Fifteen Million Merits 

In a world where people's lives consist of riding exercise bikes to gain credits, Bing tries to help a woman get on to a singing competition show.

Director:

Euros Lyn

Writers:

Charlie Brooker, Konnie Huq (as Kanak Huq)

Stars:

Daniel Kaluuya, Jessica Brown Findlay, Rupert Everett

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Kaluuya	...	Bingham 'Bing' Madsen
Jessica Brown Findlay	...	Abi Khan
Rupert Everett	...	Judge Hope
Julia Davis	...	Judge Charity
Ashley Thomas	...	Judge Wraith
Paul Popplewell	...	Dustin
Isabella Laughland	...	Swift
David Fynn	...	Oliver
Colin Michael Carmichael	...	Kai (as Colin Carmichael)
Hannah John-Kamen	...	Selma Telse
Kerrie Hayes	...	Glee
Eugene O'Hare	...	Hammond
Jaimi Barbakoff	...	Anna
Merce Ribot	...	Big Shot Registration Lady
Matthew Burgess	...	Botherguts Host

Storyline

In this alternate, future reality, Bing and thousands of others must ride exercise bikes for hours a day to earn "merits", credits that can be used to purchase basic necessities as well as novelty items. They are surrounded by televisions playing mindless entertainment all day long, including TV shows that mock the odd overweight citizen who cannot work, a lot of pornography...and a talent show similar to the real-world Got Talent franchise. When Bing meets, Abi, a woman with a talent for singing, he believes she can win the competition and earn a better life. However, after he makes sacrifice upon sacrifice to get her to the show, she is degraded and harassed by the judges and audience, who offer her a choice: start a career in pornography...or go back to being a slave. Her choice inspires a revelation in Bing, who begins to see the cruel injustice of the world in which he lives, and he is determined to change it...no matter what the cost.

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Plot Keywords:

human powered electrical generator | exercise bicycle | apple | watching pornography | playing a video game | 

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The song Abi Khan (Jessica Brown Findlay) sings during "Fifteen Million Merits" is "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)," recorded by Irma Thomas in 1964.

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Goofs

At 46:59, Abi's name is still visible on the leaderboard despite the fact that it's been several months since she had to pedal a bike.

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Quotes

Bing: I liked your singing the other day.
Abi: I was trying to sing so no one could hear me pee.

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Crazy Credits

Merce Ribot was wrongly credited as "'Big Shot' Registration Lady" (it should say 'Hot Shot').

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojoUK: Top 10 Actors Who Have Appeared in Black Mirror (2018)

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Soundtracks

Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)
Written by Irma Thomas
Performed by Irma Thomas
Also performed by Jessica Brown Findlay

User Reviews

The real genius of this story

SPOILER: The real genius of this story wasn't so much the setting, or even most of the plot. The dystopian future this is taking place in with two modes of life - underground, in a sort of indentured servitude, or in the penthouses with a view - isn't all that original either. What i loved about this episode was the ending. It wasn't a dramatic ending. It wasn't a happy ending. It was a depressing ending. The protagonist starts out with morals and a stand to take and ends up consumed by the consumerism he makes money off of. Its disconcerting most of all because i think it rings true. And it's creepy how true the entire setting seems.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 December 2011 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Zeppotron, Channel 4 Television Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD