Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe special news and rumours
Charlie Brooker will be returning to the BBC with a lockdown episode of his former show Screenwipe, which last aired in 2016.
If you’re intrigued to know what this episode from theBlack Mirrorcreator will be about, then keep on reading. Alternatively, if you’re looking for other shows to keep you entertained during the lockdown, then check out our lists of the best shows onNetflix UKandDisney+ UK.
When will the episode air?
The Antiviral Wipe special willair tonight on Thursday 14 May, 9pm BSTon BBC Two, and will last for 45 minutes.
Straight after (at 10:15pm) there will a 30 minute special called Cunk & Other Humans on 2019: Jumbo All-in-One Edition – which is also written by Brooker. This looks back of some of the major news events of 2019, including Brexit, Prince Andrew and Climate Change.
What will the lockdown Antiviral Wipe special be about?
For those not familiar with Screenwipe, Brooker’s show first aired in 2006, reviewing TV programmes and providing commentary and analysis of how TV was produced. The full show only aired for two years, and then turned into an ‘Annual Wipe’ one-off special every year.
The Antiviral Wipe – as the name suggests – is a special episode all about television in the age of lockdown. It will examine coverage of the crisis itself, as well as the types of TV that people are watching during the pandemic (we imagineTiger Kingwill make an appearance).
Brooker has filmed this whilst in lockdown – so it will be quite a different set-up to previous episodes of Screenwipe.
Who will star on the show?
Besides Brooker himself, the BBC has announced that the show will also feature guest reporting from Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) and Barry Shitpeas (Al Campbell), as well as several other guests who haven’t been announced yet.
On the show, Brooker said “The BBC asked me to supply a quote for the press release, which is what you’re reading now.”
How can I tune in?
In the UK, viewers will be able to tune in on BBC Two, or catch up onBBC iPlayer. There’s been no word on if this show will air on BBC America, but if it doesn’t there is still a way towatch BBC iPlayer outside of the UK.
Author: Hannah Cowton-Barnes, Entertainment Editor, Tech Advisor
As Tech Advisor’s Entertainment Editor, Hannah is the resident expert in all things streaming, film and TV. Before joining Tech Advisor in 2019, she studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Leeds and created a website dedicated to geek culture and lifestyle. She’s also reviewed a whole range of gadgets including flagship smartphones, wearables and styling tools. Outside of Foundry, she’s written freelance pieces for Polygon, Metro and Den of Geek, and is proud to be a Women Techmakers Ambassador for Google.
