Episode

The Waldo Moment

A failed comedian who voices a popular cartoon bear named Waldo finds himself mixing in politics when TV executives want Waldo to run for office.

Air date:

February 25, 2013

Writer:

Charlie Brooker, Christopher Morris

Director:

Bryn Higgins

Air date:

Writer:

Director:

February 25, 2013

Charlie Brooker, Christopher Morris

Bryn Higgins

Storyline

Comedian Jamie Slater provides the voice for Waldo, a blue cartoon bear who interviews politicians for a late night topical satire show where Waldo generally humiliates them. Jamie's producer Jack Napier suggests Waldo stands as the local MP in the upcoming election, against pompous Tory boy Liam Monroe - one of Waldo's interview victims. A reluctant Jamie agrees and meets the Labour candidate Gwendolyn, with whom he has a one night stand but is later told to keep away from by her campaign manager. On a televised discussion show Jamie sounds off against all the opposition, claiming they are insincere, and he becomes hugely popular as a result. However he suffers from guilt and urges people not to vote for Waldo. After Napier orchestrates an attack on him Jamie wakes in hospital to see the election results. Has Waldo won and if so will his success take Jamie with it?

Trivia

‍In robotics terms, a waldo is a device that allows a machine or computer image to be controlled by a hand operated device, such as the one that is used to control Waldo the Bear.
The list of Waldo sketch ideas written down by Sarah are: Re-Enact Twitter?, Oscars/Red Carpet, Towie Spoof, Sherlock Jr? and finally, Vote Waldo.
Jack Napier is also the name of Jack Nicholson's Joker alter ego in Batman (1989)
The users visible in Jack's Twitter feed are, in descending order, Jon Snow (with the tweet: "Tories confirm Liam Monroe for Stent & Hersham"), Greg Shaw, Erica McEwan and Foundation Agency.
In the first interview with Mr. Monroe, Waldo asks him if he is like Batman. Moments later, a character named Jack Napier is presented to Jamie Salter who controls Waldo. Jack Napier is the name of the Joker in Tim Burton's Batman and Alan Napier is the actor who plays the butler, Alfred, in the original Batman (1966) television series.
The scenes in which Waldo talks to Monroe on the street were filmed in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The name "The Waldo Moment" is a reference to the term "Portillo Moment", which means a sudden and significant change in politics. Named after Michael Portillo who famously lost his safe seat of Enfield Southgate in the 1997 General UK Election.