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The Insider's Guide to Inside No. 9: Behind the Scenes of the Award Winning BBC TV Series
The ultimate companion to unlock what lurks Inside No. 9
Welcome, reader, to the experience of a a behind-the-scenes tour of the remarkable Bafta award-winning series. This show-by-show guide reveals the genesis of each episode's idea through to the scripting, casting, design, direction, and production - where you'll have access to the minds and imaginations of creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.
Filled with the show's dark humour and behind-the-scenes photographs, production stills, mood boards and concept drawings, you'll find yourself delighted and disturbed in equal measure. Every episode from the first five series will be covered by interviews with key creatives and discussion of the inspiration and creation behind every moment.
Are you ready to step through the door marked No. 9?
Welcome, reader, to the experience of a a behind-the-scenes tour of the remarkable Bafta award-winning series. This show-by-show guide reveals the genesis of each episode's idea through to the scripting, casting, design, direction, and production - where you'll have access to the minds and imaginations of creators Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton.
Filled with the show's dark humour and behind-the-scenes photographs, production stills, mood boards and concept drawings, you'll find yourself delighted and disturbed in equal measure. Every episode from the first five series will be covered by interviews with key creatives and discussion of the inspiration and creation behind every moment.
Are you ready to step through the door marked No. 9?
- GenresNonfiction
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2021
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124 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 7, 2024
Фанатська книга для фанатів, такий скарб, що капець.
Інсайд н9 і так ховає в собі багато секретів, а коли читаєш про всі заховані деталі, то щелепа на підлозі просто. Таке щастя, що Різ і Стів погодились надати цю інфу. Також безліч картинок, фото з щоденників і всякого такого. Шкода, що книга про перші 5 сезонів, сподіваюсь буде друга про 6-9 сезони, бо там маю кілька епізодів улюблених, про які дуже хочеться дізнатися більше. Читаєш про кожен - світло, музика, камери, бюджети, актори, скрипт - і розумієш скільки роботи в цьому всьому. Дуже хочеться передивлятися епізоди наново, щоб помітити всі пасхалочки. Також вказані мільярд фільмів шоу і книг, які слугували натхненням, можна робити собі список до перегляду.
Також, інсайд н9 особливе шоу, бо навіть коли знаєш твіст, цікаво дивитися. Коли все дивилась, цікаво читати книгу. Коли читаєш книгу, хочеться дивитися.
Бо загалом шоу про те, як розповідати історію.
Інсайд н9 і так ховає в собі багато секретів, а коли читаєш про всі заховані деталі, то щелепа на підлозі просто. Таке щастя, що Різ і Стів погодились надати цю інфу. Також безліч картинок, фото з щоденників і всякого такого. Шкода, що книга про перші 5 сезонів, сподіваюсь буде друга про 6-9 сезони, бо там маю кілька епізодів улюблених, про які дуже хочеться дізнатися більше. Читаєш про кожен - світло, музика, камери, бюджети, актори, скрипт - і розумієш скільки роботи в цьому всьому. Дуже хочеться передивлятися епізоди наново, щоб помітити всі пасхалочки. Також вказані мільярд фільмів шоу і книг, які слугували натхненням, можна робити собі список до перегляду.
Також, інсайд н9 особливе шоу, бо навіть коли знаєш твіст, цікаво дивитися. Коли все дивилась, цікаво читати книгу. Коли читаєш книгу, хочеться дивитися.
Бо загалом шоу про те, як розповідати історію.
December 24, 2021
Oct 2021: My copy arrived early and I could not resist reading it and then ended up devouring it. I loved it so much and every page was an absolute treat.
Dec 2021: I loved reading this again and picking up on little details I missed the first time around, it also got me to go and rewatch a lot of the episodes after reading about them this time which was wonderful for me.
Dec 2021: I loved reading this again and picking up on little details I missed the first time around, it also got me to go and rewatch a lot of the episodes after reading about them this time which was wonderful for me.
November 21, 2022
A beautifully and carefully crafted book dedicated to one of the most beautiful and carefully crafted TV shows out there.
Obviously a must for fans of the show, but anyone interested in how TV is made at any level must read this.
Obviously a must for fans of the show, but anyone interested in how TV is made at any level must read this.
December 1, 2021
I enjoyed reading this book. As a big fan of the TV series its about, I liked reading input from the people who worked on the show - directors, producers etc. I also appreciated the presence of notes from Steve's notebook relating to the episode being discussed on that page and photos taken during the filming of episodes, as well as some storyboards, which give you a feel of what it may have been like working on the show.
I suppose its only logical that at least a basic rundown of each episode is presented at the start of the relevant section but, nevertheless, I did roll my eyes a bit at how much is about the basic storyline of each episode. Obviously I'm familiar with the storylines - if I didn't enjoy the show and thus know what the episodes are about, then I wouldn't have bothered to spend money to read the book but to be fair, I suppose it would maybe be a bit strange to discuss any episode without saying anything about what happens. I did find myself skim reading a little bit when there were multiple paragraphs about the different sub-plots.
I'm glad I read it right through, as I felt that there was more in the way of interesting information that I was less aware of, about later episodes such as the Halloween special 'Dead Line' and series five episodes 'Death Be Not Proud' and 'Thinking Out Loud', compared to the information about the first few series. Some of the info. I was already familiar with but overall I did enjoy it and I like that its quite an accessible book, with text not taking up the whole page or it being full of massive long paragraphs. From an accessibility front, I should maybe point out that I felt the text size was maybe slightly small but otherwise and for the most part, its a good read that's worth having for anyone who is especially keen on the show. Both Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith give quite a lot of insight into the development and making of the show, which is good.
Perhaps a bit more in the way of insight and info. would have been nice but I can't honestly say exactly what more I'd expect. I'd still recommend it anyway, as a good, insightful read.
I suppose its only logical that at least a basic rundown of each episode is presented at the start of the relevant section but, nevertheless, I did roll my eyes a bit at how much is about the basic storyline of each episode. Obviously I'm familiar with the storylines - if I didn't enjoy the show and thus know what the episodes are about, then I wouldn't have bothered to spend money to read the book but to be fair, I suppose it would maybe be a bit strange to discuss any episode without saying anything about what happens. I did find myself skim reading a little bit when there were multiple paragraphs about the different sub-plots.
I'm glad I read it right through, as I felt that there was more in the way of interesting information that I was less aware of, about later episodes such as the Halloween special 'Dead Line' and series five episodes 'Death Be Not Proud' and 'Thinking Out Loud', compared to the information about the first few series. Some of the info. I was already familiar with but overall I did enjoy it and I like that its quite an accessible book, with text not taking up the whole page or it being full of massive long paragraphs. From an accessibility front, I should maybe point out that I felt the text size was maybe slightly small but otherwise and for the most part, its a good read that's worth having for anyone who is especially keen on the show. Both Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith give quite a lot of insight into the development and making of the show, which is good.
Perhaps a bit more in the way of insight and info. would have been nice but I can't honestly say exactly what more I'd expect. I'd still recommend it anyway, as a good, insightful read.
October 11, 2023
“Please, let us be…” - “Deadline”
The Insider's Guide to Inside No. 9 by Mark Salisbury, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith was a delightful behind-the-scenes book behind the brilliant award-winning BBC series that I adore. It's hard to imagine the creative writing process of the 37 episodes that always put a smile on my face (although, this book only covers seasons 1-5).
For those who don't know, Inside No. 9 is a British half-hour anthology television series, first broadcast by the BBC in February 2014. Most episodes are some degree of black comedy, but the series occasionally plays with other genres, from straight drama to supernatural horror to lighter and softer farce. It was created and is written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton (the two members of The League of Gentlemen who had previously created Psychoville). Every episode's cast includes one or both of them.
Each episode uses a different single location as the primary setting, which is somehow linked to the number 9. While this is often the address or number of the environment, the connection is at times a little more unusual or oblique (for example, one episode involves a size 9 shoe, while another consists of a football player wearing the number 9 shirt). Locations include a gothic mansion, the sleeping car of a train, a cubicle in a call centre, an art gallery, a karaoke booth, a hotel corridor, a theatre changing room, and a police car. Each episode usually has a twist ending that entirely changes the episode's world.
Many television series include "bottle" episodes, where all action happens in one place or one set. The motivation is often to save money on one episode to spend more on others. However, the one linking aspect of this series is that all of the programs are "bottle" episodes, a single flat or room, or a single piece of bedroom furniture. As a result, the original working title for the series was, apparently, "Message in a bottle". As well as all of the episodes having a "bottle episode" aesthetic, several episodes also take place in "real-time" (the story takes place entirely within the thirty minutes run time).
The Insider's Guide to Inside No. 9 by Mark Salisbury, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith was a delightful behind-the-scenes book behind the brilliant award-winning BBC series that I adore. It's hard to imagine the creative writing process of the 37 episodes that always put a smile on my face (although, this book only covers seasons 1-5).
For those who don't know, Inside No. 9 is a British half-hour anthology television series, first broadcast by the BBC in February 2014. Most episodes are some degree of black comedy, but the series occasionally plays with other genres, from straight drama to supernatural horror to lighter and softer farce. It was created and is written by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton (the two members of The League of Gentlemen who had previously created Psychoville). Every episode's cast includes one or both of them.
Each episode uses a different single location as the primary setting, which is somehow linked to the number 9. While this is often the address or number of the environment, the connection is at times a little more unusual or oblique (for example, one episode involves a size 9 shoe, while another consists of a football player wearing the number 9 shirt). Locations include a gothic mansion, the sleeping car of a train, a cubicle in a call centre, an art gallery, a karaoke booth, a hotel corridor, a theatre changing room, and a police car. Each episode usually has a twist ending that entirely changes the episode's world.
Many television series include "bottle" episodes, where all action happens in one place or one set. The motivation is often to save money on one episode to spend more on others. However, the one linking aspect of this series is that all of the programs are "bottle" episodes, a single flat or room, or a single piece of bedroom furniture. As a result, the original working title for the series was, apparently, "Message in a bottle". As well as all of the episodes having a "bottle episode" aesthetic, several episodes also take place in "real-time" (the story takes place entirely within the thirty minutes run time).
April 30, 2022
Like many other viewers of BBC series Inside No. 9, I've been watching the careers of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith (and their cohorts) since their inaugural show The League of Gentlemen. They have gone from strength to strength as creators, and this book is yet another loving tribute to one of their creations.
Salisbury does as good a job as he can within the restrictions of the book: it covers the first five seasons of the show (at this writing, it's up to seven aired), so allots only ten pages per episode. Add to this that there are many images included -- from scrawled notes from Pemberton's notebook to behind-the-scenes and production photos -- and a synopsis is included for each episode, and this leaves very little space for much in-depth coverage of each episode. The author has clearly had time to talk to Pemberton and Shearsmith themselves, as well as the directors, composers and producer, but there are no contributions from other cast members. As far as it goes, this provides plenty of interesting titbits per episode, and (my personal favourite inclusion) opens each segment with the episode's 'poster' image. While a book twice as long could probably have been written on the show thus far, for what it is this book is a fine, handsomely produced guide to this beloved series.
Salisbury does as good a job as he can within the restrictions of the book: it covers the first five seasons of the show (at this writing, it's up to seven aired), so allots only ten pages per episode. Add to this that there are many images included -- from scrawled notes from Pemberton's notebook to behind-the-scenes and production photos -- and a synopsis is included for each episode, and this leaves very little space for much in-depth coverage of each episode. The author has clearly had time to talk to Pemberton and Shearsmith themselves, as well as the directors, composers and producer, but there are no contributions from other cast members. As far as it goes, this provides plenty of interesting titbits per episode, and (my personal favourite inclusion) opens each segment with the episode's 'poster' image. While a book twice as long could probably have been written on the show thus far, for what it is this book is a fine, handsomely produced guide to this beloved series.
July 1, 2022
A good read, with some interesting information on the genesis of some of the stories and some tantalising information on some might have been episodes (fingers crossed that the musical episode makes it to screen one day!) Saying that though, this isn't a deep dive, Steve & Reece are quoted for every episode (quite rightly) and the producer and directors appear but nothing from any of the guest cast, which may have been a big ask seeing as every episode has a new cast but would have been good to maybe have included quotes from interviews. There also seemed to be missed opportunities, a box out or appendix covering where the hare can be found in each episode seemed an obvious omission. I might have preferred fewer episodes covered but more information for each. Enjoyable enough though, and hopefully a follow up volume will cover the latest series.
August 10, 2022
This is a fantastic little companion book which gives insights into the behind-the-scenes thinking and decisions behind one of the best TV shows out there. Inside No. 9 is a horror/comedy/twisty anthology series from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, and this book, while written by Salisbury, includes interviews with them and other cast/crew as well as visual extras such as script and notes pages, behind the scenes photos etc. It's not exactly ground breaking (as they now have a podcast which does much the same thing), but it's been a great companion to my recent rewatch, so I highly recommend to fans.
June 1, 2024
I absolutely loved this.
It’s basically a behind-the-scenes of the BBC programme Inside Number 9 but it’s also so much than that. You get an in-depth look at each episode and the thoughts of the directors and some actors. There are pages from Steve Pemberton’s notebooks planning out episodes and photos of everything from the actors themselves to sets being built.
Would highly recommend and will have it beside me when I rewatch (for the millionth time).
It’s basically a behind-the-scenes of the BBC programme Inside Number 9 but it’s also so much than that. You get an in-depth look at each episode and the thoughts of the directors and some actors. There are pages from Steve Pemberton’s notebooks planning out episodes and photos of everything from the actors themselves to sets being built.
Would highly recommend and will have it beside me when I rewatch (for the millionth time).
September 13, 2024
So enjoyable to read as a huge fan of the show and basically everything by Reece and Steve (so also enjoyed lots of references to league and psychoville), so well written and gives lots of insights into the behind the scenes of the episodes including the technicalities of filming, script writing, costume and of course photos which was the best bit.
Now all we need is another guide for seasons 6-9!
Now all we need is another guide for seasons 6-9!
November 9, 2023
A lovely and insightful look behind the doors on no. 9. I loved taking a peak behind the curtain and learning how each ep was made, from story boarding all the way through to audience reception. I loved this book almost as much as I love the series.
A great book not only for Inside no. 9 fans, but also fans of film and tv.
Fingers crossed they write another after season 9 wraps up.
A great book not only for Inside no. 9 fans, but also fans of film and tv.
Fingers crossed they write another after season 9 wraps up.
April 15, 2022
A wonderful book with creative insights on BBC's Inside No. 9. Would love to read more on the approach into the Series 6 and onward (hopefully soon enough). Probably will pick the book again before each of the new series started :')
November 3, 2021
Great book. Lots of interesting behind the scenes facts and brilliant pictures for every episode from series 1-5. Very easy to read, it's a beautifully presented book. Highly recommend.
May 16, 2022
great companion to my fav tv show
August 11, 2022
Brilliant insight into the minds of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. Each episode from series 1-5 fully explained. Superb!
January 20, 2024
A fascinating behind the scenes look at one of the most ambitious British comedy shows of recent years.
June 1, 2024
Really enjoyed this guide and behind-the-scenes look at one of my favourite shows ever. Only goes up to Series 5, but I believe a follow-up featuring Series 6-9 is on the cards.
December 14, 2022
Nasty little twists
silly gags taken too far
goth on a budget.
silly gags taken too far
goth on a budget.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews