wed 04/12/2024

Campus, Channel 4 | reviews, news & interviews

Campus, Channel 4

Campus, Channel 4

Clever, absurd, rude, perhaps even edgy - but is it funny?

'Campus' follows the staff of Kirke University, led into battle by Jonty de Wolfe (Andy Nyman)

Let us begin with the nots. Fashionably weird is not enough. Edgy, whatever that means, is not enough. The repeated use of the word “vagina” is not enough and semi-improvised ensemble acting is not, in itself, quite enough. These were just some of the many not-thoughts which ran through my mind during the opening episode of the much-touted Campus. So what did picky me want? I wanted funny.

Let us begin with the nots. Fashionably weird is not enough. Edgy, whatever that means, is not enough. The repeated use of the word “vagina” is not enough and semi-improvised ensemble acting is not, in itself, quite enough. These were just some of the many not-thoughts which ran through my mind during the opening episode of the much-touted Campus. So what did picky me want? I wanted funny.

Professor Beer was one of those men whose "To Do" list is breathing and has breasts

Share this article

Comments

Agree completely.

I managed about 10 minutes before I switched off, normally I'm prepared to give something the benefit of the doubt but I could not find one single funny moment, likable character, or just any reason to care at all. A massive faux-pas from the makers of Green Wing

It felt forced and poorly executed. Jonty's character was so blatantly out to shock that it was boring. I turned over to South Park which was a masterclass in how to successfully approach the cruder elements of Campus's scatalogical and 'offensive' humour. Won't be watching again.

I agree...this was filmed where I work so I was eager to see the programme...but it was dire. I lasted 10 minutes..most of which time I was looking at the "extras" to see if I knew anyone.....

I loved it, but maybe it's the comedy equivalent of marmite.

How did they get away with such racism? Hopw it get's cancelled. However nice to Bath University again as I used to go there.

I thought it was brilliant - laughed all the way through.

So many missed opportunities for humour: - job titles such as 'director of interdisciplinary studies', 'reader in pornography' (I made that one up but there probably is one) - PhD theses such as Prostitution in the Bahamas (I didn't make that up) - attempts to embrace diversity with LGBT societies and cross-dressing academics - efforts to go green by making students park their cars 3 miles away - Knowledge Transfer Partnerships ?!!? "A Very Peculiar Practice" - the 1986 series by Andrew Davies, did campus idiocy much better.

I also lasted ten minutes before switching over. I loved Green Wing but Campus seemed a pale and irredeemably awful imitation. Not funny. Not edgy. Just plain bad.

Quite easy to make a comparison really. Green Wing was genius, this is crap!! Sorry.

What an utter load of shite. Hate it

I thought it was alright. I've never seen 'Green Wing' so I didn't really know what to expect. But it's worth watching again - it did give me a few good laughs.

I found most of the characters in Green Wing loveable and most of the characters in Campus hateful. Big disappointment.

"the vogue in TV comedy for near-fatal doses of faux-naturalistic awkwardness is becoming as hackneyed as the laugh track an on old episode of Terry and June." Nail on head.

It is so unfunny it actually hurts.

You're all so wrong I feel rather bad for you. Campus is, and this is a proven fact, hilarious. :)

Seems that you`re in the minority here.No use trying to put the silk hat on the pig.And I apologise to the pigs.

Publication! Publication! Publication! More like Shit! Shit Shit! Poorly acted and badly written. All characters cloned from other major series from the last 5 or so years. This 1st show should be leaving me wanting more. Unfortunately it was more silence or more entertainment. Certainly not more of this. Poor, Poor, Poor!

didn't enjoy the first episode...first time, however, recently managed to work my way through all six episodes and loved them! I was a massive fan of the Green Wing, and the similarities are obvious (I may have even loved Capus because it filled the Green Wing shaped hole in my life, but I don't care), but I still loved Campus. I am now quite devastated to see that there will be no second series. Loved the characters and wanted to see more of them...

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters