Name: The Message
Genre: Comedy
Released: 2006-05-20
Rating: 7.9
Cast: Katherine Jakeways, Anthony Mark Barrow, Stefan Ashton Frank

A show so meta it got cancelled for being too real about TV. Delicious.

Mini Series

meta chaosindustry satirecriminally short-lived

Latest Episode

Season 1 • Episode 6

Latest

Episode 6

Jun 24, 2006

Overview

Comedy

The Message was a surreal comedy series which spoofs current practices in the television industry. It originally aired in 2006 on BBC Three. It consisted of six episodes, and was not renewed after the first season.

Content warning

media self-awarenesscorporate absurdityart vs commerce

Standout Aspects

Writing

Satire sharp enough to make commissioning editors nervous.

Acting

Katherine Jakeways shape-shifts through the entire TV food chain.

Best for:Solo·Binge

First AiredMay 20, 2006

StatusEnded

Vibe

Pacefast

Intensitymedium

Tonemixed

Feellight

Seasons1·Episodes6

Top Cast

Katherine Jakeways

Various Roles

Anthony Mark Barrow

Mbeki

Stefan Ashton Frank

Various Roles

Ask about The Message

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

BBC Three's 2006 comedy slate was notoriously brutal—The Message joined a graveyard of single-season satires.

Cultural

This was pre-iPlayer dominance, meaning most viewers discovered it through word-of-mouth or illegal downloads—fitting for a show about media distribution chaos.