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With the last few months having been decidedly bleak, Charlie Brooker’s return to TV could not have come at a better time for viewers.
The satirist was back with a special “Antiviral” edition of his hit show Screenwipe on Thursday night, which took a sideways look at events during the
Coronavirus pandemic. The episode saw him poke fun at politicians including prime minister
Boris Johnson and health secretary Matt Hancock, as well as offering an acerbic take at some recent news stories.
It also featured the return of Diane Morgan as reporter Philomena Cunk.
And for fans watching, Charlie’s comical look at the news provided some much-needed laughs and was the “perfect tonic” to life in lockdown. Loving #AntiviralWipeThe perfect tonic for this lockdown lunacy. @charltonbrooker— Adrian Harris (@AdeHarris) May 14, 2020Just caught up. Fucking genius as usual. So many layers to it and still the people he's taking the piss out of won't realise it's happening 🤣🤣🤣#AntiviralWipe— @googlygirl (@googlygirl86) May 15, 2020Charlie Brooker's #AntiviralWipe was easily the best thing about lockdown so far. Seeing him host again is a huge silver lining in this shitshow pandemic. Loved every second. Nice to see a @Konnie_Huq cameo too!— Stephanie 🌻 (@MissStevens89) May 14, 2020That “happy birthday twice” gag alone was genius and worth the 4 year wait for new Wipe. Charlie Brooker is a national treasure #AntiviralWipe— Sagal Abdi-Wali (@Sagal_AW) May 14, 2020I have to say that @charltonbrooker's #AntiviralWipe is the best bit of lockdown telly I've yet seen. Absolutely bang-on. And because Wipe has always been Charlie in His Room, in front of a telly, no audience, it still works perfectly.(And Nice Konnie Huq is in it as well)— Dando Shaft 🚧📉 (@lennylaw) May 14, 2020Charlie Brooker’s #antiviralwipe needs to be put on the GCSE History curriculum when we look back at this #COVID19 shitfest 👏 pic.twitter.com/fPKUg5JVxG— Lucy Sempey (@LucySempey) May 14, 2020I can’t even begin to tell you how much joy @charltonbrooker’s #AntiviralWipe (BBC2) brought me tonight. I really, really needed this undiluted shot of common sense and satire🙏 pic.twitter.com/G46BgdYlS0— Hannah Foulds (@HanFoulds) May 14, 2020Charlie Brooker’s #AntiviralWipe brilliant! I find it hard to laugh right now , but this hit the spot.— Caroline Castle (@Prospectally2) May 14, 2020Charlie Brooker is the most fantastic human being. #AntiviralWipe was as superb as expected.— Adam (@Adam_GeorgePR) May 14, 2020They especially enjoyed his descriptions of politicians...Apprentice finalistEastenders baddieEstate agent boy #AntiviralWipepic.twitter.com/aFk8ja43gT— Max Bevis (@MaxBevis) May 14, 2020"Your sister's first boyfriend with a car" - such a brilliant description of Matt Hancock #AntiviralWipe— David Baddiel (@Baddiel) May 14, 2020So Chris Whitty (Prof. COVID) looks like Tin Tin, if he had prematurely aged after watching his dog drown #AntiviralWipe@charltonbrookerpic.twitter.com/2r29r3JzeP— Isabelle Plasschaert (@isabelleplass) May 15, 2020Nothing about Charlie Brooke’s superb anti viral wipe last night ? His renaming of Matt Hancock and the rest of the goons had everyone pissing selves #AntiviralWipe#GMBpic.twitter.com/fSzAiVX4Kk— Kev aka mr Qwerty Keyboard the veggie T.Rex... (@kevinsm17554523) May 15, 2020A sad doctor resembling Tintin, prematurely aged after watching his dog drown. Creased! 🤣🤣🤣#AntiviralWipepic.twitter.com/cS9cMtwmiG— Catrin Newman (@catrinnewman) May 14, 2020Charlie Brooker describing Matt Hancock as “Your sister’s first boyfriend with a car” is the most accurate description yet. 🤣👏🏼 #AntiviralWipe— Elliot Gonzalez (@elliot_gonzalez) May 14, 2020As the
Black Mirror creator also looked at some notable events before the pandemic hit the
UK, people’s minds were blown that they actually happened this year. January. Was that this year, or last year? #AntiviralWipe— Jamie (@jneish30) May 14, 2020Catching up on #AntiviralWipe - how does January feel so far? It's surreal how naive I was, along with many of us. It feels like another life. A life of carefree door handle licking.— Seaneen Molloy (@ms_molly_vog) May 14, 2020@charltonbrooker Thank you for the #AntiviralWipe crazy to think back to January... also cute to see the family! @Konnie_Huq and kids were great 💖💜— Kirsty Braik-Scivyer (@eclipse1473) May 14, 2020My absolute hero!!! Why does January feel decades ago?!Comedy and factual champion!!! #AntiviralWipe— Nadine Irons (@irons_nadine) May 14, 2020Charlie filmed Antiviral Wipe from his home, where he was assisted by his wife, former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, who he asked to make a ventilator out of kitchen items during one skit.For two months my shielded lockdown has been waiting for this #AntiviralWipe@charltonbrooker asking @Konnie_Huq to make a ventilator from kitchen items. The best lockdown TV information. "Your sister's first boyfriend with a car" - such a brilliant description of Matt Hancock pic.twitter.com/MKnyfRSMS1— Elizabeth Costello (@ElizabethC50) May 14, 2020.@charltonbrooker asking @Konnie_Huq to make a ventilator from kitchen items is the best bit of lockdown TV yet. I've missed this show. And Blue Peter. #AntiviralWipepic.twitter.com/j9kWLgNfVg— Will Hingley (@Will_Hingley) May 14, 2020He actually used Konnie Huq on the show as well! #AntiViralWipepic.twitter.com/MgBTqwsToL— Damo ⚡️ (@_thedamien) May 15, 2020Some viewers noticed a comical touch in the credits, where she was listed as autocue operator, area manager and head of hair and make up.Konnie Huq credited as Autocue Operator is peak lockdown #AntiviralWipepic.twitter.com/GIFdpjSfkq— Paul Doctor (@paulwdoctor) May 14, 2020The show was also praised for making some important points about the pandemic.This by Charlie Brooker is spot on:“The virus is indiscriminate ... I say that but key workers, ethnic minorities and the impoverished are more disproportionately affected.”“We may all be all in this together, but sadly, some are more in this than others.” #AntiviralWipe— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) May 14, 2020Charlie Brooker's #AntiviralWipe was absolutely terrific. Funny, thought-provoking, beautifully made. Congrats to the whole gang.— Richard Osman (@richardosman) May 14, 2020After Antiviral Wipe aired, Charlie posted on
Twitter thanking his team for “pulling together and working so diligently and brilliantly on this very unusual show”.Just want to take a moment to thank our entire #AntiviralWipe team for pulling together and working so diligently and brilliantly on this very unusual show.— Charlie Brooker (@charltonbrooker) May 14, 2020If you missed Charlie Brooker’s Antiviral Wipe, it’s available to catch up on now on
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