GameFace

GameFace is a British sitcom created by, written by and starring Roisin Conaty. The pilot aired on Channel 4 on 23 April 2014. The first series began on E4 on 12 October 2017 and ended with the second series on Channel 4 on 14 August 2019. The show followed Marcella's (Conaty) life as she takes life coaching and attempts to find acting work.

This article is about the sitcom. For the Jay R album, see Gameface. For other uses, see Game Face (disambiguation).

GameFace
Title card for episode 1
GenreSitcom
Created byRoisin Conaty
Written by
  • Roisin Conaty
Directed byAndrew Chaplin
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12 + pilot
Production
Executive producers
  • Ben Farrell
  • Roisin Conaty
ProducerCharlotte Lewis
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time22 minutes
Production companyObjective Fiction
Release
Original networkChannel 4 (pilot; series 2)
E4 (series 1)
Original release23 April 2014 (2014-04-23) (pilot)
12 October 2017 (2017-10-12) –
14 August 2019 (2019-08-14)

Plot

Marcella Donoghue is trying to make it as an actress and is generally struggling through life. She is finding it hard to get acting parts and has a string of short-term jobs which she dislikes. She cannot find love since having broken up with her boyfriend of 12 years. She is in serious debt, and is living in a house share. In the meantime she spends most of her time with her life coach – attempting to find solutions to her problems – and her driving instructor.

Cast

Production

GameFace originated as a series of Channel 4's Comedy Blaps videos, titled Roisin Conaty: Onwards and Onwards.[1] In April 2014, a full 22 minute-pilot aired on Channel 4.[2] On 1 October 2015, GameFace was picked up by E4 for a full series of 6 episodes.[3] On 8 June 2018, a second series of 6 episodes was announced by E4.[4] It began broadcasting on Channel 4 on 17 July 2019.

Episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1612 October 2017 (2017-10-12)9 November 2017 (2017-11-09)
26July 17, 2019 (2019-07-17)August 14, 2019 (2019-08-14)

Series 1 (2017)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"Hero, Warrior, Fireman, Liar"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty12 October 2017 (2017-10-12)
A boozy night has some disastrous consequences for Marcella – including a ruined children's party, a lot of missed calls from her ex-boyfriend and an unwanted houseguest.
22"Wild"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty12 October 2017 (2017-10-12)
Marcella's ex-boyfriend, Simon, re-enters her life with some startling news and further surprises arrive in the shape of his new wife, Tania.
33"Onion"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty19 October 2017 (2017-10-19)
Marcella's drug addict brother, Billy, is coming out of rehab and it is not long before their sibling squabbles start up again.
44"Spider"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty26 October 2017 (2017-10-26)
Marcella is thrilled to get a role in a film but her joy is short lived when her actions inadvertently cause the lead actress to have a meltdown. With filming cancelled she spends a giddy evening with Jon.
55"Skint"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty2 November 2017 (2017-11-02)
Marcella needs to tell her family about Billy's drug problem but cannot bring herself to dent her mother's faith in her golden boy. Finding her hot-headed father as unhinged as usual she reluctantly turns to Simon for help.
66"Conch"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty9 November 2017 (2017-11-09)
A hungover and guilt-ridden Marcella has to face a date with Jon, while haunted by flashbacks from the night before – only to be called away thanks to Billy.

Series 2 (2019)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date [5]
71"Prank"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty17 July 2019 (2019-07-17)
Marcella takes her driving test and goes on a date with Jon.
82"Pickle"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty24 July 2019 (2019-07-24)
Marcella deals with the fallout of her date with Jon. She meets Simon and confronts him about his wife's behaviour. Her life coach talks to her about her lack of work so she visits her agent, Pam. Marcella and Lucy are meant to be going to an awards ceremony where Cal has won an award for her work but they are worried...and is Jon ever going to call her back?
93"Gritty"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty31 July 2019 (2019-07-31)
With her friends all seemingly moving forward with their lives and relationships, Marcella begins to feel like she is being left behind, and she decides to open up to her life coach about her feelings. However, her luck is about to change when she gets news of a big audition. Meanwhile, Marcella's parents have something to tell her and Billy.
104"Something About a Hat"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty7 August 2019 (2019-08-07)
Marcella stars in a TV advert, but the part is more than she bargained for. At a session with her life coach, student Frances cross-examines Marcella on what she'll do with the advert money. Marcella celebrates her good luck with margaritas forgetting she has signed up for a creative writing class. Lucy and Caroline are going to Billy's housewarming party but Marcella says she won't go because Simon will be there...
115"Strange Plants"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty14 August 2019 (2019-08-14)
Marcella goes to stay in a country cottage to write and clear her head. She's atoning for her drunken behaviour at Billy's party. Whilst at the cottage, Marcella encounters a horse, a spider, and a surprise visitor.
126"Wolf"Andrew ChaplinRoisin Conaty14 August 2019 (2019-08-14)
Jon invites Marcella to the art exhibition he is taking part in, where she finds out something which throws all her future plans into question. Marcella spends time with her friends Caroline, Lucy, her brother Billy, and her ex Simon, and realises that if life took her elsewhere she would miss them all.

Reception

Fiona Sturges for The Guardian gave it a positive review, saying "The English standup has created a big-hearted comedy that manages to make depression and loneliness funny".[6] Natalie Golding for Telly Binge gave it four stars saying, "E4 have clearly invested in the production, as Marcella’s surprisingly elaborate daydreams play out. Layering up her personality and backstory through throwaway comments and flashbacks, GameFace shows a sly cleverness that never gets in your face."[7]

Awards and nominations

Chortle Awards

  • 2017: Best TV (nomination)[8]

British Comedy Guide Awards

  • 2017: Best New TV Sitcom (nomination)[9]

I Talk Telly Awards

  • 2017: Best New Comedy (nomination)
  • 2017: Best Comedy Performance (Roisin Conaty, Award)[10]

New York Festivals Awards

  • 2017: Comedy (Bronze Award)[11]

Royal Television Society Craft & Design Awards

  • 2018: Director - Comedy Drama/Situation Comedy (Andrew Chaplin, Nomination)
  • 2018: Editing - Entertainment and Comedy (Charlie Fawcett, Nomination)[12]

References
  1. Guide, British Comedy. "Comedy Blaps – Session 1: Lone Wolf – GameFace – British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide.
  2. Wollaston, Sam (24 April 2014). "Derek; Game Face – TV review". The Guardian – via www.theguardian.com.
  3. Guide, British Comedy (1 October 2015). "Roisin Conaty gets full series of sitcom GameFace". British Comedy Guide.
  4. damienmolony.org, DamienMonoly (8 June 2018). "GameFace SERIES 2 Announced (And We Want More Joncella!)".
  5. [c "GameFace Listings"]. Next Episode. Retrieved 12 July 2019. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  6. Sturges, Fiona (14 October 2017). "'Carbs, fags and wine': Roisin Conaty's GameFace, a tragicomic portrait of a life unravelled". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  7. "GAMEFACE REVIEW". Telly Binge | Interviews, Reviews & Competitions (tellybinge.co.uk). 16 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
  8. "Chortle Awards 2018 results". British Comedy Guide. 16 March 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  9. "Comedy.co.uk Awards 2017 Results". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  10. "Winners: I Talk Telly Awards 2017". Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. "New York Festivals - 2018 World's Best Television & Films™ Winners". Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  12. "Craft & Design Awards 2018". 2 July 2018.
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