win. Toast's prize is to have unprotected sex with Mrs Purchase whilst Ray watches.
82"Desperate Measures"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry10 November 2014 (2014-11-10)
After Ray informs on him to the Inland Revenue, Toast receives a massive tax bill, and is forced to take on some unappealing jobs to pay off the debt. He is hired to direct a stage version of Calendar Girls, but is soon sacked. One of the cast is flying him home when the plane crashes. Toast flies to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to make an advertisement for cigarettes.
93"The Moosetrap"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry17 November 2014 (2014-11-17)
In a radio interview about the legendary whodunit play "The Moose Trap", Toast reveals the killer's identity. Toast also finds out through Blair that the announcer on University Challenge is retiring and applies for the role, much to Jane's annoyance. At the interview with Jeremy Paxman, Paxman questions Toast about revealing the end of the Moose Trap, leading to an altercation and Paxman falling out of a window. Audiences at the Moose Trap collapse, leading to the death of another actor, and the play is forced to close.
104"High Winds Actor"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry24 November 2014 (2014-11-24)
After the tragic death of his friend Axel Jacklin, Britain's finest exponent of acting in high winds, Toast finds himself in demand for dramatic roles. Toast persuades Ed to let him join the Freemasons after discovering that Jacklin's director will only work with actors "on the square". Toast is fast-tracked into the Masons but his co-star Ray informs the director, who fires him.
115"Buried Alive!"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry1 December 2014 (2014-12-01)
Toast is very excited to land a major role in a big movie starring the legendary Max Gland. Max orders Toast to get him a dog, so Toast steals one from a girl. His first scene on set is to be buried alive, but before he can be dug up, Max shoots himself and the dog during an argument with the director. The shoot is abandoned and Toast is left buried. Using his unnecessarily complicated new phone he manages to survive and even speak to a number of contacts but none of them come to his aid. He is eventually saved by a fracking drill.
126"Fool in Love"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry8 December 2014 (2014-12-08)
An old heartbreaker flame of Toast's, Lorna Wynde, turns up in London. She seems to still have feelings for him, but he worries she is just trying to make her husband, Josh Homme, jealous. Meanwhile, Ed is hosting his niece Honeysuckle, who has a gluten allergy that makes her behave as if possessed, so Toast has to sleep on the sofa. Although Ed promises a homeopath is coming to cure Honeysuckle, Toast cannot cope and goes to stay with Francis Bacon, who persuades him to move in with Lorna. Toast goes to confront Lorna's husband but accidentally cuts off his nose while confronting him, upsetting Lorna. He returns home to find that Honeysuckle is worse than ever, when Alan the Homeopath (Alan Ford) finally arrives and immediately cures her.

Series 3 (2015)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
131"Over the Moon"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry18 November 2015 (2015-11-18)
A tipsy Toast appears on the chat show Lorraine and tells a story from his past that could bring down the U.S. government. Meanwhile, an actor who can do a perfect impression of Toast starts poaching his voiceover work. After realising what he said to Lorraine, Toast suffers stage fright ahead of his starring role in Macbeth, and cannot let go of a pillar in his dressing room. Alan cuts the pillar free and Toast performs while holding onto it. He is praised for his "pillar work". Toast's copycat is assassinated by U.S. government agents.
142"Beauty Calls"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry25 November 2015 (2015-11-25)
Ed is dating former beauty queen Penvelope – – and Toast hooks up with her friend Clancy Moped. However, their romances are jeopardised when the guys are invited to judge a politically incorrect beauty contest, coincidentally the same one that their respective fathers had previously judged in 1972. Peter Davison and his obnoxious girlfriend have moved in with Ed and Toast, causing much annoyance with his horrible homebrew wine and refusal to do the washing-up. The boys at Scramble Studios sabotage a date between Toast and Clancy by forcing him to work late. Toast and a reluctant Ed go to judge the beauty contest, which is held in a barn in the middle of nowhere. Toast decides to leave, but before he can, feminists (including Clancy and Penvelope) invade the beauty contest. Toast and Ed are dumped, and the story is printed with the same headline as for their fathers. Toast finds that Davison and his girlfriend have accidentally poisoned themselves with homebrew wine, so he and Ed have to do the washing-up themselves.
153"Hamm on Toast"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry2 December 2015 (2015-12-02)
Mad Men star Jon Hamm is visiting London and Jane offers to introduce Toast to him. Toast is unimpressed by rumours of Hamm's legendary charisma. Toast's father (Brian Blessed) is dying and Blair wants Toast to help him ensure that they get all the inheritance, then divide it between them. Toast agrees but then suffers a head injury, which causes him to become obsessed with Hamm. Meanwhile he repeatedly brushes off an attractive female fan due to his obsession with Hamm. He takes Hamm with him to see his father, who leaves everything to Hamm. Enraged, Blair throws Toast down 200 stairs, which cures his head injury and returns him to normal.
164"Bob a Job"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry9 December 2015 (2015-12-09)
Toast and Purchase perform the "sand dance" at Royal Variety Performance, hosted by Bob Monkhouse. Toast only agrees to perform because Kevin Spacey will be watching and may cast him in House of Cards. Toast is put in charge of getting a gift for Prince Charles. Mrs Purchase has a new job as a drone operative in Afghanistan. Danny plans to have sex reassignment surgery and Toast finds him a discount option, but Danny backs out at the last minute. Toast keeps the fake breasts intended for the surgery to give to Tom Jones, but forgets about the present for Charles. When it turns out he has no present for Charles other than the fake breasts, Monkhouse attempts to defuse the situation with a joke, but Toast pulls a trap door, killing Monkhouse. Spacey has gone missing in action in Afghanistan (presumably accidentally killed by Toast and Mrs Purchase) so Toast's performance in the Royal Variety Performance was for nothing.
175"Man of Sex"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry16 December 2015 (2015-12-16)
When appearing in a play called "Man of Sex", Toast's co-star is taken to rehab. Replacing him is Bill Purchase, the albino twin brother of Ray Purchase. Meanwhile, Toast has a new relationship with a "doctor of drumming", but he starts to find her incessant drumming very irritating. Bill plays a number of cruel and disgusting practical jokes on Toast, leading to him collapsing whilst performing on stage. His girlfriend performs CPR using her drumming expertise, but Toast dumps her.
186"Global Warming"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry23 December 2015 (2015-12-23)
Toast is set to appear in a production of Twelfth Night at the Globe Theatre. He thinks that he will gain recognition by acting there, but is ridiculed because he will be in a cast consisting mostly of dogs. Angry about the play, he shouts at a foreign tourist and attracts the attention of the "PC Police", who then follow him to a café where he complains about a breastfeeding woman, and a porn theatre, which he leaves after discovering that the film stars Ed. Before the first performance at the Globe, the director realises that the play is a disaster so he and Toast burn down the theatre with a pipe before the performance is due to take place. Although officially it is blamed on Ed's lodger, everyone knows it was Toast and Jane fires him. Toast is forced to perform in pornographic films with Ed.

COVID-19 Specials (2021)

[edit]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a new YouTube channel with new audio skits of Toast of London was created,[3] whilst in 2021 the "Toast in America" series was confirmed as a six-part television project for the BBC, under the title Toast of Tinseltown.[4] The series debuted on BBC Two on 4 January 2022 with all episodes of Toast of Tinseltown uploaded to the BBC iPlayer at the same time, alongside the three series of Toast of London.[5][6][7]

Series 4: Toast of Tinseltown (2022)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
series		Title [8]Directed byWritten byOriginal release date
191"Anger Man"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry4 January 2022 (2022-01-04)
Toast is being considered for a role in America, but the part is given to Ray Purchase. Toast has anger issues, so he attends a course on anger management given by Des Wigwam. Toast visits the Colonial Club to apologise to his friends, but they only attended because he owes them money. Toast apologises to Ray Purchase for sleeping with his wife, enraging Purchase, and Toast pushes Purchase out of a window. Purchase breaks his legs and Toast gets the part. He flies to Hollywood.
202"LA Story"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry11 January 2022 (2022-01-11)
Toast is staying with Russ Nightlife in Hollywood. Toast is being considered for a role in a movie with Daniel Day-Lewis. When Day-Lewis surprises Toast at a party, Toast bites off Day-Lewis's ear. Day-Lewis retires from acting and the film is cancelled.
213"The Scorecard"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry18 January 2022 (2022-01-18)
Toast attends a voice-over studio and is dismayed to find Danny Bear and Clem Fandango working there, on exchange from London. Toast has sex with Shepherd Jerbil, a clinical sexologist who ranks her partners on scorecards. Toast is unable to remember his line in a movie, ruining an expensive shot. Russ Nightlife's housekeeper posts the director's low sexual scorecard online using Toast's account. In retaliation, the director publishes Toast's low scorecard on a billboard and in a magazine.
224"Doctor Grainger"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry25 January 2022 (2022-01-25)
Toast attends an acting class on playing doctors and is a natural. To make more money for his rent, he decides to try being cast in a medical drama, the producer and director of which are horrible people who pretend to be very friendly. The villain of the show is played by Carmen, an obnoxious singer and diva who embraces the role by being rude to people on the street. Dr. Grainger,Toast's character is loved by the viewers and he gets fan mail, and is signed off for 2 seasons. Toast is asked to visit a couple's sick mother - supposedly a fan - but it turns out the couple are tired of their sick relative and wanted him to turn off her life support system. Toast refuses and flees the hospital, but is accused of murder later. While proven innocent, the producers think this reflects badly on their show. Toast asks for a pay-rise but instead his character is killed off and he is written out of the series.
235"Death Valley"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry1 February 2022 (2022-02-01)
Toast is cast in a Western but his trailer is abandoned in Death Valley. As he is wandering the desert, he is captured by a Manson-like madman called Barney, and his cult of crazy hippie girlfriends, and forced to sign a contract that he will look for a specific rattlesnake for him, and is given a goldfish to deliver. He stumbles into an old west tavern, and is given directions by a prospector and a prostitute. Meeting Rusty, he gives him the goldfish which he needed for a miniature Dolphin World set, but since he ran out of food, they are forced to eat the goldfish. As Toast is taking a dump outside he is faced with a giant sidewinder rattlesnake, which bites and kills Rusty but Toast manages to capture it. He is then attacked by a tiger that bites his hand off. He gets help back at the tavern by the prostitute who gives him a freezer for his arm and a cart. He delivers the snake to Barney but the snake died and dried out on the way. As the hippies try to shoot him, local cops arrive and arrest Toast for ambushing a film crew, while the hippies have mysteriously disappeared.
246"Monster Mash"Michael CummingArthur Mathews and Matt Berry8 February 2022 (2022-02-08)
Toast is starring in the new Star Wars movie, but his scene keeps being delayed. He keeps getting kidnapped by two inept criminals (one having dentures like Jaws from James Bond and the other dressed as Mike Nesmith from The Monkees television show) but they throw him out of their truck when they realize it is not whom they wanted. When Russ Nightlife gets even more paranoid than usual after one of his old friends died "mysteriously" at the age of 85, Toast accidentally discovers a trunk full of money, a parachute and a gun in his wardrobe, and realizes he is actually D. B. Cooper. Milly is revealed to be an FBI agent and she arrests Russ. Toast visits a wine shop owned by Orson Welles and gets drunk during wine-tasting, but then gets called for his scene. It turns out Ray Purchase is starring in the film and Toast is just doing a voice-over for an animatronic villain. Toast is still drunk so he doesn't get to meet the Queen who was visiting the set to meet a British actor. At the end of the episode, Toast is kidnapped again in error by the two criminals, and one decides to get rid of him but the screen freezes as he aims his gun at him.

Music and songs

[edit]

The theme music, "Take My Hand" was composed by Matt Berry and was released on the album Witchazel.[9] Each episode of Toast of London also features a novelty song sung by Berry's character Toast, and others. The songs are sometimes sung partly to the fourth wall.

Toast of Tinseltown employed a new end theme, a cover version of Swedish pop singer Doris' "Beatmaker" performed by Matt Berry and Emma Noble.[10]

Reception

[edit]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the show has an approval rating of 84% to 90% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[11][12]

Awards

[edit]

At the 61st Rose d'Or awards in 2022, Toast of Tinseltown was named as the best comedy.[13]

Book

[edit]

In 2015, Matt Berry and Arthur Mathews published Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice, a spoof autobiography of Steven Toast.[14] It was also released as an audio book read by Matt Berry.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Toast of London

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Toast of London is a British television created by and Arthur Mathews that originally aired on from 2012 to 2015, starring Berry as Steven Toast, an eccentric, middle-aged actor with a who spends more time navigating personal mishaps and professional setbacks off-stage than succeeding in his craft. The series follows Toast as he deals with his bumbling agent Jane Plough (), his eccentric flatmate and fellow actor Ed Howzer-Black (), and his arch-rival, the pompous thespian Ray Purchase (Harry Peacock), amid a parade of absurd situations in the cutthroat world of . It consists of a pilot episode in 2012, three six-episode series broadcast between 2013 and 2015, additional COVID-19-themed specials released in 2020, and a fourth series, Toast of Tinseltown, broadcast on in 2022. Critically acclaimed for its and Berry's bombastic performance, Toast of London earned a BAFTA Television Award for Best Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for Berry in 2015, along with nominations from the Broadcasting Press Guild. The show has been praised for its imaginative scripting and ensemble cast, including recurring characters like the volatile voice-over artist Clem Fandango (also Berry), and has garnered a for its sharp of the profession.

Premise and format

Premise

Toast of London centres on Steven Toast, a middle-aged, classically trained and artist based in London's district, whose career is marked by intermittent success overshadowed by constant professional setbacks and personal entanglements. Portrayed as a narcissistic yet hapless figure, Toast navigates the cutthroat world of the British entertainment industry, where his delusions of grandeur frequently lead to absurd mishaps, from botched auditions to disastrous networking attempts. The series highlights his struggles as a voice artist recording advertisements and narrations, often interrupted by his own ego-driven distractions and encounters with unreliable colleagues. Recurring themes revolve around Toast's inflated self-image clashing with reality, resulting in failed romantic pursuits and strained relationships, such as his ongoing tensions with his agent and rival actors. He frequently interacts with eccentric figures from the industry, including pompous directors and scheming peers, amplifying the comedic chaos of his daily life. These elements underscore the protagonist's isolation and frustration, as he chases elusive stardom while grappling with mundane failures like financial woes and awkward social dynamics. The narrative employs a surreal comedic style within a character-driven framework, parodying the pretensions and absurdities of the acting profession through exaggerated scenarios and sharp . Toast's work serves as a recurring motif, blending his booming with on-screen to emphasize the disconnect between his perceived talent and actual circumstances. This setup establishes a tone of biting on , focusing on the protagonist's relentless, often comical pursuit of validation amid a parade of industry oddities.

Style and production format

Toast of London employs a distinctive comedic style that blends , intricate , and , delivered through a single-camera format without a to maintain an intimate, absurd tone. This approach allows for fluid, unencumbered scenes that emphasize the series' eccentric humor, drawing from the acting industry's satirical undercurrents without relying on canned laughter. Episodes typically run for about 30 minutes and follow a loose structure centered on protagonist Steven Toast's voice-over recording sessions, which are frequently disrupted by escalating personal mishaps and bizarre encounters. This format intersperses professional frustrations with chaotic domestic or social vignettes, building comedic momentum through escalating absurdity rather than rigid plotlines. The series incorporates fourth-wall breaks, often via Toast's direct asides or monologues, alongside exaggerated accents in voice-over parodies. These techniques amplify the wordplay, particularly in recurring motifs like mispronounced names during recordings. Visually, the production favors quick cuts and dream-like sequences to underscore the surreal quality, set against distinctly locales such as recording studios and theatrical venues that ground the escalating nonsense in a recognizable urban . This stylistic choice enhances the humor by contrasting everyday British settings with increasingly outlandish scenarios.

Production

Development

Toast of London was co-created by and Arthur Mathews, who drew inspiration from Berry's extensive experiences in and Mathews' background in crafting surreal comedy narratives, as seen in his work on . The concept emerged from Berry's observations of eccentric voiceover performers and their interpersonal rivalries in London's scene, blending these real-life elements with absurd, theatrical misadventures. The series was pitched to , building on Berry and Mathews' prior collaborations such as Snuff Box (2006). A pilot episode, titled "The Unspeakable Play," was commissioned and broadcast on 20 August 2012 as part of 's "Funny Fortnight" programming to celebrate the channel's 30th anniversary. Following positive reception to the pilot, greenlit a full six-part first series in early 2013, with production handled by Objective Productions. The writing process involved Berry contributing significantly to the dialogue and character voices, informed by his voiceover expertise, while Mathews structured the episodic plots around escalating absurdities and industry satire. The duo often exchanged ideas remotely via email, with Berry in and Mathews in , refining scenarios like Toast's disastrous auditions or rivalries. This collaborative approach yielded consistent six-episode runs for each of the subsequent series, with the second and third seasons commissioned in 2014 and 2015, respectively, due to growing cult popularity.

Filming and crew

The principal filming for Toast of London took place in London, utilizing both studio spaces and on-location shoots to capture the series' authentic depiction of the city's theatre district. Exterior scenes were frequently shot in Soho, including streets such as Meard Street and Livonia Street, which served as the backdrop for Steven Toast's residence and daily misadventures, enhancing the show's chaotic urban atmosphere. Additional location work occurred at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent, particularly for elements in Series 1 that required expansive or historical settings. Series 2 and 3 were primarily produced at West London Film Studios, allowing for controlled interior environments like Toast's flat and voiceover booths. Michael Cumming directed all episodes across the three original series and the 2022 revival, bringing a consistent comedic timing and visual flair informed by his prior work on satirical projects like . His approach emphasized dynamic shot compositions to mirror the frenetic pace of Toast's life, though specific techniques like handheld camerawork were not publicly detailed in production notes. For the fourth series, Toast of Tinseltown, filming shifted to simulated environments constructed in the UK, supplemented by second-unit exterior footage captured in actual LA to evoke Hollywood without full relocation. The series was lensed in 4K UHD on Venice cameras, maintaining continuity with the original's aesthetic. Key behind-the-scenes personnel included cinematographer Peter Edwards (credited as DOP for 19 episodes from 2012 to 2015 and returning for Tinseltown), whose work contributed to the show's vibrant, character-driven visuals. Rosy Thomas oversaw set creation for multiple series, crafting eclectic interiors that reflected Toast's bohemian existence, such as cluttered apartments and theatrical offices. Lucia Santa-Maria led wardrobe efforts, outfitting Matt Berry's character in flamboyant, period-evoking attire—like loud blazers and patterned shirts—that underscored Toast's eccentric persona and theatrical aspirations. Production faced logistical hurdles, notably during the , which influenced the 2020 special "The Plumber," filmed remotely to comply with restrictions while incorporating pandemic-themed humor. This one-off episode relied on minimal crews and virtual setups, adapting the format without on-set gatherings. Earlier series navigated scheduling constraints tied to Berry's parallel music commitments, though specific delays were not documented publicly.

Cast and characters

Main cast

Matt Berry stars as Steven Toast, the protagonist of the series, portraying him as an eccentric, middle-aged actor characterized by extreme vanity, incompetence, and a string of professional failures that define his career on the fringes of London's theater and voiceover world. Berry, who co-created the series alongside Arthur Mathews, drew on his own improvisational style to infuse the role with absurd, pompous monologues and physical comedy, making Toast a hapless yet self-deluded figure whose overconfidence leads to repeated humiliations. Across all four series and specials, Toast's arc remains centered on these consistent setbacks—from botched auditions to disastrous personal entanglements—without significant growth, reinforcing the show's satirical take on showbusiness pretensions. Doon Mackichan plays Jane Plough, Toast's long-suffering agent, depicted as a quirky, foul-mouthed professional whose incompetence mirrors her client's, often exacerbating his woes through misguided advice and bizarre schemes. Mackichan was cast for her sharp comedic timing and ability to deliver rapid-fire, exasperated dialogue, creating a dynamic partnership with Berry that highlights the duo's mutual delusion and fuels much of the series' humor. Her portrayal evolves subtly over the seasons, with Jane becoming increasingly entangled in Toast's chaotic life, from securing ill-fated gigs to navigating his romantic disasters, while maintaining her role as the unreliable gatekeeper to his faltering career. Supporting the leads are as Ed Howzer-Black, Toast's eccentric flatmate and occasional confidant, whose dry wit provides contrast to the central chaos; Harry Peacock as Ray Purchase, Toast's smug rival actor whose petty antagonism underscores the competitive underbelly of the industry; as Clem Fandango, the hipster work experience assistant in the ; and as Danny Bear, the affable but dim-witted associate. These actors were selected for their ensemble chemistry with , enabling layered improvisational exchanges that amplify the show's surreal tone, with roles like Purchase's rivalry persisting as a comedic foil throughout the run.

Recurring characters

Ray Purchase, portrayed by Harry Peacock, serves as Steven Toast's primary professional rival and a recurring antagonist throughout the series. As a smug, self-assured actor often securing coveted roles that elude Toast, Purchase embodies the cutthroat competitiveness of the acting world, frequently taunting Toast with passive-aggressive barbs and gloating over his successes. His appearances, spanning 13 episodes across multiple series, heighten the comedic tension by catalyzing Toast's mishaps, such as sabotaged auditions or workplace confrontations, while underscoring the absurdity of industry egos. Peacock, known for his comedic timing in roles like those in Gulliver's Travels, brings a sharp, understated menace to Purchase, making him a pivotal foil in Toast's chaotic career trajectory. Danny Bear, played by , is Toast's affable but hapless friend and a sound engineer at the studio, appearing in 17 episodes to provide through his dim-witted optimism and bungled attempts at support. Often dragged into Toast's schemes, Bear's stereotypical "lad" persona—complete with ill-advised advice and accidental escalations of —amplifies the surrounding mayhem, such as botched recordings or misguided interventions in Toast's . Downie, recognized for dramatic roles like Kit Marlowe in , leverages his versatile delivery to infuse Bear with endearing ineptitude, contributing to the ensemble dynamic without overshadowing the lead. Mrs. Purchase, enacted by in 8 episodes, is the brash, chain-smoking wife of Ray Purchase, whose volatile temperament and meddlesome interference add layers of domestic to the narrative. She frequently clashes with Toast during social encounters, hurling insults or plotting petty revenges that entangle him further in rivalry-fueled absurdities, like explosive dinner parties or neighborhood disputes. Oberman's background in sharp-witted performances, including in , enhances Mrs. Purchase's role as a no-nonsense agitator, with her recurrence increasing in later series to deepen the satirical portrayal of showbiz spouses. Colonel Blair Toast, Steven's eccentric older brother played by Adrian Lukis across 5 episodes, injects familial dysfunction into the story with his pompous military demeanor and bizarre schemes, often roping Toast into outlandish family obligations that derail his acting pursuits. Blair's over-the-top anecdotes and manipulative visits, such as commandeering Toast's flat for peculiar hobbies, exemplify the series' blend of and surreal humor, building the protagonist's beleaguered world. Lukis, a of period dramas like , uses his authoritative presence to portray Blair as a comically domineering figure, with appearances evolving from brief cameos to more integrated plot drivers in subsequent series.

Guest stars

The guest stars in Toast of London feature a series of high-profile one-time appearances that amplify the show's of the industry's inflated egos and absurd hierarchies. Notable examples include portraying himself in series 3, where his effortless charisma serves as a foil to the bumbling protagonists, highlighting the allure and intimidation of American stardom within the British theatre scene. Similarly, appears as the bombastic Colonel Gonville Toast in the same series, embodying the over-the-top patriarch whose theatrical bluster mocks generational showbiz rivalries. Earlier series incorporate British television veterans for layered parody, such as Michael Ball in series 1 as a flamboyant performer, underscoring the pretensions of West End musical theatre. In series 2, Peter Davison and John Nettles deliver cameos that poke fun at the faded glory of TV icons, while Steve Pemberton adds dark comedic edge drawn from his League of Gentlemen background. These selections often draw from British comedy alumni, like Morgana Robinson and Timothy West, enhancing the meta-humor by blending familiar faces into Toast's chaotic world and critiquing insider networking. The trend escalates in series 4, Toast of Tinseltown, with an influx of U.S. celebrities to satirize Hollywood's superficial glamour. and make appearances that lampoon self-absorbed A-listers, alongside as the suave Barney, contrasting British restraint with transatlantic excess; even animated cameos like underscore the absurdity of crossover fame. Across the four series and specials, over 20 notable guest stars appear, with distribution skewed toward 4-6 per early series building to 8+ in the Hollywood-focused finale, reflecting the show's evolution from insular satire to broader industry mockery.

Episodes

Series overview

Toast of London comprises a pilot episode broadcast on 20 August 2012, three series broadcast on from 2013 to 2015, one themed special released online in 2020, and a fourth series titled Toast of Tinseltown on in 2022. The following table summarizes the episode counts, original air dates, and average viewership for the pilot and main series:
SeriesEpisodesOriginal Air DatesAverage Viewers (UK)
Pilot (2012)120 August 2012N/A
Series 1 (2013)620 October – 24 November 2013328,000
Series 2 (2014)63 November – 8 December 2014259,000 (premiere: 426,000)
Series 3 (2015)618 November – 23 December 2015232,000
Series 4: Toast of Tinseltown (2022)64 January – 8 February 2022Not publicly reported
In total, the main series and pilot account for 25 episodes, with the special adding to the overall output. The broadcast shifted from for the first three series to for the fourth, reflecting a change in production and distribution partnerships. Viewership on was modest and showed a declining trend across series 1 to 3, starting at an average of 328,000 and dropping to 232,000, though the series 2 premiere peaked higher at 426,000. Specific consolidated figures for series 4 were not widely released, consistent with the show's rather than mass appeal.

Pilot episode (2012)

The pilot episode of Toast of London, titled "The Unspeakable Play", was produced in 2012 for as part of the network's Funny Fortnight comedy showcase. Directed by Michael Cumming and co-written by and Arthur Mathews, it starred Berry as the eponymous Steven Toast, an eccentric middle-aged actor facing professional and personal turmoil after appearing in a controversial West End production. In the episode, Toast grapples with public backlash from his role in the play, which centers on themes of , prompting his agent to threaten dropping him. He resorts to a disastrous audition that spirals into absurdity, involving early iterations of supporting characters like his scheming rival Ray Purchase (played by Harry Peacock) and his agent Jane (portrayed by ). The narrative also depicts Toast's strained living arrangement with his friend Ed Howzer-Black () and other acquaintances, highlighting his obliviousness and hapless romantic pursuits amid career setbacks. At around 21 minutes in length, the pilot featured a more linear structure and straightforward humor compared to the surreal, escalating absurdity refined in the full series, along with alternate casting for key roles such as Jane, who was recast with for the ongoing run. This shorter format served as a proof-of-concept, testing the core premise of Toast's off-stage misadventures over on-stage successes. Broadcast on 20 August 2012 during Funny Fortnight, the episode garnered positive internal and critical feedback, including praise from Heat magazine as the "flat out funniest half hour" of the year and a spot in Radio Times' top 40 TV shows of 2012, which directly contributed to Channel 4 commissioning a six-part first series later that year. Though initially aired as a standalone pilot, it was not incorporated into the main series broadcast until select streaming platforms, and a version leaked online in 2013, allowing fans to access it beyond its limited original airing. The pilot's success paved the way for the evolution of the show's format in Series 1, expanding on character dynamics and episodic structure.

Series 1 (2013)

The first series of Toast of London aired on over six weeks from 20 October to 24 November 2013, establishing Steven Toast's recurring struggles with professional setbacks and personal chaos in London's acting scene. Building on elements from the 2012 pilot, the episodes focus on Toast's botched opportunities, such as disastrous voice-overs and ill-fated relationships, while introducing key recurring characters like his rival Ray Purchase and highlighting his agent's exasperation with his career lows. Guest appearances in this series include notable first-time cameos that underscore Toast's absurd encounters, such as musical performer playing a menacing version of himself and actress as Toast's combative ex-wife Ellen. "Addictive Personality" (20 October 2013)
Steven Toast is thrilled when informed by his agent Jane Plough that Braz magazine has awarded him , leading to an with journalist Susan Random, but his day unravels due to the unexpected return of a dangerous former acquaintance, Kikini Bamalam. Guest stars include as Susan Random and Gus Brown as Kikini Bamalam. "Afternoon Tea" (27 October 2013)
Following a scathing review of his ongoing play, Toast rehearses for a promising new role, only to clash with co-star Ray Purchase and discover the director's sinister reputation for eliminating problematic actors. This episode marks the first major appearance of recurring character Ray Purchase, played by Harry Peacock. Guest star appears as himself in a comedic enforcer role. "Vanity Project" (3 November 2013)
Amid an acrimonious demanding a large settlement, Toast desperately seeks funds and weighs dubious job offers, ultimately selecting a vanity project that exacerbates his troubles. Guest stars include as ex-wife Ellen Toast and Alan Ford as producer Mick Carriage. "Submission" (10 November 2013)
Toast prepares to impress his aristocratic girlfriend Portia de Coogan's father by honing his wit, but a gig for the Royal Navy submarine The Penetrator leads to a harrowing experience at its launch event. The episode features guest appearances by as Portia de Coogan and introduces tensions with naval figures. "The End" (17 November 2013)
Frustrated with his stagnant career, Toast switches agents to the ambitious and pivots to writing an erotic novel under a , hoping for a fresh start amid romantic complications. "Bonus Ball" (24 November 2013)
Toast auditions for the iconic role of but falters spectacularly, while a side gig a German pairs him uncomfortably with Ray Purchase once more, compounding his financial woes from a poker loss. Guest stars include references and reprising his pursuit. The series averaged 328,000 viewers per episode, capturing a niche for its surreal humor. It garnered a 78% approval rating from critics on , praised for Matt Berry's bombastic performance and the show's inventive absurdity. Series 1 generated significant BAFTA buzz, earning a nomination for Best Male Performance in a Programme in 2014 and winning Best New TV at the British Awards that year, setting the stage for the show's .

Series 2 (2014)

The second series of Toast of London premiered on on 3 November 2014 and concluded on 8 December 2014, comprising six half-hour episodes broadcast weekly at 10:35pm on Mondays. Continuing from the first series, it deepened the portrayal of Steven Toast's chaotic career and personal life, with recurring characters like his agent Jane Plough () and rival actor Ray Purchase (Harry Peacock) driving much of the conflict. The season amplified the show's signature surreal humor, incorporating dream sequences and increasingly outlandish scenarios that blurred the lines between Toast's professional ambitions and personal delusions, such as hallucinatory encounters during auditions and stunts. The episodes focused on Toast's persistent romantic setbacks—often tied to his oblivious charm and poor timing—and intensifying rivalries within the acting industry, including botched theater tryouts and attempts against peers. For instance, Toast's aspirations for legitimacy lead to disastrous auditions where his ego clashes with directors and co-stars, underscoring themes of fleeting in a cutthroat . These narratives highlighted character growth, or lack thereof, as Toast's schemes repeatedly backfire, fostering a cycle of humiliation and resilience.
EpisodeTitleAir DateSynopsis
1Match Fit3 November 2014Toast joins a charity blow-football tournament pitting celebrities against prostitutes to raise funds for homeless ponies; he aims to partner with Ray Purchase's wife for networking but pairs with an unlikely substitute, sparking awkward romantic overtures and competitive fallout.
2Desperate Measures10 November 2014Betrayed by Ray Purchase, who tips off the tax authorities, Toast faces a crippling bill and resorts to degrading odd jobs—like voice work for unseemly ads—to settle it, exposing his vulnerability amid industry betrayals and fleeting romantic distractions.
3The Moose Trap17 November 2014Securing a role in a West End revival of the The Moose Trap, Toast's loose-lipped radio interview spoils the , derailing rehearsals and igniting rivalries with castmates during tense theater auditions.
4High Winds Actor24 November 2014Suddenly in high demand for gigs, Toast plots revenge on a pompous rival by infiltrating his stage production, leading to surreal sabotage amid escalating professional jealousies and a botched romantic liaison.
5Buried Alive1 December 2014Jane dangles a starring role in a major British film, but Toast's audition devolves into a nightmarish involving , blending dreamlike hallucinations with his ongoing romantic fumbles toward Jane.
6Fool in Love8 December 2014An ex-girlfriend reappears in , reigniting old flames and forcing Toast to navigate jealousy from Jane while juggling a dubious theater callback, culminating in absurd romantic entanglements and career sabotage.
The series premiere drew 426,000 overnight viewers, capturing a 3.4% share—an uptick from the first series' debut of 361,000—though subsequent episodes hovered around 250,000–300,000 live viewers amid the late-night slot. No programming adjustments occurred mid-run, but creator noted the show's strength lay in deferred viewing, bolstering its cult appeal beyond initial BARB figures.

Series 3 (2015)

Series 3 of Toast of London premiered on on 18 November 2015 and concluded on 23 December 2015, consisting of six episodes that escalated the show's signature through increasingly absurd scenarios involving international opportunities and personal deceptions. This season marked the peak of the series' eccentric style, with plots weaving in elements of betrayal, such as romantic entanglements gone awry and professional manipulations, while incorporating more elaborate visual effects for dream sequences and comedic set pieces. The production featured an expanded role for Jane Plough, Steven Toast's scheming agent, who drives much of the intrigue across multiple episodes, often pushing him into compromising situations for career advancement. The season's episodes are as follows:
EpisodeTitleAir DateSynopsis
1Over the Moon18 November 2015While appearing on the chat show Lorraine, Steven Toast recounts a fabricated story about averting a global catastrophe involving the US government, drawing unwanted attention; simultaneously, he navigates a chaotic outdoor photoshoot directed by a demanding German filmmaker. Guest stars include Lorraine Kelly as herself.
2Beauty Calls25 November 2015Ed Howzer-Black begins dating former beauty queen Penvelope, leading Steven to romance her friend Clancy Moped, a struggling actress; complications arise when Clancy's father, a prominent actor played by Peter Davison, interferes in Steven's career prospects, culminating in stage fright during a Macbeth audition. This episode highlights personal betrayals through romantic rivalries and opportunistic networking.
3Hamm on Toast2 December 2015After a fall leaves Steven concussed, he becomes infatuated with visiting American actor Jon Hamm during a meeting arranged by Jane, ignoring the affections of a starlet directing his new play; the episode builds surreal tension around celebrity obsession and professional jealousy. Jon Hamm guest stars as himself, emphasizing the season's bolder narrative risks with high-profile cameos.
4Bob a Job9 December 2015Jane convinces Steven to perform at a Royal Variety show hosted by the late Bob Monkhouse in hopes of landing a role in House of Cards, but the gig spirals into farce involving hallucinatory encounters and career sabotage; this plot underscores international ambitions clashing with personal humiliations. The episode features enhanced production effects for its dreamlike sequences, reflecting the season's increased visual ambition.
5Man of Sex16 December 2015Steven and Ed retrieve legendary alcoholic actor Ormond Sacker from rehab for a play, only to face chaos from Sacker's antics and a betrayal involving Ray Purchase's albino twin brother Bill, who co-stars with Steven; Jane's meddling exacerbates the professional fallout. Timothy West guest stars as Sacker, adding to the season's parade of eccentric recurrings and guests.
6Global Warming23 December 2015Desperate for prestige, Steven secures a role in a King Lear production at the Globe Theatre through Jane's connections, but clashes with the director lead to absurd conflicts with celebrities like Jude Law and Martin Freeman; the episode ends on a cliffhanger note of escalating betrayals, teasing future arcs. This finale amplifies the surrealism with broader ensemble betrayals and theatrical mayhem.
Notable recurring appearances include as Steven's father in "Hamm on Toast," further deepening familial tensions, while the season's guest lineup—featuring Hamm, Davison, West, and others—highlighted its growing appeal to established actors, contributing to more layered interpersonal dynamics. Production notes indicate a deliberate push toward intensified surreal elements, with director Michael Cumming employing practical effects and location shoots to enhance the comedic absurdity, such as the elaborate Royal Variety staging in "Bob a Job."

COVID-19 specials (2020)

In response to the , the production team behind Toast of London released a short online sketch in 2020 titled "The Plumber", where the character deals with lockdown inconveniences like retrieving glasses from a toilet without leaving home. The existing episodes were made available on in December 2021 to bridge the gap for fans, garnering renewed interest ahead of the 2022 return. This period highlighted the show's adaptability, with creator contributing to other pandemic-era content like Squeamish About... on , which incorporated surreal humor akin to Toast.

Series 4: Toast of Tinseltown (2022)

Series 4 of Toast of London, retitled Toast of Tinseltown, marks the revival of the series on , shifting the setting to Hollywood where Steven Toast seeks the fame he believes is his due. Airing weekly on Tuesdays from 4 January to 8 February 2022, the six-episode run amplifies the show's signature absurdism through cultural clashes between British pretension and American showbiz excess, with Toast navigating auditions, eccentric agents, and celebrity cameos. Created by and Arthur Mathews, the series builds on the 2020 special by transplanting Toast to , where his misadventures escalate amid the glitz and superficiality of Tinseltown. The episodes are as follows:
  • Anger Man (4 January 2022): Toast's volatile temper jeopardizes his career prospects in Hollywood, prompting him to attend an class. Post-session, he embarks on apologies to those he's offended, only for fresh complications to arise when his good intentions backfire spectacularly.
  • LA Story (11 January 2022): Settling into the sweltering Los Angeles scene, Toast encounters director Dwight Difference, who seeks a British actor for his upcoming . Toast's attempts to impress lead to a series of bungled encounters highlighting his out-of-place demeanor in the American entertainment world.
  • The Scorecard (18 January 2022): Now in a new relationship, Toast receives another tantalizing Hollywood offer, but navigating the industry's cutthroat dynamics and personal entanglements tests his resolve and sanity.
  • Doctor Grainger (25 January 2022): Toast secures a in a high-stakes , yet his on-set performance is derailed by interpersonal dramas and the relentless pace of American television production.
  • Death Valley (1 February 2022): Assigned the lead in a Western, Toast endures a chaotic journey to the set, only to find himself stranded in the without , forcing him to confront amid his theatrical delusions.
  • Monster Mash (8 February 2022): Toast's anticipated breakthrough in a major Star Wars production unravels when he is abducted by bungling criminals, turning his dream gig into a of evasion and absurdity.
This revival introduced notable cast expansions, including American performers as Toast's laid-back Hollywood pal Russ Nightlife and voicing agent Brooke Hooberman, infusing the production with authentic inflections and perspectives to heighten the transatlantic humor. Guest appearances by figures like and further bridged British and American comedy styles. Production-wise, the series benefited from an elevated budget compared to prior outings, enabling second-unit location filming in for exterior shots and establishing sequences, while principal interiors were captured in the UK using 4K UHD on Venice cameras to evoke a polished Hollywood aesthetic. Viewership figures for the series were not publicly reported. Critics lauded the series for its sharpened focus on international satire, with Toast's fish-out-of-water exploits lampooning Hollywood's ego-driven culture and the absurdities of cross-cultural ambition, earning praise as a worthy evolution of the original format.

Music

Original score

The original score for Toast of London was composed by Matt Berry, who crafted the theme music and incidental tracks with a distinctive jazzy, retro aesthetic that evokes 1970s lounge influences. The opening theme, "Take My Hand," is an instrumental piece featuring Berry's signature voice-over narration, blending smooth saxophone riffs and upbeat rhythms to underscore the show's satirical take on showbiz eccentricity. This composition sets a whimsical tone from the pilot onward, with subtle variations across series to match evolving episode pacing, such as heightened brass elements during comedic escalations. Incidental music throughout the series incorporates Berry's bespoke cues, including quirky stings and ambient underscoring that amplify the absurd humor without overpowering dialogue. complements this score through exaggerated, cartoonish effects—such as amplified crash zooms and boings—for Steven Toast's physical mishaps and awkward encounters, enhancing the show's vaudevillian timing. These elements, like a comically overblown thud following Toast's pratfalls, draw from classic comedy tropes to heighten the . In Series 4, subtitled Toast of Tinseltown, the score evolves to reflect the Hollywood setting, retaining the core jazzy vibe but introducing a new ending theme, "Beatmaker," a cover of the 1970s Doris track performed by with . This shift adds a glamorous, period-infused flourish with fuller , aligning the music more closely with Toast's transatlantic misadventures while maintaining the series' retro charm. The featured songs in Toast of London primarily consist of novelty numbers performed diegetically by the Steven Toast, often in awkward cabaret-style sequences or impromptu auditions that underscore the show's satirical tone. These songs, written and sung by , blend whimsical lyrics with eclectic musical styles to heighten comedic absurdity without revealing plot details. A prominent example is the series theme "Take My Hand," composed by Berry and featured across all episodes, evoking a vibe that sets the eccentric atmosphere. In series 3, episode 4, Berry duets with on "This Crown of Thorns," a dramatic performed in a theatrical context. Series 2, episode 6 includes "," a lounge-inflected tune sung by Toast that parodies romantic clichés. The selection draws from a mix of 1970s-inspired glam and pop influences alongside modern indie sensibilities, licensed where necessary to complement the satire—such as the cover of Doris's 1970 Swedish pop single "Beatmaker" in series 4 (Toast of Tinseltown), episode 1, reinterpreted by Berry with on lead vocals for a soulful, era-blending effect. No official has been released for the series, though several tracks appear on Berry's solo , including "Take My Hand" from his 2009 Witchazel. The tie-in Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice (2015), presented as Toast's , references the character's musical performances and includes lyrical excerpts from his songs.

Reception

Critical reception

Toast of London received widespread critical acclaim for its surreal humor, sharp writing, and Matt Berry's charismatic performance as the pompous actor Steven Toast. Critics frequently highlighted the series' blend of and character-driven comedy, with Berry's dual role as and co-writer earning particular praise for capturing the pretensions of the world. The show's early seasons were celebrated as a favorite, evolving into broader appeal over time through its consistent inventiveness and guest star cameos that amplified the farcical elements. Aggregated review scores reflect this positive reception, with reporting an 84% approval rating across 19 critic reviews and an average score of 8/10 for the series overall. Individual seasons fared well, including 95% for Series 2 based on three reviews and 90% for Series 3 from ten reviews, underscoring the show's sustained quality. The IMDb user rating of 8.2/10 from over 11,000 votes further indicates strong audience appreciation, often citing the balance between and relatable industry as a key strength. Themes in criticism emphasized the tension between the program's accessible wordplay and its more esoteric, dreamlike scenarios, which some reviewers noted made it both hilarious and occasionally challenging to follow. In a , The Guardian's Sam Wollaston lauded the premiere episode as featuring a "fabulous thespian monster" in Toast, praising the "great imagination and surreality" that set it apart from conventional sitcoms. Later coverage in the same publication described Berry's creation as "one of the best comic creations of the last 10 years" upon the return with Toast of Tinseltown, appreciating how the Hollywood setting retained the original's bonkers energy while introducing new absurdities like Toast's misguided pursuit of stardom. However, some critiques of the fourth series noted mixed responses to the transatlantic shift, with the U.S. backdrop occasionally diluting the London-specific cultural jabs that defined earlier acclaim, though Berry's performance remained a consistent highlight. echoed this in a four-star , calling the revival "just as weird as ever" for its unhinged take on showbiz humiliations.

Awards and nominations

Toast of London has received numerous accolades throughout its run, reflecting its critical acclaim in the genre. The series and its cast accumulated over 15 nominations and secured at least five major wins across various prestigious awards bodies by 2025, with no additional honors announced following the 2022 release of Toast of Tinseltown.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 107 </grok:render> These recognitions highlight the show's innovative writing, Matt Berry's standout performance as Steven Toast, and its satirical take on the acting world.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 17 </grok:render> The following table summarizes the major awards and nominations:
YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultSource
2013British Comedy AwardsBest New TV ComedyToast of LondonWonhttps://www.channel4.com/press/news/british-comedy-award-winners
2014British Comedy AwardsBest New Comedy ProgrammeToast of LondonWonhttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/1676/british_comedy_awards_2014_winners/
2014SitcomToast of LondonWonhttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/1608/toast_of_london_wins_golden_rose_tv_award/
2014Scripted ComedyToast of LondonNominatedhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/mar/04/broadchurch-itv-rts-programme-awards-nominations-channel-4
2014British Comedy AwardsBest TV Comedy (and 7 others, including Best Male TV Comic for Berry)Toast of London / Matt BerryNominatedhttps://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29975897
2015BAFTA Television AwardsBest Male Performance in a Comedy ProgrammeMatt BerryWonhttps://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32215563
2015BAFTA Television Craft AwardsComedy WritingMatt Berry, Arthur MathewsNominatedhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2432604/awards/
2022Best ComedyToast of TinseltownWonhttps://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/news/7102/toast-of-tinseltown-wins-rose-dor-award/
These awards underscore the series' impact, particularly Berry's portrayal, which earned him the BAFTA for its "eccentric and hilarious" execution, and the writing duo's ability to blend absurdity with sharp wit, as noted in Rose d'Or commendations.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 119 </grok:render><grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 126 </grok:render> The show's international appeal is evident from the victories, awarded for excellence in across global television.<grok:render type="render_inline_citation"> 122 </grok:render>

Tie-ins and legacy

Novelization

In 2015, Matt Berry and Arthur Mathews, the creators of the sitcom Toast of London, published Toast on Toast: Cautionary Tales and Candid Advice, a book presented as the spoof of the series' , Steven Toast. The book blends fictional memoir elements with satirical "how-to" guidance for aspiring actors, recounting Toast's absurd career mishaps in the British entertainment industry through exaggerated anecdotes and self-aggrandizing advice on topics like audition techniques, dealing with directors, and maintaining a performer's ego. It features humorous, over-the-top narratives drawn from the character's on-screen persona, such as disastrous auditions and encounters with eccentric colleagues, extending the show's comedic style into literary form without directly reproducing episode scripts. Published by in the UK (with international editions by partners like in ), the and versions appeared in 2016, following an e- release on 22 October 2015; the ISBN-13 is 978-1782117513, and it spans 224 pages. The edition, narrated by Berry in character as Toast, has been particularly praised for capturing the series' vocal tics and delivery, enhancing the . Reception has been positive among fans of the show, with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars on based on over 1,500 reviews, where readers highlight its witty extension of Toast's delusional worldview and absurd humor as a delightful companion to the television series.

Home media and distribution

The first three series of Toast of London were released on DVD in the by DVD, with individual series one and two volumes issued in 2013 and 2014, respectively. A complete compiling series one through three followed in late 2015, distributed by 4DVD and containing all 18 episodes across three discs in Region 2 format. These releases included standard extras such as episode commentaries featuring creator and cast members, though specific details vary by edition. No physical home media release has been made available for series four, Toast of Tinseltown, as of 2025, despite its original broadcast on in 2022. In terms of streaming, Toast of London is accessible on in both the and the , offering all three original series and select specials. The Roku Channel provides free ad-supported viewing of the series in the , while episodes are available for purchase or rental on platforms like and Apple TV internationally. Toast of Tinseltown streams on in the and Roku worldwide, with no significant distribution updates reported through 2025. Internationally, the series aired on IFC in the United States starting in 2019, following acquisition of the first three seasons by in 2018. In , it was broadcast on ABC in 2014 and remains available for digital purchase via platforms like Apple TV and . European distribution has been handled through international, though specific broadcaster details for regions beyond the remain limited to streaming options on services like .

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