‘Taboo’ is a British drama produced for both the BBC and American Network FX. The show is produced by Ridley Scott’s production company Scott Free London and Hardy Son & Baker, which belongs to Tom Hardy. Hardy also stars and writes alongside Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight. The eight-parter set in 1814 tells the story of “James Keziah Delaney” as he “returns to London from Africa and is encircled by conspiracy, murder and betrayal” (BBC, 2017).
The programme broadcast on BBC One in the UK, with episode one airing Saturday 7th of January at 9.15pm. It is broadcast after the watershed, due to inappropriate content for younger audiences. In episode one, for example, there is a graphic scene involving a gruesome autopsy. ‘Taboo’ suits the timeslot excellently, in my opinion. Similar to other shows like ‘Gunpowder’ (another violent period drama broadcast at the same time), it allows audiences to understand that BBC One’s 9pm Saturday slot is for high quality adult drama, after more entertainment and family-oriented programming like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Doctor Who’ being broadcast earlier.
However, violent, gory or sexual scenes draw in audiences and differentiates from other period dramas, like ‘Downton Abbey’. Being described as “big, bold and brash”, ‘Taboo’ takes more from fictional sources such as the works of Charles Dickens (Sarah Hughes, The Guardian, 2017). Despite being a highly fictionalised plot, the programme is very historically accurate. According to Greg Jenner, a historian, the early 1800s were similar to what was depicted on screen by Knight and Hardy, stating “The Regency era was full of debauchery and violence. There were riots, violence in the streets” and “a big problem with alcoholism” (Mark Butler, i News, 2017).
With big names such as Tom Hardy, a well known actor and star of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Legend’, and Ridley Scott, director of ‘Alien’ and ‘Blade Runner’ featured prominently in advertisements and trailer, this allows audiences to relate the programme to the high quality films mentioned above. Morgan Jeffery stated “Taboo is all about Tom Hardy” (Morgan Jeffery, Digital Spy, 2017). More established names generally appeal to a wider audience, allowing for those knowledgeable of Hardy’s work to be more likely to view ‘Taboo’.
Sources-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b088s45m
https://inews.co.uk/essentials/culture/television/taboo-historically-accurate/
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