This is one television series I was excited about seeing on DVD. An excellent series starring Kathy Burke and James Dreyfuss, who play two of the trashiest characters I have seen on British television (they even give Ab-Fab a run for its money).
Kathy plays Linda, a beastly, frizzy haired woman who is obsessed with sex and believes that she is gods gift to man. Linda is always spewing forth excellent one-liners, like, `He can stick his hand up my skirt and make my lips move…if you know what I mean!’ This should give you a pretty good indication of the type comments her and Tom, Linda’s housemate, throw at each other throughout.
Tom is an extremely camp, out of work actor who has an obsession with Peak Practise star, Simon Shepard and East Enders. Tom seems to have more than his fair share of bad luck and even breaks his leg while on his way to an audition. Tom also enjoys throwing foul insults at Linda whenever he gets the chance, one fantastic example being simply, `You big, fat, slag’.
Also living in the same apartment is Beryl, the batty, ex-pro landlady who lives upstairs, and Jez and Suze - an insufferable couple whose super-happy dispositions sit as an interesting contrast to the bitter relationship between Tom and Linda.
Series One - Episode 1: Who’s That Boy?
This is our first introduction to Tom and Linda. Linda awakens to find a strange man in their home, washing the dishes in his underwear, assuming he is someone that Tom has brought home. Tom also has no idea who he is. After realising they met him while out on a drunken binge the previous night, they are both disappointed when they discover who he really is.
Episode 2: The Big Break
Tom gets his big break playing a part in Crimestoppers as a cockney thief. The lengths Tom goes to, to get into character become quite funny as he ends up watching football at the local, and even getting into a fight (if you could call it that). Linda also gains a secret admirer and is most unhappy to find out it was not who she thought it was. Tom also has a nasty accident while on his way to the audition.
Episode 3: Legs and Co.
Tom organises `home help’ to assist with his new disability. His new helper Shirley turns out to be more trouble than he was worth. Linda gets a date and is disappointed when she discovers that he is interested in her for her heart and not her body.
Episode 4: Do they take Sugar?
Linda gets an unexpected visit from her sister - which she is not too happy about. Linda’s sister ends up being a, Sugar Walls - a star of the tabloids and best friend of Patsy Kensit. Tom is star-struck upon meeting Sugar, much to Linda’s dismay, and ends up being mistaken for her new lover.
Episode 5: Saturday Night Diva
Tom is feeling old and boring one Saturday night and wants to go out for a night on the town. Linda isn’t interested so Tom goes alone and ends up meeting a very interesting Italian man. Suze is out and Linda gets the opportunity to have a night in with Jez, to practise her technique in seduction.
Episode 6: I do, I do, I do
Tom is getting married!! Though it’s not what you think - Tom is marrying his lesbian friend Gloria, so she can stay in the country to be with her partner. Linda is extremely jealous, and her jealousy isn’t abated until she meets Gloria’s brother - an adult filmmaker. Linda receives an offer she can’t refuse and says `I do!’
I thoroughly enjoyed watching season 1 of this series on DVD as it gave me a chance to see all episodes (a few I had missed while it screened on ABC TV). The quality was quite good - though I had to use the zoom function on my television to view it in wide screen, which made the image a little grainy. There are no extras to speak of - but all 6 episodes are squeezed onto one DVD.
Overall - a lot of naughty fun!