After You've Gone (TV series)

Last updated

After You've Gone
After youve gone.png
Opening titles of After You've Gone
GenreComedy
Created byFred Barron
Starring Nicholas Lyndhurst
Celia Imrie
Ryan Sampson
Dani Harmer
Lee Oakes
Vincent Ebrahim
Amanda Abbington
Theme music composer Turner Layton
Opening theme"After You've Gone"
by Jamie Cullum
Ending theme"After You've Gone"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes25 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time23 × 30 minutes
1 × 45 minutes
1 × 40 minutes
Production companyRude Boy Productions
Original release
Network BBC One
BBC HD
Release12 January 2007 (2007-01-12) –
21 December 2008 (2008-12-21)
Related
My Family (2000–2011)

After You've Gone is a British comedy that aired on BBC One from 12 January 2007 to 21 December 2008. Starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, Celia Imrie, Dani Harmer and Ryan Sampson, After You've Gone was created by Fred Barron, who also created My Family . [1] The writers include Barron, Ian Brown, Katie Douglas, James Hendie, Danny Robins, Andrea Solomons and Dan Tetsell. Three series and two Christmas specials aired, and work on scripts for a fourth series had already begun when the BBC withdrew the commission in November 2008 and cancelled the series. [2]

Contents

Plot

When his former wife Ann goes to Africa to help out following a natural disaster, handyman Jimmy Venables has to move back into the marital home to look after his two children, Molly and Alex. [1] Jimmy's former mother-in-law, opinionated and widowed teacher Diana Neal, who has always disliked Jimmy, decides to help him out. Diana's husband, Patrick Neal OBE, died in 1996. Fashion-obsessed Molly is an intelligent girl who sees herself as the only adult in the family, while cheerful Alex is bright but has constantly changing ideas. Jimmy has a girlfriend, Siobhan Casey, a hairdresser, who often feels he does not pay her enough attention. Jimmy's assistant is Kev, while the landlord of his local pub, The Leek and Shepherd, is the pessimistic Bobby. In Series Two, Siobhan is the barmaid at the pub and goes back to college to study Business Studies. She appears less often in Series Three, having been partially written-out by having her split with Jimmy. Actress Amanda Abbington was pregnant at time of filming and so it was decided to make things easier for her by reducing her sizeable role. Bobby and Kev, meanwhile, have been developing a tendency to team up and do things which annoy Jimmy (such as kidnapping him and locking him in Kev's flat or taking legal action against him). Often compared to My Family , After You've Gone is a light comedy which pulled in good viewing figures despite often being broadcast at the same time as Coronation Street . It was often broadcast on Friday evenings on BBC One and followed by the heavier comedy of Have I Got News for You .

Characters

ActorCharacterDurationSeriesEpisodesRole
Nicholas Lyndhurst Jimmy Venables2007–20081–325Main
Celia Imrie Diana2007–20081–325Main
Ryan Sampson Alexander [ Alex ] Peter Venables2007–20081–325Main
Dani Harmer Molly Louise Venables2007–20081–325Main
Lee Oakes Kev2007–20081–325Main
Vincent Ebrahim Bobby2007–20081–325Main
Amanda Abbington Siobhan2007–20081–321Main (Series 1–2); Recurring (Series 3)
Roxanne RickettsEllie20071–26Recurring
Samantha Spiro Ann20071–22Guest
Rob Knox Josh20071–22Guest
Sheri-An DavisRoz200712Guest

Cast information

Amanda Abbington (Siobhan) is seen less frequently in Series Three due to her real-life pregnancy. Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie were already household names by the time they appeared on the programme: Lyndhurst had appeared in Only Fools and Horses , The Two of Us, The Piglet Files and Goodnight Sweetheart while Imrie previously featured in dinnerladies and Calendar Girls . Dani Harmer and Ryan Sampson had appeared in various roles previously – the most notable being Harmer in The Story of Tracy Beaker – but have both gone on to more solid roles since. Harmer went on to star in her own programme called Dani's House (with the result that she was on BBC One for two half-hour programmes on Fridays) while Sampson had a leading role in two 2008 episodes of Doctor Who , as well as appearing in a pilot programme for BBC Three called The Things I Haven't Told You (which has not been picked up).

Episodes

Theme song

The theme song is "After You've Gone" and is performed by Jamie Cullum. [1] The song was composed by Turner Layton with lyrics by Henry Creamer and was originally released in 1918 by Marion Harris.

Cancellation

The BBC announced in January that it had commissioned a third series with eight episodes and a Christmas special, they also announced that a fourth series had been commissioned that included ten episodes and a festive one-off for 2009. [2] Later the BBC made a statement announcing that the third series would be the last despite writers already working on the scripts. [2]

The cancellation cost the corporation thousands of pounds, a BBC spokesperson said "We are very proud of the programme and its achievements over the past three years but believe it has now come to a natural end." [2]

Following the abrupt cancellation, there was a proposal to shift the series to radio, utilising the unfilmed but completed scripts for the fourth series, which the series writers behind the proposal felt could be developed on a cheap budget as no scripts required being written. However the proposal did not come to fruition.

DVD releases

All of the three series of After You've Gone have been released on DVD in the UK (Region 2). The final series was released on 18 January 2010. All 25 episodes, including the Christmas specials, have been released. The first two series of After You've Gone have also been released on DVD in Australia.

DVD TitleDisc #YearEpisode #DVD releases
Region 2 Region 4
Complete Series 1 12007724 September 2007 [3] 4 September 2008 [4] [5]
Complete Series 2 22007822 September 2008 [6] 3 September 2009 [7] [8]
Complete Series 3 220081018 January 2010 [9] Not released.

Related Research Articles

<i>One Foot in the Grave</i> British TV sitcom (1990–2000)

One Foot in the Grave is a British television sitcom written by David Renwick. There were six series and seven Christmas specials over a period of ten years from early 1990 to late 2000. The first five series were broadcast between January 1990 and January 1995. For the next five years, the show appeared only as Christmas specials, followed by the sixth and final series in 2000.

<i>Dinnerladies</i> (TV series) British TV sitcom (1998–2000)

Dinnerladies is a British television sitcom created, written and co-produced by Victoria Wood. Two series were broadcast on BBC One from 1998 to 2000, with sixteen episodes in total. The programme is repeated on Gold, and Drama. The complete series was released on DVD in November 2004, and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

<i>Absolutely Fabulous</i> British TV sitcom (1992–2012)

Absolutely Fabulous is a British television sitcom based on the French and Saunders sketch, "Modern Mother and Daughter", created by Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. The show was created and written by Saunders, who also stars as one of the main characters with Joanna Lumley and Julia Sawalha.

<i>Only Fools and Horses</i> British TV sitcom (1981–2003)

Only Fools and Horses.... is a British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Seven series were originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1991, with sixteen sporadic Christmas specials aired until the end of the show in 2003. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it stars David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger half-brother Rodney Trotter, alongside a supporting cast. The series follows the Trotters' highs and lows in life, in particular their attempts to get rich. Critically and popularly acclaimed, the series received numerous awards, including recognition from BAFTA, the National Television Awards, and the Royal Television Society, as well as winning individual accolades for both Sullivan and Jason. It was voted Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll.

<i>To the Manor Born</i> British TV sitcom (1979–2007)

To the Manor Born is a BBC television sitcom that first aired on BBC1 from 1979 to 1981. A special one-off episode was produced in 2007. Starring Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles, the first 20 episodes and the 2007 special were written by Peter Spence, the creator, while the final episode in 1981 was written by script associate Christopher Bond. The title is a play on the phrase "to the manner born," from Shakespeare's Hamlet

<i>My Family</i> British TV sitcom (2000–2011)

My Family is a British sitcom created and initially co-written by Fred Barron, which was produced by DLT Entertainment and Rude Boy Productions, and broadcast by BBC One for eleven series between 2000 and 2011, with Christmas specials broadcast from 2002 onwards. My Family was voted 24th in the BBC's "Britain's Best Sitcom" in 2004 and was the most watched sitcom in the United Kingdom in 2008. As of 2011, it is one of only twelve British sitcoms to pass the 100-episode mark. In April 2020, BBC One began airing the series from the first episode in an 8 pm slot on Friday nights; along with this all 11 series were made available on BBC iPlayer.

<i>The Royle Family</i> British TV sitcom (1998–2012)

The Royle Family is a British sitcom produced by Granada Television for the BBC, which ran for three series from 1998 to 2000, and specials from 2006 to 2012. It centres on the lives of a television-fixated Manchester family, the Royles, comprising family patriarch Jim Royle, his wife Barbara, their daughter Denise, their son Antony and Denise's fiancé David.

<i>Birds of a Feather</i> (TV series) British television sitcom

Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom originally broadcast on BBC One from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998, then revived on ITV from 2 January 2014 to 24 December 2020. The series stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, with Lesley Joseph. It was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote many of the episodes.

<i>Goodnight Sweetheart</i> (TV series) British TV sitcom (1993–2016)

Goodnight Sweetheart is a British science fiction time travel sitcom, starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, and produced by the BBC. The sitcom is about the life of Gary Sparrow, an accidental time traveller who leads a double life through the use of a time portal, which allows him to travel between the London of the 1990s and the London of the 1940s during the Second World War. The sitcom's creators, who also created Birds of a Feather and The New Statesman, wrote most of the plots for the episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celia Imrie</span> British actress

Celia Diana Savile Imrie is an English actress and author. She is best known for her film roles, including the Bridget Jones film series, Calendar Girls (2003), Nanny McPhee (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), The English dub of The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales... (2017), Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), Malevolent (2018) and for the FX TV series Better Things (2016-2022).

<i>The Catherine Tate Show</i> TV sketch comedy show

The Catherine Tate Show is a British television comedy sketch programme written by Catherine Tate and Derren Litten featuring a wide range of characters. The Catherine Tate Show aired on BBC Two and was shown worldwide through the BBC. Collectively, the show has been nominated for six BAFTA Awards, two British Comedy Awards and an Emmy Award, and it has won two Royal Television Society Awards, two British Comedy Awards and a National Television Award since its debut in 2004.

Danielle Jane Harmer is an English actress, television personality, and former singer. She is best known for her lead role as Tracy Beaker in the CBBC series The Story of Tracy Beaker (2002–2006), Tracy Beaker Returns (2010–2012), for which she was nominated for a BAFTA in 2010, The Tracy Beaker Survival Files (2011–2012), My Mum Tracy Beaker (2021), and The Beaker Girls (2021–2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Porter</span> English actress, presenter and comedian

Lucy Donna Porter is an English actress, writer, presenter and comedian. She has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Brighton Festival and many clubs around Britain. She is also a regular voice on BBC Radio 4 in various panel shows, including Quote... Unquote and The Personality Test.

<i>Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV</i> British television comedy sketch series (1985–1987)

Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV is a British comedy sketch series written by and starring comedian Victoria Wood, with appearances from Julie Walters, Celia Imrie, Duncan Preston, Susie Blake and Patricia Routledge. The show was televised on BBC2 between 1985 and 1987 and included sketches that became famous in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amanda Abbington</span> English actress

Amanda Abbington is an English actress. In a career spanning over thirty years on stage and screen, her most prominent roles include Josie Mardle in Mr Selfridge (2013–2016) and Mary Morstan in Sherlock (2014–2017).

<i>Danis House</i> British childrens television series

Dani's House is a British children's comedy series broadcast on CBBC and starring Dani Harmer. The first series premiered on 26 September 2008, and its fifth series concluded on 19 July 2012. It has received several awards and nominations from BAFTA Kids. A spin-off called Dani's Castle aired from 2013 to 2015. Currently, all 5 series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

<i>Dads Army</i> British TV sitcom (1968–1977)

Dad's Army is a British television sitcom about the United Kingdom's Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and originally broadcast on BBC1 from 31 July 1968 to 13 November 1977. It ran for nine series and 80 episodes in total; a feature film released in 1971, a stage show and a radio version based on the television scripts were also produced. The series regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers and is still shown internationally.

<i>Rock & Chips</i> British television miniseries

Rock & Chips is a British television comedy-drama miniseries and a prequel to the sitcom Only Fools and Horses. The show is set in Peckham, southeast London, during the early 1960s, focusing primarily on the lives of Del Trotter, Freddie Robdal and Joan and Reg Trotter. Nicholas Lyndhurst, who played Rodney in Only Fools and Horses, plays Robdal alongside James Buckley, Kellie Bright (Joan), Shaun Dingwall (Reg) and Phil Daniels (Grandad). The Shazam and BBC Studios Comedy Drama co-production was written by Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan, directed by Dewi Humphreys and produced by Gareth Gwenlan.

<i>Danis Castle</i> British childrens comedy-drama television series

Dani's Castle is a British children's comedy series broadcast on the CBBC Channel. Dani inherits a castle in Northern Ireland from her deceased aunt and gets more than she expected. She meets three residents, an unknown cousin, and two people who died 250 years ago. It is the spin-off series to Dani's House. Series 1 began airing on 17 January 2013 on the CBBC Channel, and 1 April 2013 on ABC3. Series 2 of Dani's Castle aired from 14 November 2013 to 3 January 2014. Series 3 aired from 7 July 2015 to 22 September 2015, and then returned for a finale Christmas episode on 15 December 2015. It was filmed in County Down in Northern Ireland. Currently, all 3 series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

<i>The Catherine Tate Show</i> (series 2) Season of television series

The second series of the British television sketch comedy premiered on BBC Two on 21 July 2005. This series included six episodes with the concluding episode broadcast on 25 August 2005. A Christmas Special followed the second series and was screened on BBC Two on 20 December 2005.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "BBC Comedy Guide – After You've Gone". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2008. Retrieved 23 December 2007.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Holmwood, Leigh (19 November 2008). "BBC drops sitcom After You've Gone". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2010.
  3. ↑ "After You've Gone: Complete BBC Series 1 [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. 24 September 2007. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "After You've Gone – Season 1". fishpond.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "After You've Gone AU". jbhifionline.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "After You've Gone – Series 2". Amazon.co.uk. 22 September 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
  7. ↑ "After You've Gone – Season 2". fishpond.co.uk. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  8. ↑ "After You've Gone Season 2 AU". jbhifionline.com.au. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "After You've Gone – Series 3". Amazon.co.uk. 18 January 2010. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
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.