4 (a)


4. (b) Discuss in detail how one programme (Bad Education) offers audience pleasures. Give examples from the programme. [15 marks]
Bad Education offers the audience pleasure as the language used in the programmer is very offensive and can be a release for the audience as they cannot say some of the things they see and hear on the show. in addition the situations are of fiction are perfect and funny scenes which the audience could dream about being in them and being in the situation that Allie wickers maybe in real life.in addition the environment may bring back certain memories from their school days.with the narrative resolutions the programmer always starts in the same place as it ends this always happens so the audience know this as a tradition of the programmer.when identifying the characters there is a immature relationship such as a two same age friends but we can see they are not as the lies they come up with together is very immature and ignorant but as they have a strong relationship they always end up helping each other get in to or out of trouble in the end.

Narrative pleasures refer to the audience enjoying how the storyline is constructed. In situation comedy, the plot starts and ends in exactly the same place (narrative resolution). What happens in between is usually a snowballing narrative of one problem added onto another problem, This is usually caused by the stupid decisions of the character and the audience laugh as they make each poor choice.

Character identification is how the audience knows the characters well and can predict how they will behave. Audiences feel they can relate the the characters and they become well loved because of these predictable character traits. How does Mr Wickers appeal to the target audience? He is seen as the worse teacher ever but he is surrounded by some of the weirdest teachers who by comparison make him seem far better than any alternative. His intentions are good and the audience identify with him, even though he is immature and makes such cringe-worthy decisions.

Pleasure of recognition means audiences enjoy the anticipation of what a character will say next. Certain characters have catchphrases or typical behaviours that the audience expect to see. This makes them predictable and adds to them being well-loved by audiences who feel like they know the character well. The action happens in the same setting, which the audience are familiar with.

Pleasures of difference-within-repetition means that the audience can easily recognise this as a situation comedy but the show plays with the repetition of the same narrative structure. Each episode sees the characters facing alternative plots and comedy through the script but the same sort of events happen.


Transgressive pleasures are the comedy elements which go beyond the boundaries and into offensive or rude topics. They are based on taboo and are designed to offend the audience into laughing because they feel uncomfortable.

Performers or personalities appeal to certain target audiences. Jack Whitehall is well known as a comedian and actor. He has an established fan base who would have watched Bad Education on the back of his previous success with Fresh Meat. Simon Bird is well-known for his role as Will McKenzie in the Inbetweeners and would attract a similar audience to Friday Night Dinner.