Barking is a late-night sketch comedy show broadcast on Channel 4 in the summer of 1998. The series starred and written by David Walliams, Catherine Tate, Peter Kay, Omid Djalili, Mackenzie Crook, Marcus Brigstocke and more up-and-coming comedians, most of whom went on to successful careers.[1][2] Channel 4 announced that Barking was officially cancelled after the first series.
The show was released on DVD on 7 November 2011.[3][4]
Despite the impressive array of future successful comedy stars, the show was not a ratings hit. In the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy (1998), critic Mark Lewisohn said, "the ideas with good potential were buried under a mountain of mediocrity... the show's clash of styles, pacing and mood worked heavily against them".[5] However, he cited Marcus Brigstocke's psychotic airline pilot and David Walliams's insane royal watcher as standout characters.[3]
Brian Donaldson of The List described the show as "something of a mixed bag" and noted that "there's a healthy amount of decent moments". He concluded, "Barking was never as mad as it thought it was and the show's bite was largely toothless".[6]
She also popped up in other people's sketch shows and even her own, Barking, with Peter Kay and Mackenzie Crook on Channel 4.
It was due to be part of her Channel 4 sketch show, Barking, but the producers got cold feet.