Miriam Guttmann, Tom Hofland and Pascal van Hulst
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 12:07
The podcast seems to have had great success in the Netherlands The Blankenberge Tapes also made an international breakthrough. The British version is below the title The Margate Murders since October 3 online and is touted by The Guardian newspaper as a “dangerous bingeablenot a real crime drama”. A German version is in the making and Norway, Finland and even Netflix are also interested, maker Pascal van Hulst confirmed in With an eye to tomorrow.
The Blankenberge Tapes(2019) is about a murder of a 27-year-old woman that turns out to be linked to a murder committed ten years earlier. The story is fiction, but the actors who play the characters do it in such a natural way that it feels like you are listening to a documentary about a real crime drama.
“They don’t finish their sentences, they falter, they have to search for sentences because we let them improvise,” said Van Hulst. This made listeners think they were listening to true crime listened. “There were people who felt really pissed off. They said, ‘If I had known it was fiction, I wouldn’t have listened.'”
British approach
The same approach was chosen for the British version, but not for the Blankenberge location, but for the British seaside resort of Margate. And then with well-known actors, such as Joanne Froggatt Downton Abbey and Sheridan Smith, known in the Netherlands for, among other things The Royle Family. The latter was not necessary for Van Hulst and his fellow podcast maker Tom Hofland.
“In fact, I think it would be a lot of fun to make this kind of series with no known actors or even no actors at all,” said Van Hulst. “It’s a bit like if we put, I’ll just name someone, Georgina Verbaan in a podcast. Then you immediately hear her voice. You know who it is. It may not be distracting, but you are reminded of it all the time. .”
Playground
The British actors were good at working with the method in which they had to improvise themselves. “It was really a big playground for them, I noticed. Because you can fully use your own language. You use things from your own life. For example, when we asked them to describe what it was like to grow up in Margate, on that square in front of their house, then they did not have to invent a square, but they could take a square from their own youth.”
The Blankenberge Tapes: From Local Lore to International Fame
By the sharpest conversationalists in comedy — a mashup of Jimmy Carr’s wit, Rowan Atkinson’s physical humor, Ricky Gervais’ biting commentary, and Lee Evans’ energetic charm. Hold onto your headphones!
What’s All the Fuss About?
So, brace yourselves, dear readers! 🥳 A little podcast called The Blankenberge Tapes is taking the Netherlands by storm—and now it’s breaking down borders faster than most people can break up with their significant other! The British version, now controversially titled The Margate Murders, dropped online on October 3, and it’s already being described by The Guardian as a “dangerous bingeable not a real crime drama.” One might say it’s the only kind of crime that feels safe to consume: one that comes with a side of entertainment! 🍿
A Tale of Fiction that Sounds like Fact
Now, let’s unwrap this juicy narrative: The Blankenberge Tapes dives into the morbid world of crime—but wait! It’s fiction. Yes, folks, you heard that right! It revolves around the murder of a 27-year-old woman, connected to a decade-old killing. It’s like a crime drama served with a twist of lemon—refreshingly misleading! 🍋
Podcast creator Pascal van Hulst assures us that his choice of natural and improvisational acting makes the whole ordeal feel like a documentary. This is not your grandma’s true crime—this is true *non*-crime drama! Someone give those actors an award for convincing us they’re not acting. Honestly, it’s like giving a toddler a paintbrush and expecting them not to cover the walls in what they claim is a masterpiece.
The Great Improv Experiment
According to Van Hulst, the actors were given the freedom to improvise, resulting in obfuscation of their lines like a political speech, where the truth is as murky as a muddy puddle. “People were furious when they found out it was fiction,” he says. Picture this: You cozy up with your headphones, ready for a juicy scandal, only to discover you’ve been binging *made-up* drama. “This isn’t true crime?” they cry. “How dare you deceive me as I pour my proverbial heart out into your narrative!” 🎭
A Splash of British Style in Margate
Now, as they say, if at first you don’t succeed, alter the location and give it a British accent! That’s right—the British version features familiar faces like Joanne Froggatt from Downton Abbey and Sheridan Smith, known in the Netherlands for The Royle Family. But hold on—Van Hulst muses, “Wouldn’t it be fun to have no famous actors at all? Like casting a potato to play Hamlet. Everyone’s thinking, ‘Well, at least it’s *not* an apple.’” 🥔
When Work Becomes Play
The British method actors certainly embraced their new playground. Van Hulst notes that they blended personal anecdotes of growing up in Margate into their performances, making the line between fact and fiction blur like a drunken selfie at the end of a night out. It’s a creative process we can all appreciate, though it raises the question: Does that mean my overly detailed stories about my semicolon in school were a crime against creativity? 🚨
In Conclusion: The Future’s Bright, The Future’s Podcasting
This news of Blankenberge crossing into international waters has sparked interest in multiple adaptations. A German version is in the works, and even Netflix can’t keep its hands off this train, showing us once again that in the world of entertainment, the golden rule is: if it sounds scandalous, replicate it—and add some dramatic music! 🎬
So, if you haven’t tuned in yet, grab a cup of something strong—whether it’s tea, coffee, or a strong cocktail. Just remember, those delightful audio narratives might have you gasping and giggling at the same time. And who wouldn’t want to be part of a global listening sensation, wrapped up in crime whether it’s real or completely staged? Here’s to staying entertained while pretending to be cultured!
