David Farnor | On 02, Feb 2017

BBC iPlayer will release Simon Amstell’s directorial debut, Carnage.

The comedian, who once hosted Never Mind the Buzzcocks and co-wrote sitcom Grandma’s House, has now turned his hand to helming, with Carnage: Swallowing the Past, a tale set in utopian 2067 that looks back at a time when human beings ate other animals.

For the young people of this time, the idea that their grandparents could have been complicit in a bloodbath of unnecessary suffering is wholly unimaginable.

The film aims to break the taboo around Britain’s animal eating past, whilst showing compassion for a generation that’s now seeking therapy to cope with the horror of their unthinkable actions.

Carnage stars Martin Freeman, Joanna Lumley, Dame Eileen Atkins, Lindsay Duncan, Alex Lawther, Gemma Jones, Linda Basset, Marwan Rizwan and John Macmillan. The film will combine original drama with archive footage, with Kirsty Wark, JME, Lorraine Kelly and Vanessa Feltz playing themselves. Amstell will be on narrating duties.

Carnage follows on from the success of previous iPlayer film premieres, including Fear Itself, Adam Curtis’ HyperNormalisation, which had over 1 million requests in its first month, and The Rack Pack, BBC iPlayer’s first ever feature film, which received over 1 million requests before it was broadcast later on BBC Two.

Carnage is made for BBC iPlayer by BBC Studios, the BBC’s main TV production arm. BBC Studios is set to launch as a wholly-owned subsidiary in April 2017 and make programmes for other broadcasters and customers. It will be committed to supporting the BBC’s public service mission and all profits will return to the BBC Group.

The movie was commissioned last year by Victoria Jaye, Head of Content for BBC iPlayer. It is being executive produced by Arts Editor, Janet Lee. It is developed and produced by Daniel O’Connor.

Victoria Jaye, Head of Content, BBC iPlayer, says: “In a culture obsessed by what’s on our plates, Simon Amstell’s film Carnage imaginatively challenges our attitude towards eating meat, fish and cheese triangles. Prepare to never look at your dinner the same way again.”

“I have written and directed a film about veganism,” adds Amstell. “I’m sorry.”

Carnage will be available on BBC iPlayer from Sunday 19th March at 9pm.

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