Dead Set
Dead Set is a British satirical zombie horror miniseries created and written by Charlie Brooker, consisting of five episodes that aired on Channel 4 in October 2008.[1][2] Directed by Yann Demange, the series is set during a fictional run of the reality show Big Brother, where a sudden zombie apocalypse ravages Britain, leaving the isolated housemates and production staff oblivious to the undead hordes decimating the outside world until the chaos breaches the compound on eviction night.[1][2] The cast features real-life Big Brother host Davina McCall as herself, alongside actors including Jaime Winstone as housemate Kelly, Andy Nyman as producer Patrick, and Warren Brown as security guard Alex, blending elements of horror, drama, and social commentary on celebrity culture and voyeurism.[2] Critically acclaimed upon release, Dead Set holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 12 reviews, with praise for its tense pacing, sharp satire, and innovative premise, and it received nominations including a BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Serial and a British Comedy Award for Best Television Comedy Drama.[1][3]Plot
Overall plot
Dead Set is a five-part horror miniseries that unfolds during the live eviction night of a fictional season of the reality television show Big Brother in the United Kingdom, when a sudden zombie apocalypse erupts across the country, leaving the isolated housemates oblivious to the chaos outside.[4] The narrative centers on the Big Brother house and its adjacent production studio, where the undead hordes overrun the compound, trapping a group of contestants, crew members, and external survivors in a desperate fight for survival. This setup satirizes the artificial isolation of reality TV, mirroring how the housemates' detachment from the real world parallels broader societal disconnection during catastrophe.[5] The protagonist, Kelly, a junior production assistant working on the show, becomes a key figure in the unfolding horror as she witnesses the initial outbreak in the studio and races to warn the housemates before the infection spreads.[4] Her journey transforms her from an overlooked staffer into a resourceful leader, forging tense alliances with the self-absorbed contestants inside the house while navigating betrayals from colleagues like the ambitious producer Patrick outside. Kelly's relationships extend to external characters, including her boyfriend Riq, who ventures through the zombie-infested streets in a perilous quest to reach her, and housemate Angel, whose deteriorating condition amid the crisis introduces new dynamics of trust and conflict among the group.[5] Throughout, internal divisions—fueled by paranoia, resource scarcity, and clashing personalities—compound the external threat of the relentless undead siege on the fortified house.[4] As the apocalypse intensifies, the survivors face mounting horrors, including breaches in the house's security and the grim realization that the live feeds continue broadcasting their terror to an abandoned audience. The story builds to a climax of frantic escape attempts and brutal confrontations within the confines of the Big Brother compound, underscoring themes of human fragility and the blurred line between entertainment and existential dread. In the end, the resolution delivers a harrowing account of loss and tenuous hope, with only a handful of characters emerging from the ordeal, forever altered by the collapse of their insulated world.[5]Episode 1: Outbreak
During the eviction night for a fictional season of Big Brother, riots erupt outside the studio as the initial zombie outbreak spreads across Britain, with fast-moving undead hordes attacking the crowd and production staff.[6] Kelly, a junior production runner, witnesses the chaos unfold when a zombified audience member bites into the crowd, leading to rapid infections among her co-workers in the control room and corridors.[7] Producer Patrick locks himself in the production gallery for safety, while host Davina McCall evacuates amid the pandemonium, but the eviction proceeds with housemate Pippa being voted out and sent into the zombie-infested compound.[8] As the first breaches occur with zombies forcing their way into the studio building, Kelly desperately tries to contact her boyfriend Riq outside, ending on a cliffhanger as she barricades herself away from the encroaching undead.[9]Episode 2: Can the Housemates Survive?
Outside the compound, Riq encounters his first zombie attack while attempting to reach Kelly, leading him to team up with armed survivor Alex after hiding in an abandoned country house to evade pursuit.[10] Inside, the housemates begin to suspect something is wrong due to glitches in the live feed and lack of communication from producers, heightening their isolation as they argue over trivial matters unaware of the apocalypse.[11] Kelly, housemate Marky, and Space venture out for supplies but face challenges from external encounters overwhelmed by zombies, while Patrick remains trapped with the newly evicted Pippa in a secure area, forcing them into an uneasy alliance.[8] The episode builds to a tense cliffhanger as the group inside struggles with dwindling resources and the housemates' suspicions grow, questioning if they can hold out without intervention.[12]Episode 3: Live Feed
This episode focuses on the Big Brother live feed cameras for house events, intercut with external scenes, as zombies breach the house starting with Angel turning in the greenhouse, forcing the housemates into panic and desperate defenses.[13] [14] Betrayals and alliances emerge amid the chaos, while Kelly, who re-enters the house after external supply run, joins survivors like Grayson, who cares for his housemate Angel until she turns and bites him, leading to her subsequent dispatch by the group.[15] The fragmented, multi-angle format builds unrelenting tension through real-time voyeurism, mimicking the show's original style to heighten the horror of inescapable surveillance amid the invasion.[13] The installment ends on a cliffhanger with escalating threats as more undead close in, underscoring the fracturing group dynamics.[8]Episode 4: Running
Kelly forms a precarious alliance with outsider Riq, who risks entering the compound with Alex, leading to high-tension chases through the zombie-overrun parking lots and back corridors as they dodge hordes to reunite.[16] Patrick and Pippa attempt a daring escape from their hiding spot, but internal paranoia causes Pippa to turn on Patrick, resulting in violent confrontations that leave one injured.[17] Meanwhile, the remaining housemates, including tech-savvy Joplin, theorize about the undead's origins while fending off waves entering the compound, with Marky's aggressive leadership straining alliances further.[8] The episode climaxes in a breathless pursuit sequence where Riq nearly reaches Kelly, only for a potential zombie sighting to halt their progress, leaving their survival in doubt.[12]Episode 5: A Way Out
The compound faces a full-scale zombie invasion as hordes mass at the gates, prompting the survivors inside the house—now including reunited Riq and Kelly—to make agonizing decisions about barricades and who to sacrifice for escape.[18] Patrick, descending into madness, takes Kelly hostage in a bid for self-preservation, leading to a betrayal by Veronica who advocates killing him, while Joplin uncovers a possible exit route through the sewers.[19] Final confrontations erupt in brutal fights among the group, with Marky sacrificing himself to hold off the undead during the climactic breach into the main house.[8] The ambiguous ending leaves the fates of the few remaining survivors uncertain as they flee into the overrun world, emphasizing themes of media isolation and human frailty.[20]Cast
Main cast
The main cast of Dead Set consists of emerging British actors portraying the core fictional characters, selected to bring authenticity to the roles of Big Brother production staff and housemates amid the zombie apocalypse. Casting details were highlighted in late 2008 press coverage, focusing on up-and-coming talents to ground the satirical horror in realistic performances.[21] Jaime Winstone leads as Kelly Povell, the quick-witted and resourceful production runner who emerges as the central protagonist, driven by her determination to survive and reunite with her boyfriend.[22] Her arc highlights resilience and ingenuity in a collapsing world.[23] Andy Nyman portrays Patrick Goad, the bullying and opportunistic executive producer stranded outside the secure Big Brother compound, whose self-interested motivations often clash with group survival efforts.[22] Warren Brown plays Marky, a tough survivor encountered outside, motivated by loyalty and combat experience as he forms uneasy alliances.[23] Riz Ahmed stars as Riq Rahman, Kelly's devoted boyfriend and a housemate inside the studio, whose search for her underscores themes of love and separation in crisis.[22] Among the housemates, VJ Olisa embodies Spencer, the assertive leader figure whose drive for control stems from a need to impose structure on the chaos.[22] Chizzy Akudolu depicts Angel, a pragmatic survivor ally to key characters, motivated by fierce self-preservation and budding camaraderie.[22] Adam Deacon portrays Space, another housemate involved in the group's dynamics and conflicts within the house.[22] Additional key cast includes Kevin Eldon as Joplin, the director overseeing the production; Beth Cordingly as Veronica, the glamorous presenter; Liz May Brice as Alex, a fellow production runner; and Kathleen McDermott as Pippa, another runner assisting in the chaotic environment.[22]Cameos by former Big Brother housemates
The cameos by former Big Brother housemates were designed to blend reality TV satire with horror, incorporating recognizable real-life personalities into the fictional zombie outbreak for added meta-humor and authenticity, allowing them to play versions of themselves rather than demanding full acting performances.[24] These appearances were filmed during the summer of 2008, coinciding with the production timeline to capture spontaneous reactions amid the chaos.[25] Ten former housemates from Big Brother series 2 through 8 featured in brief roles, often as extras in crowd scenes during the reunion party in the green room or as early infected zombies outside the studio, heightening the satirical commentary on the show's voyeuristic culture. For instance, Helen Adams from series 2 appears as a zombified extra in episode 1, while Brian Belo, the series 8 winner, has a short survivor moment in episode 1 before reappearing in episode 4.[26] Other notable cameos include Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace from series 7, who attends the reunion in episode 1 and returns as a zombie attacking in the control room in episode 5.[26] The full list of cameos is as follows:| Housemate | Big Brother Series | Role and Scene Details |
|---|---|---|
| Helen Adams | 2 (2001) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1 as herself; later zombified extra.[26] |
| Paul "Bubble" Ferguson | 2 (2001) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1.[26] |
| Makosi Musambasi | 6 (2005) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1.[26] |
| Kinga Karolczak | 6 (2005) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1.[26] |
| Eugene Sully | 6 (2005) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1; his body featured in a scene with zombie Davina McCall.[26] |
| Saskia Howard-Clarke | 6 (2005) | Appears as zombie in episode 5.[26] |
| Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace | 7 (2006) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1; zombie attacking Space in control room in episode 5.[26] |
| Imogen Thomas | 7 (2006) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1.[26] |
| Ziggy Lichman | 8 (2007) | Appears at reunion party in episode 1.[26] |
| Brian Belo | 8 (2007), winner | Appears at reunion party in episode 1; brief survivor in episode 4.[26] |
Episodes
Broadcast details
Dead Set was originally broadcast on the E4 channel over five consecutive nights, from 27 to 31 October 2008, with the schedule designed to conclude on Halloween.[27][28] The miniseries aired at 10:00 PM each evening, capitalizing on the recent conclusion of the eleventh series of Big Brother on the same network just six weeks prior.[29] Each of the five episodes ran for approximately 28 minutes, though the premiere featured an extended opening sequence to establish the premise.[2] This structure allowed for a serialized narrative that built tension across the week, blending horror with satirical commentary on reality television. Companion programming enhanced the immersive experience, including online elements styled as Big Brother-esque live feeds, directed by Yann Demange to evoke the unfiltered voyeurism of the original show.[13] The series received repeat airings on Channel 4, the parent network of E4, from 6 to 8 January 2009, where it was reformatted into three hour-long episodes for broader accessibility.[30] This rebroadcast maintained the core episode structure while adapting to a condensed weekend schedule.[31]Viewership ratings
The viewership ratings for Dead Set were tracked by BARB, the official body for measuring UK television audiences. The following figures represent overnight ratings for E4 and its +1 service. The miniseries debuted strongly on 27 October 2008, drawing 1.19 million viewers on the main E4 channel, supplemented by 0.22 million on E4 +1, for a combined total of 1.41 million. This premiere performance marked a significant peak, outperforming typical E4 prime-time figures for late 2008 and capitalizing on the Halloween tie-in and proximity to the Big Brother finale.[32][33] Subsequent episodes experienced a steady decline in audience numbers, a common trend for serialized drama on multichannel broadcasters during that era, though the series maintained solid engagement relative to E4's multichannel competitors. Episode 2 on 28 October attracted 0.822 million on E4 and 0.218 million on +1. Episode 3 saw 0.573 million on E4 plus 0.238 million on +1, while episode 4 registered 0.907 million on E4 and 0.299 million on +1. The finale on 31 October drew 0.705 million viewers on E4 alone. Overall, the five-episode run averaged around 839,000 viewers per episode on the main channel, reflecting a drop from the high-profile launch but still contributing to E4's strongest multichannel performance of the week.[34][35]| Episode | Date | E4 Viewers | E4 +1 Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 Oct 2008 | 1.19 million | 0.22 million |
| 2 | 28 Oct 2008 | 0.822 million | 0.218 million |
| 3 | 29 Oct 2008 | 0.573 million | 0.238 million |
| 4 | 30 Oct 2008 | 0.907 million | 0.299 million |
| 5 | 31 Oct 2008 | 0.705 million | N/A |