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Girls on Top | |
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Created by | |
Written by |
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Directed by |
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Starring |
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Composer | Difford and Tilbrook |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of series | 2 |
No. of episodes | 13 |
Production | |
Executive producer | Allan McKeown |
Producers |
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Running time | 30 minutes (including adverts) |
Production company | WitzEnd for Central |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 23 October 1985 – 11 December 1986 |
Girls on Top is a British sitcom, broadcast on ITV in 1985 and 1986, and made by Allan McKeown's WitzEnd Productions for the ITV contractor Central Independent Television. It starred Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Wax and Tracey Ullman with Joan Greenwood. It was written by French, Saunders, and Wax, with additional material for two episodes written by Ullman. [1]
The show focused on four female flatmates and their landlady. It was a female version of The Young Ones , two series of which were made in 1982 and 1984. French and Saunders had both appeared in The Young Ones and, like most of its stars, were members of The Comic Strip.
The first episode had a woman in her early 20s named Amanda struggling to find a flat and managing to procure one (that she cannot afford) from Lady Carlton. The previous resident, Candice, convinces Amanda to let her stay temporarily as she has nowhere else to go. Then, Jennifer, Amanda's childhood friend, arrives unexpectedly. Eventually, Amanda allows the obnoxious Shelley to move in, splitting the rent with her, as she is the only one who can afford it, thanks to her wealthy family.
Episodes often centred on Shelley ordering the others around because they relied on her to get the rent paid; early episodes often incorporated Candice's latest invented illness, or any other reason to not pay the rent.
Guest and recurring stars included:
Many of the guest stars were fellow members of the Royal Shakespeare Company enlisted by Wax. Wax wanted to write a guest part for Ian McKellen, but it never happened. [2]
The theme tune, like the series' score, was written and performed by Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of the band Squeeze. Originally, the opening theme was sung by the cast (minus Greenwood). Three episodes of series one added an introductory verse sung by Ullman over the end credits. From the second episode of the second series, the opening theme was instead sung by Tilbrook.
The transmission dates reflect those in the London ITV region. The first series aired on Wednesdays at 8:30pm, while the second series aired on Thursdays at 9pm.
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date [3] | |
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1 | 1 | "Four-Play" | 23 October 1985 | |
Lady Carlton evicts Candice, incorrectly believing her to be a sex worker. Amanda takes the apartment, but is forced to split the rent with Shelley, while Jennifer and Candice end up as freeloaders. | ||||
2 | 2 | "Staying Alive" | 30 October 1985 | |
In an attempt to get on Shelley's good side and avoid being thrown out, Candice gets her in contact with a film director - but the film turns out to be a porno. | ||||
3 | 3 | "C.O.D." | 6 November 1985 | |
Tired of Jennifer always being around to interrupt her lovemaking, Candice gets her out to a dance club, where she's kidnapped. Guest stars: Mark Arden, Paul Brooke, Robbie Coltrane, Stephen Frost | ||||
4 | 4 | "Cancel Toast" | 13 November 1985 | |
Shelley auditions for RADA, but rather than performing a Shakespearean speech (with Jennifer's assistance), they want her to improv as a fried egg. | ||||
5 | 5 | "Ident: Candy Time" | 20 November 1985 | |
The girls follow Candice, concerned she could be a prostitute. Candice, in turn, tries to convince them that she is dating Prince Andrew. | ||||
6 | 6 | "Skankin'" | 27 November 1985 | |
Amanda is determined to discover and befriend a Black reggae band for the magazine's cultural festival. | ||||
7 | 7 | "Hark" | 4 December 1985 | |
Lady Carlton's taxidermied dog, Josephine, is stolen when Jennifer takes her for a walk. As a result, the girls plot to convince Lady Carlton that Josephine has ascended to Heaven. Note: This was the final on-screen appearance of Tracey Ullman as Candice Valentine. |
No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date [3] | |
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8 | 1 | "Mr Fluffy Knows Too Much" | 30 October 1986 | |
Candice leaves the others a note saying that she's in hospital; upon discovering that she's died, the three fear she was killed by one of their pranks and try to cover up the "murder". Guest star: Harry Enfield Note: This was the final voice appearance of Tracey Ullman as Candice Valentine. | ||||
9 | 2 | "Big Snogs" | 6 November 1986 | |
Amanda falls head over heels in love with Tom, an electrician who gives a presentation for the Spare Cheeks staff in his sister's absence. Guest star: Hugh Laurie | ||||
10 | 3 | "Who's Ya Uncle Shelley?" | 20 November 1986 | |
Jennifer takes a cleaning job at a stock exchange firm to pay for Amanda's office supplies, and is discovered to have a hidden talent for trading. Guest stars: Pauline Quirke, John Sessions Note: Joan Greenwood does not appear as Lady Carlton. | ||||
11 | 4 | "Bring Me More Flamingoes" | 27 November 1986 | |
Shelley kicks Amanda and Jennifer out of the flat during her monthly redecoration craze, then plans a party to become best friends with a range of British celebrities. Guest stars: The Beverley Sisters | ||||
12 | 5 | "Mr Yummie Brownie" | 4 December 1986 | |
Shelley's mother arrives in England to learn Shelley is not playing Ophelia at the London Palladium, but a singing tadpole in a play for schoolchildren. Meanwhile, Amanda enlists Jennifer and Lady Carlton's help in preparing a presentation on "understanding your own toilet parts". Guest star: Katherine Helmond | ||||
13 | 6 | "Lower the Donkey" | 11 December 1986 | |
Amanda builds a nuclear fallout shelter in the apartment, while Lady Carlton misunderstands how to use the new appliances in her newly remodeled kitchen. |
Country | Title | Release date | Label | Contents | DVD format |
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United States | Girls on Top: Set One or Girls on Top: Four-Play | 2003 | BFS Entertainment |
| NTSC |
United States | Girls on Top: Set Two or Girls on Top: Big Snogs | 2003 | BFS Entertainment |
| NTSC |
United Kingdom | Girls on Top – The Complete Series | 2007 | Network |
| Region 2 (PAL) |
Australia | Girls on Top: Complete Series 1 and 2 | 2007 | Time Life | All episodes | Region free (PAL) |
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