Demob | |
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Genre | Comedy drama |
Written by | Dean Lemmon Andrew Montgomery |
Directed by | Robert Knights |
Starring | Griff Rhys Jones Martin Clunes Amanda Redman Samantha Janus Les Dawson |
Composer | Peter Martin |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Peter Fincham David Reynolds |
Producer | Adrian Bate |
Running time | 51 minutes (including adverts) |
Production companies | Talkback Productions Yorkshire Television |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 15 October – 19 November 1993 |
Demob was a short-lived British comedy-drama television series, which screened for one six-episode series in 1993; It was produced by Talkback Productions in association with Yorkshire Television for ITV.
The series was set in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and starred Martin Clunes and Griff Rhys Jones as two ex-army friends who try to form an entertainment act, with the aim of getting work on BBC radio. The series also starred Samantha Janus, Amanda Redman and Les Dawson, Dawson having died before it went to air.
The series follows the ups and downs of two World War II veterans who decide to form a comedy duo after returning home to England. They experience various personal and professional problems as they strive for success.
# | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 15 October 1993 | |
Veterans of the African campaign and Army mates Ian Deasey (Griff Rhys Jones) and Dick Dobson (Martin Clunes) are demobilised at the close of World War II. Ian returns to his wife Janet (Amanda Redman) and his young son Alan and his boring pre-war job at the local council. Dick poses as a flight squadron leader so he can live in style at the Allied Officer's Club. He convinces Ian to perform a two man comedy routine with him in Soho. | |||||
2 | "Episode 2" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 22 October 1993 | |
Ian is sacked after too many late nights performing as one half of his new comedy partnership. Ian and Dick befriend beautiful dancer Hedda (Samantha Womack) who is looking for her husband. Meanwhile, Dick assists shady businessman Rudy Lormier with his dealings and becomes the manager of The Blue Parrot nightclub. | |||||
3 | "Episode 3" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 29 October 1993 | |
Deasey and Dobson get a three-week booking in Liverpool opening for comedy legend Moreton Stanley (Les Dawson). When their routine arouses audience hatred they must enlist Hedda to assist them. Janet grows increasingly frustrated with her husband's absence when Alan comes down with chicken pox. | |||||
4 | "Episode 4" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 5 November 1993 | |
Disgusted with his behaviour, Janet kicks her husband out of the house and decides to take a job at the surgery working for Dr. Pollock. Hedda and Ian try to form an act without Dick, but it ends in disaster. An opportunity for Ian and Dick to earn cash by helping Lorimer with a summer camp goes awry when they meet and try to help some fellow veterans. | |||||
5 | "Episode 5" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 12 November 1993 | |
Things heat up between Janet and her boss. Ian and Dick find a job working on a BBC Radio children's radio programme opposite a neurotic ventriloquist. While singing in a swanky new nightclub, Hedda receives some devastating news. | |||||
6 | "Episode 6" | Robert Knights | Dean Lemmon and Andrew Montgomery | 19 November 1993 | |
Ian decides to stand by Dick when he discovers a shocking secret and Hedda becomes a film actress. Moreton Stanley offers Ian a job and he and Janet make a decision concerning their marriage. |
Demob was first released on DVD by BFS Entertainment on 10 September 2002. It was re-released by Acorn Media on Region 1 and Region 4 DVD on 26 April 2011. [1]
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