A poster for "La Couchette", with the tagline "In deuxième classe, everyone can hear you scream..."
Episode no.
Series 2 Episode 1
Directed by
Guillem Morales
Written by
Steve Pemberton Reece Shearsmith
Produced by
Adam Tandy (producer) Jon Plowman (executive producer)
Original air date
26 March 2015 (2015-03-26)
Guest appearances
Julie Hesmondhalgh as Kath
Mark Benton as Les
Jessica Gunning as Shona
Jack Whitehall as Hugo
George Glaves as Yves
Episode chronology
← Previous "The Harrowing"
Next → "The 12 Days of Christine"
"La Couchette" is the first episode of the second series of British dark comedy anthology Inside No. 9. Written by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith and directed by Guillem Morales, the episode is set in a sleeper carriage on a French train. English doctor Maxwell, who is traveling to an important job interview, climbs into bed. He is disturbed first by drunk, flatulent German Jorg, and then by English couple Kath and Les. Later, while the others sleep, Australian backpacker Shona brings posh English backpacker Hugo back to the cabin, but the pair make a surprising discovery. The episode stars Pemberton, Shearsmith, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Mark Benton, Jessica Gunning, Jack Whitehall and George Glaves.
The story was inspired by the intimacy of sleeper carriages, in which people aim to sleep in close proximity to strangers. "La Couchette" draws upon the literary tropes associated with stories, such as Murder on the Orient Express and Strangers on a Train, following characters unknown to one another while travelling. The various characters—played by actors somewhat typecast—correspond to British comedy archetypes, and much of the episode's story and humour derives from the characters' unlikability. Critics responded positively to "La Couchette", commending the cast and script, but noted that Inside No. 9 is something of an acquired taste. On its first showing, the episode was watched by 1.1 million viewers (6.1% of the audience).
"LaCouchette" is the first episode of the second series of British dark comedy anthology Inside No. 9. Written by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith...
Scandalous Lady W Mary Sotheby TV film Inside No. 9 Shona Episode: "LaCouchette" Top Coppers Romero Episode: "The Twist of the French Nicker" 2015, 2018...
and Shearsmith were permitted to build two sets; the first was for "LaCouchette", the first episode of the series, and the second was for "The 12 Days...
broadcast on BBC Two. In 2015, he starred as posh backpacker Hugo in "LaCouchette", the first episode of the second series of anthology series Inside No...
episode 3.12 "The Standing Stones". He also appeared as Les in the "LaCouchette", the first episode of the second series of anthology series Inside No...
and counter-twist, [the episode] was nothing like as effective" as "LaCouchette" and "The 12 Days of Christine", the previous two episodes of the series...
a group of bilevel-style couchette cars. After all services to the Bicol Region were halted in 2013, the 14-class couchettes were stored in the Tutuban...
in sleeper carriages (Nightjet's most comfortable service category), couchette carriages, and seated carriages. On certain connections, cars can also...
among others. Morales directed the following episodes of Inside No. 9: "LaCouchette" (season 2) "The 12 Days of Christine" (season 2) "The Bill" (season...
"Décomposition d'un placard (pour obtenir une augmentation du comfort de lacouchette) (Paris 29.10.82)" (Unruh/Hacke) - 1:44 "Diverse Lokationen (Berlin West...
triple. Couchette cars were of various types and could be used as four berth or six berth. Thello night trains had three classes: six berth couchette four...
operated the trains further on. After 1978, the train added cars with couchettes to attract more middle-class passengers. Beginning in the 1980s the night...
bedrooms/compartments or couchettes. A bed or couchette has fixed price, regardless of the travelling route or distance. Beds and couchettes have to be reserved...
railways also provide similar "coach class" sleeper cars, commonly dubbed Couchette cars. There is a debate, though, whether Platzkart class is a full tier...
Lilpop, Rau i Loewenstein, also won a gold medal for the tourist train (couchette, club carriage and bath/spa carriage). A curious Polish cruise train reserved...
operating overnight, were also known as "train auto-couchettes" (TAC) because passengers rode in couchette-style sleeping cars. Auto-train services were operated...
operation, but from June 1973 to May 1994 the Sud Express carried through couchette cars between Paris and Lisbon (the Madrid section having been dropped...
de-emphasized privacy, and in place of this provided multiple-occupant couchette compartments with fold-away beds. The development of midlevel accommodation...
(93 mi) away or two hours by train. Dijon has a direct overnight sleeper/couchette service to Milan, Verona and Venice by the operator Thello. Numerous regional...
there were both upper-level and lower-level types. Two-level Type B couchettes had four beds which could be individually enclosed with a curtain. While...
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