Michael Sheen and David Tennant's "brilliant" drama lands new UK streaming home

A "brilliant" drama starring Good Omens' Michael Sheen and David Tennant is now available to stream in the UK. Based on the Evelyn Waugh novel 'Vile Bodies' and directed by the iconic Stephen Fry, Bright Young Things follows a group of young socialites who dominate the news with their extravagant antics.

Set in 1930's England, outlandish novelist Adam Fenwick-Symes is desperate to generate money in a bid to marry Nina Blount.

But his attempts are thwarted after custom officials confiscate his manuscript and he has to find new ways to create the funds for their wedding.

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Alongside Sheen and Tennant, the star-studded cast also includes Stephen Campbell Moore (The History Boys), Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters), Simon McBurney (The Last King of Scotland), James McAvoy (Filth) and Richard E Grant (Loki) amongst many others.

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, the 2003 film currently sits at a critical rating of 66% and an audience score of 68%.

The Standard praised the dialogue, writing: "Fry's dialogue is terrific and interlaces with Waugh's own wit seamlessly," while the Seattle Times wrote: "Fry, in his directing debut, shows an eye for style, a fine literary intelligence and an unmistakable heart."

Meanwhile, The Chicago Tribune described it as "a brilliant, giddy satiric romp with a discreetly moralistic viewpoint beneath its high-style wit".

Related: The Celebrity Traitors' star Michael Sheen admits one element of the show was a 'poisoned chalice'

Given that this was his directorial debut, Fry was understandably very nervous when stepping on set as director, however, he told the BBC in 2014 that soon enough, he started to feel at ease after five minutes.

"On the first five minutes on-set, on the first day of shooting, there's a little bit of, "ahhhm, what are people expecting me to look like?"," he said. "But it very rapidly goes, and you learn to look at the toes of your shoes a great deal with a very thoughtful and intense look, and let everyone get on with their jobs."

As for what author Waugh would think about the film, the former QI host said: "God, I wouldn't like to guess. He was a pretty curmudgeonly old sod and he would no doubt have grumbled about it. He hated anything modern, so God knows."

Bright Young Things is available to watch on HBO Max, Prime Video and Plex.

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