Heading Out

Last updated

Heading Out
Genre Comedy
Created by Sue Perkins
Written bySue Perkins
Directed byNatalie Bailey
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Nicola Shindler
  • Debi Allen
  • Kristian Smith
ProducerJim Poyser
Production companiesRED Production Company
Square Peg TV
Original release
Network BBC Two, BBC HD
Release26 February (2013-02-26) –
2 April 2013 (2013-04-02)

Heading Out is a British sitcom created by and starring comedian Sue Perkins. It was first broadcast on BBC Two on 26 February 2013. Heading Out tells the story of Sara, a veterinarian who is given an ultimatum by her friends to tell her parents that she is gay. Perkins had the idea for the sitcom for around ten years, before she developed the confidence to write it. Heading Out was commissioned for a full series in April 2012 and production began in September that year. The show was not commissioned for a second series.

Contents

Premise

Sara is a popular and skilled veterinarian, who has not told her parents that she is gay. On the eve of her fortieth birthday, Sara's friends Jamie (Dominic Coleman), Justine (Nicola Walker) and Daniel (Steve Oram) give her an ultimatum: either she tells her parents the truth or they will do it for her. To help her out, Sara's friends get her to attend a series of sessions with Toria (Joanna Scanlan), an eccentric life coach. Things begin to get better for Sara when she meets Eve (Shelley Conn).

Production

Conception

On 23 August 2012, it was announced that the BBC had commissioned the six-part comedy Heading Out, which was created and written by Perkins. [1] The BBC's Executive editor of Comedy Commissioning, Kristian Smith, called the show "a warm, intelligent and brilliantly funny sitcom." [1] While Perkins stated that Heading Out "might well be the thing that I'm most proud of. It's been a joy to work on, and I hope that joy proves to be infectious." [1] Perkins revealed that she had had the idea for Heading Out for ten years, before she developed the confidence to write it. [2] She knew that she wanted to write about someone who was stuck and whose friends decided to take drastic action to "save her from her own inertia." [3] The idea slowly began to take shape and developed into the narrative of a woman who struggled to tell her parents that she was gay, until her friends drove her to parents' house on her birthday, so she could come out to them. [3] The comedian revealed that she is a fan of thrillers and wanted to have a ticking clock element to the show, so she thought Sara's coming out would be a good thing to do. [4]

In 2011, Perkins told her agent, Debi Allen, about the idea and a meeting with a BBC comedy commissioner followed shortly after. [3] Perkins was advised to work her idea into a six-part sitcom, which she initially resisted doing as she saw it more as a comedy drama instead. [3] A sitcom required "a 'sit' or precinct" and Perkins eventually decided to locate the show in a veterinary surgery, as it features people from all walks of life. [3] After the first episode was commissioned, a table-read was organised for December 2011. In April 2012, Perkins was filming World's Most Dangerous Roads in Laos, when she was told her sitcom had been commissioned for a full series. [3] From April to July, Perkins wrote the remaining episodes. [3] Perkins later called Heading Out "a midlife crises sitcom", explaining "It's more about how awkward it is to tell your parents anything, as opposed to just the gay issue. Essentially, when you come out to your parents, you have to tell them, 'I'm having sex!'. And no one wants to say that." [4]

On 9 July 2013, it was confirmed by Shane Allen from the BBC that Heading Out would not receive a second series, following low ratings. [5]

Filming

Sue Perkins created, wrote and stars in Heading Out. SusanP.JPG
Sue Perkins created, wrote and stars in Heading Out.

Production on Heading Out began in early September 2012 and the shoot lasted for five weeks. [3] [6] As Perkins' character is a veterinarian, various animals were used during the shoot. [7] Perkins explained that the animals were "appalling", especially the dog who played Smithson, who barked every time he saw a sound boom and tried to knock her over. [7] Perkins noted that the only animals that behaved themselves were the stuffed cat and the snake. [7]

Cast and characters

Perkins plays the protagonist Sara, a veterinarian who has not told her parents she is gay. [2] The comedian told Lockyer that while viewers would assume that the character is based on herself, she only used "trace elements" of her own story for Sara. [2] Perkins said "She's a professional, grown-up woman, with a responsible job as a vet. She has a great bunch of friends, most of them heterosexual, and all of them are saying, 'What's your problem? No one cares! Tell your bloody parents.'" [2] Heading Out marks Perkins' acting debut. [8]

Perkins wrote the other roles with specific people in mind and was "slightly confused" when they all agreed to be in the show. [4] Actress Joanna Scanlan plays Toria, a "hopelessly incompetent" lifestyle coach who is hired by Sara's friends to help her. [9] Shelley Conn was cast as Sara's love interest, Eve, who is upfront about liking her. Eve pretends her dog is ill in order to get closer to Sara. [8] Of Eve, Conn stated "My character just comes back episode after episode and won't let go of Sara - that's what's funny." [8]

Steve Oram appears as Daniel, Sara's assistant. When asked what made him want to get involved in the project, Oram revealed that he had loved the script from the moment he read it and really liked his character. [10] Oram called Daniel "slightly misguided and psychopathic", but he has a good heart. [10] Sara's other friends, Jamie and Justine, are portrayed by Dominic Coleman and Nicola Walker. [11] Coleman auditioned for the role of Jamie, but was unsure if he would get the part as he did not have much in common with the character. [11]

On 25 October 2012, it was announced that June Brown and Dawn French had joined the cast of Heading Out, along with Steve Pemberton and Jeff Rawle. [12] Brown plays Toria's "drunken" grandmother, Sozzie, and French plays her mother, Frances. [8] Perkins' comedy writing partner, Mel Giedroyc, plays Ivanka, the wife of a Russian oligarch who owns a prize dog. [8] Steve Pemberton and Mark Heap star as Jonathan, a vet inspector, and Brian, a pet funeral director, respectively. [8]

Episodes

Episode
no.		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(in millions)
1"Episode 1" [13] Natalie BaileySue Perkins26 February 2013 (2013-02-26)2.17 [14]
On her 40th birthday, Sara is given an ultimatum by her friends to tell her parents that she is gay.
2"Episode 2" [15] Natalie BaileySue Perkins5 March 2013 (2013-03-05)0.74 (overnight) [16]
Sara begins her sessions with Toria, the eccentric life coach.
3"Episode 3" [17] Natalie BaileySue Perkins12 March 2013 (2013-03-12)0.68 (overnight) [18]
Sara's French ex-girlfriend, Sabine (Raquel Cassidy), turns up, just as Sara plucks up the courage to ask Eve out.
4"Episode 4" [19] Natalie BaileySue Perkins19 March 2013 (2013-03-19)0.73 (overnight) [20]
A veterinary inspector (Steve Pemberton) turns up at Sara's practice, just as she asks Justine to help out in reception.
5"Episode 5" [21] Natalie BaileySue Perkins26 March 2013 (2013-03-26)0.79 (overnight) [22]
Sara must come out to Toria's parents as practice for when she comes out to her own. Jamie and Justine share a moment.
6"Episode 6" [23] Natalie BaileySue Perkins2 April 2013 (2013-04-02)0.78 (overnight) [24]
Sara prepares to come out to her parents, while there is a break-in at the surgery.

Reception

Heading Out has garnered mixed reviews from critics. Emma Bullimore from the TVTimes gave the sitcom three stars and commented "The jokes are a little weak, but with a strong supporting cast, we will definitely persevere." [25] A reporter from TV Magazine included the first episode of Heading Out in their Picks of the day feature, calling it "a lively opener". [26] They added "Perkins has selflessly shared the good lines around the great cast, and there are lots of guest stars to look forward to later in the series, including Sue's partner in cake, Mel. Promising." [26] Tom Sutcliffe from The Independent wrote "First impressions weren't bad, though there may be people who don't feel quite the same way about the boldness of introducing your new series with a joke about feline euthanasia." [27] Sutcliffe went onto say that he was left "wondering about the plausibility of plotting", which was "accompanied by sprightly writing." [27] However, he added that he would give the series another go. [27]

Boyd Hilton from Heat said of the series, "Sue Perkins has created a sitcom that seems different to everything else out there, but is also quite old-fashioned in the sense that it actually has loads of funny bits all the way through." [28] Of the series, Alison Graham from the Radio Times quipped "It's a cheerful half-hour of amiable nonsense led by Sue Perkins. I know it hasn't set the world on fire, but its heart is in the right place and the gags are often clever." [19] Kevin O'Sullivan from the Daily Mirror called the series "pathetic", adding "Sadly, it's not even mildly amusing. It's a toe-curling car crash. My Family with slightly fewer heterosexuals. But without the laughs." [29]

Home media

The first series of Heading Out was released as a single DVD box set on 8 April 2013. [30]

Related Research Articles

<i>Coupling</i> (British TV series) British TV series (2000–2004)

Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC Two and BBC Three from 12 May 2000 to 14 June 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating, sexual adventures, and mishaps of six friends in their early 30s, often depicting the three women and the three men each talking among themselves about the same events, but in entirely different terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sue Perkins</span> British actress and comedian (born 1969)

Susan Elizabeth Perkins is an English actress, broadcaster, comedian, presenter and writer. Originally coming to prominence through her comedy partnership with Mel Giedroyc in Mel and Sue, she progressed into radio and television presenting, notably of The Great British Bake Off (2010–2016), Insert Name Here (2016–2019) and Just a Minute on BBC Radio 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mel Giedroyc</span> British actress and comedian (born 1968)

Melanie Clare Sophie Giedroyc is an English actress, comedian and television presenter.

Gwen Taylor is an English actress who has appeared in many British television programmes. She is known for her roles as Amy Pearce in the sitcom Duty Free (1984–1986); Barbara Liversidge in the sitcom Barbara (1999–2003); Peggy Armstrong in the drama series Heartbeat (2005–2009), Anne Foster in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street (2011–2012), and Vi Highway in BBC One soap opera EastEnders (2021–2023). She was nominated for the 1990 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for her role as Rita Simcock in the comedy series A Bit of a Do (1989). Her film appearances include Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) and The Lady in the Van (2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicola Walker</span> British actress (born 1970)

Nicola Jane Walker is an English actress, known for her starring roles in various British television programmes from the 1990s onwards, including that of Ruth Evershed in the spy drama Spooks and DCI Cassie Stuart in Unforgotten (2015–2021). She has also worked in theatre, radio and film. She won the 2013 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and was twice nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best Supporting Actress for the BBC drama Last Tango in Halifax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miranda Hart</span> English comedian (born 1972)

Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke is an English actress, comedian and writer. Following drama training at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts, Hart began writing material for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and making appearances in BBC sitcoms, including Hyperdrive (2006–2007) and Not Going Out (2006–2009).

<i>Gavin & Stacey</i> British TV sitcom (2007–2019)

Gavin & Stacey is a British sitcom written by James Corden and Ruth Jones about two families: one in Billericay, Essex; one in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Mathew Horne and Joanna Page play the eponymous characters Gavin and Stacey, while Corden and Jones star as Smithy and Nessa. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb star as Gavin's parents Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey's mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon plays Stacey's uncle Bryn.

<i>Insert Name Here</i> British TV series or programme

Insert Name Here is a British comedy panel game show presented by Sue Perkins. The programme made its debut on BBC Two on 4 January 2016. In each episode two teams of three compete to answer questions about famous people, past and present, who have just one thing in common: they share the same name. The team captains are Josh Widdicombe and Richard Osman. The show was cancelled in February 2020 due to low viewership.

Life's Too Short is a British mockumentary sitcom, created and written by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant and starring Warwick Davis, about "the life of a showbiz dwarf." Davis plays a fictionalised version of himself, and both Gervais and Merchant appear in supporting roles as themselves. The show began airing on BBC Two on 10 November 2011. Premium cable channel HBO, which co-produced the series with the BBC, has the US rights and aired the series from 19 February 2012.

<i>Miranda</i> (TV series) British TV sitcom (2009–2015)

Miranda is a British television sitcom written by and starring comedian Miranda Hart. It originally aired on BBC Two from 9 November 2009, and later on BBC One. Developed from Hart's semi-autobiographical BBC Radio 2 comedy Miranda Hart's Joke Shop (2008), the situation comedy revolves around socially inept Miranda, who frequently finds herself in awkward situations. The show features actors Sarah Hadland, Tom Ellis, Patricia Hodge, Sally Phillips, James Holmes and Bo Poraj. It was taped in front of live audiences at the BBC Television Centre and The London Studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Pascoe</span> English comedian, presenter and writer

Sara Patricia Pascoe is an English actress, comedian, presenter and writer. She has appeared on television programmes including 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Taskmaster for Channel 4 and QI for BBC Two.

<i>Him & Her</i> British television sitcom

Him & Her is a British television sitcom about a lazy twenty-something couple: Steve and Becky, who live in Walthamstow, London. It was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Three on 6 September 2010. It is written by Stefan Golaszewski and stars Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani. The theme tune is the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu.

Kathleen Rose Perkins is an American actress.

Threesome is a British television sitcom written by Tom MacRae and starring Stephen Wight, Amy Huberman and Emun Elliott. The series is focused around three friends—Alice, Mitch and Richie—who return home from a night out celebrating Alice's birthday and end up having a threesome, which results in Alice getting pregnant. Instead of getting an abortion, the three friends decide to raise the baby as a trio. The series began airing on 17 October 2011 on Comedy Central and Comedy Central HD. It is the first original scripted comedy commissioned by Comedy Central and is produced by Big Talk Productions.

<i>Being Eileen</i> 2013 British TV comedy-drama series

Being Eileen is a BBC comedy-drama which began as a six-part series on 4 February and ended on 11 March 2013. It began as a one-off Christmas special titled Lapland, broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 24 December 2011. A full series was later announced, with the title Being Eileen, consisting of six 30 minute episodes, due to the success of the single episode, which was viewed by 6.9 million viewers upon its original airing. The series also aired on BBC Two as part of Sign Zone, which features sign language throughout. The series was released on DVD on 1 April 2013.

<i>How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life)</i> 2013 American TV series or program

How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) is an American single-camera sitcom created by Accidentally on Purpose creator Claudia Lonow that aired on ABC from April 3 to June 26, 2013. The series was produced by 20th Century Fox Television and stars Sarah Chalke as Polly who – along with her daughter – ends up moving into her parents' house because of the financial crisis and her divorce. On May 10, 2013, How to Live with Your Parents (For the Rest of Your Life) was canceled by ABC after one season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dexter Hartman</span> Soap opera character

Dexter Hartman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Khali Best. His debut was on 7 January 2013. Dexter is the grandson of Cora Cross and son of her illegitimate daughter, Ava Hartman. Dexter's storylines include his friendships with Jay Brown and Lola Pearce

<i>Wendell & Vinnie</i> 2013 American TV series or program

Wendell & Vinnie is an American television sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon from February 16, 2013, to September 22, 2013. The series stars Jerry Trainor and Buddy Handleson. The first official trailer for the show was released on December 21, 2012. On August 15, 2013, the series was cancelled after one season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Essie Harrison</span> Fictional character

Estelle "Essie" Harrison is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Kaye Wragg. She first appeared in the series sixteen episode "My Name Is Joe", broadcast on 6 May 2014. Essie arrives at Holby City employed as an agency nurse working on the hospital's AAU and Keller wards. She is characterised as an opinionated nurse who is not afraid to challenge the healthcare system. She is also played as a warm person who makes a good friend for fellow characters and strives to provide excellent patient care. Her introduction to the show was controversial and featured the discovery that her grandfather Joe Goodridge was an escaped Nazi war criminal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicky McKendrick</span> Fictional character from the television series Holby City

Nicky McKendrick is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Belinda Owusu. She first appeared in the series nineteen episode "We Need to Talk About Fredrik", broadcast on 12 December 2017. Nicky arrives at Holby City hospital to work as a trainee doctor (F1). Fifty five female actresses attended auditions to play Nicky and Meena Chowdhury. The series producer Kate Hall workshopped the characters during August 2017 and in September it was announced that Owusu and Salma Haque had been chosen to play Nicky and Meena.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sue Perkins to star in self-penned sitcom for BBC Two". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lockyer, Daphne (10 February 2013). "Sue Perkins: Therapy has made me a better person". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Perkins, Sue (23 February – 1 March 2013). "It's not about me". Radio Times . 356 (4631). Immediate Media Company Ltd: 24–25.
  4. 1 2 3 "Family outing". Inside Soap (8). Hearst Magazines UK: 73. 23 February – 1 March 2013.
  5. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (9 July 2013). "'The Wright Way', Sue Perkins's 'Heading Out' axed by BBC". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Sue Perkins to star in new BBC Two comedy series". British Comedy Guide. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "Heading Out - New six-part comedy for BBC Two penned by Sue Perkins". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Grady, Oliver; Simper, Paul (23 February – 1 March 2013). "It's like telling your parents: 'I'm having sex!'". TV Magazine. News International: 14–15.
  9. ↑ Lee, Veronica (10 February 2013). "Joanna Scanlan: From bumbling Whitehall press officer in The Thick of It to lifestyle coach in Heading Out" . The Independent . Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Steve Oram plays Daniel". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Dominic Coleman plays Jamie". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 13 February 2013. Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  12. ↑ Millar, Paul (25 October 2012). "'EastEnders' June Brown, Dawn French to star in new BBC Two sitcom". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 25 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Series 1 – Episode 1". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Top 30 Programmes - BARB". Broadcaster's Audience Research Board . Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  15. ↑ "Series 1 – Episode 2". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  16. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (6 March 2013). "Manchester United's Champions League heartbreak watched by 9 million". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 7 March 2013.
  17. ↑ "Series 1 – Episode 3". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  18. ↑ Plunkett, John (13 March 2013). "MasterChef nets more than 4 million viewers but is no match for Messi". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  19. 1 2 "Series 1 – Episode 4". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  20. ↑ Fletcher, Alex (20 March 2013). "JR's funeral in 'Dallas' pulls in 400k for Channel 5". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 25 March 2013.
  21. ↑ "Series 1 – Episode 5". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  22. ↑ "Episode 1.5". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  23. ↑ "Series 1 – Episode 6". Radio Times . Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  24. ↑ "Episode 1.6". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  25. ↑ Bullimore, Emma (23 February – 1 March 2013). "Tuesday highlights". TVTimes . 219 (9). IPC Media: 59.
  26. 1 2 "Picks of the day". TV Magazine. News International: 45. 23 February – 1 March 2013.
  27. 1 2 3 Sutcliffe, Tom (27 February 2013). "TV review: Sue Perkins' comedy Heading Out, BBC2 was awkward for everyone involved" . The Independent . Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  28. ↑ Hilton, Boyd (2–8 March 2013). "Heading Out, BBC2, 10pm". Heat (720). Bauer Media: 104.
  29. ↑ O'Sullivan, Kevin (2 March 2013). "Sue Perkins' Heading Out is a right-on write-off". Daily Mirror . Trinity Mirror . Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  30. ↑ "Heading Out (DVD)". British Comedy Guide . Retrieved 19 February 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.