Gimme Gimme Gimme (TV series)
Gimme Gimme Gimme | |
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Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Jonathan Harvey |
Developed by |
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Starring |
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Opening theme | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" by ABBA |
Ending theme | "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" by ABBA |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 3 |
No. of episodes | 19 (+1 Comic Relief sketch) (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production companies | Tiger Aspect Productions Hartswood Films (series 2) |
Original release | |
Network | |
Release | 8 January 1999 14 December 2001 | –
Gimme Gimme Gimme is a BBC television sitcom by Tiger Aspect Productions that was first aired in three series from 1999 to 2001. It was written by Jonathan Harvey, who developed the series with Kathy Burke.
The title from the show stems from both the main characters' continual search for a male partner, and the theme music is a cover of ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)". The first two series were originally shown on BBC Two and were deemed successful enough for the third series to be shown on BBC One.
Burke received two BAFTA nominations for Best Comedy Performance for playing the lead character, Linda La Hughes. The show received a nomination in the Best Scripted Comedy category for its third series.
Premise
Gimme Gimme Gimme centres on loudmouthed
Linda is characterised by her red hair, white glasses and plump,
Tom is melodramatic yet fails in his desire to get acting roles. He believes himself to be truly gifted in the art of acting, and often blames his failures on his agent or society itself. He did appear in one episode of
Although they appear to loathe each other, Tom and Linda are beholden to each other due to the simple fact that nobody else can tolerate them. They are in many ways alike: selfish, unsuccessful, and physically and personally unattractive - although Tom less so. The hapless duo live in a
On at least one occasion the fourth wall is broken when a previous series was referenced by Linda.
At the end of series three, Tom finally got his big break in TV soap opera Crossroads. The last episode ended with Tom leaving the flat and Linda taking off her hair (revealing it to be a wig) and sitting in the flat alone.
Characters
Regular
Linda La Hughes (Kathy Burke) – Linda is portrayed as an unattractive middle-aged woman who usually wears skin tight, colourful clothing. Linda grabs any opportunity to bluntly flirt with any man she sees. She is delusional about her appearance; in the Series 3 episode "Trauma", she's finally diagnosed with reversed body dysmorphic disorder. Her age is uncertain as she has announced different ages through the three series. Linda, originally from Portsmouth, has a large family consisting of a son named Zippy; two cousins, Simon who has a wonky eye, Velma who works in Soho who has an act called "Snatch and Ladders"; two aunties, Nitty and Ivy; an uncle called Tyrone; and a sister called Sharon Hughes who changed her name to Sugar Walls. Her Mother, called "Queenie" (and oddly referred to in one episode as "Dolly") died when Linda was a child but there is some uncertainty as to the cause; Linda tells Tom's mum that she collapsed in a paddling pool in Pinner, but her sister Sugar Walls states that she electrocuted herself on her own Slendertone pads. Her Daddy hides from her, although she thinks he's in an iron lung, but he does send her Christmas presents. When Linda is asked what her father's name is by her son Zippy, she replies "Daddy". She is unexpectedly reunited with her 28-year-old son; she says she was 15 when she gave birth to him.
Thomas Thessalonius "Tom" Farrell (James Dreyfus) – Tom is a 30-year-old wannabe (but bad) actor who has only had small roles on TV and on stage. Tom is openly gay and seizes every possible opportunity to get a boyfriend. Throughout Series 1, he often refers to using drugs once at home when he mistook a sleeping tablet for an E, the other when reading what "middle class" people should do "the middle class person will not go to sleazy night club and get off his tits on ecstasy". He also tends to exaggerate a lot. Series 3 concludes with him moving to Nottingham to join the cast of Crossroads.
Beryl Merit (Rosalind Knight) – Beryl is the elderly landlady of 69 Paradise Passage. She is a retired prostitute but stays involved in criminal activities such as shoplifting and bootlegging; in the Series 2 episode "Glad to be Gay?" she's seen to be an escort. Her best friend is Renée, a fellow former prostitute whom she often mentions and is seen chatting to on the phone, but who never appears.
Jez Littlewood (Brian Bovell) – Jez is Tom and Linda's hunky
Suze Littlewood (Beth Goddard) – Suze is Jez's ditzy wife. She can sometimes be nice but on other occasions she can be hyperactive and rather irritating, unintentionally coming off as a burden. Tom and Linda loathe Suze for standing in the way of their pursuit of Jez. Linda, especially, showers her with vicious insults, most of which go way over her head. She and Jez have a voracious – often vociferous – sex life. In the Series 3 episode "Secrets and Flies" (featuring Linda's own long-lost son), she gives birth to their baby boy, Lee-on-Solent "Lee" Littlewood. Suze has also stated that she is a "committed vegetarian", with a liking for spinach pie and quorn placenta.
Recurring
Norma (Doña Croll) – Tom's agent who features in every series.
Sharon Hughes/Sugar Walls (Elaine Lordan) is Linda's famous sister. She is a model, but is more famous for her promiscuity than her modelling career. She appears in series 1 and returns in series 2.
Simon Shepherd is Tom's celebrity crush. Simon is famous for starring in Peak Practice. He appears in every series.
Guest appearances
- Michele Austin
- Frances Barber
- Mark Benton
- Adrian Bower
- Moya Brady
- Richard Cant
- Debbie Chazen
- Charlie Condou
- Phil Daniels
- Hazel Douglas
- Mel Giedroyc
- Jonathan Harvey
- William Hope
- Anna Keaveney
- Rose Keegan
- Simon Shepherd
- Chris Langham
- Nimmy March
- Geraldine McNulty
- Melinda Messenger
- Ann Mitchell
- Mark Monero
- Patsy Palmer
- Sue Perkins
- Su Pollard. Pollard played a character called Heidi Honeycombe; when she appeared, Linda greeted her with "Heidi! Hi!" (a reference to Hi-de-Hi! in which Pollard starred).
- Rowland Rivron
- Zita Sattar
- David Schneider
- Christopher Simon
- Sophie Stanton
- Ronan Vibert
- Dale Winton
- The Pink Singers
Production
The series was filmed in front of a live studio audience in Studio 2 at The London Studios, South Bank, London.
Writer Jonathan Harvey appeared in three episodes; as a guest at the series 1 wedding, once as make-up artist Louis, and then as a customer in a sofa store.
Episodes
Gimme Gimme Gimme has broadcast three series and 19 episodes in total. The first series premiered on BBC Two on 8 January 1999 and lasted for six episodes, concluding on 12 February 1999. Following this, a Millennium special was screened at the end of the year on 29 December 1999. A second series commenced on 14 January 2000 and finished on 18 February 2000, again including six episodes. A short sketch included as part of Comic Relief was broadcast on 16 March 2001. Due to the high viewing figures and success the show received, it was moved to BBC One for a six-episode third series which was the last. Each episode was written by Jonathan Harvey and directed by Liddy Oldroyd for the first two series and the special; the third series was directed by Tristram Shapeero.
Reception
Ratings
Series | Timeslot | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | Network | Rank | Avg. viewers (millions) |
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1 | Friday 9:00 pm | 6 | 8 January 1999 | 12 February 1999 | BBC Two | 1 | 6.01 |
2 | Wednesday 9:00 pm (special) Friday 9:00 pm |
7 | 29 December 1999 | 18 February 2000 | 2 | 6.62 | |
3 | Friday 9:30 pm | 6 | 2 November 2001 | 14 December 2001 | BBC One | N/A | N/A |
Series 1 | ||||
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No. | Title | Air date | Ratings[1] | |
Viewers | Rank | |||
1 | "Who's That Boy" | 8 January 1999 | 6,550,000 | 1 |
2 | "The Big Break" | 15 January 1999 | 6,290,000 | 1 |
3 | "Legs and Co." | 22 January 1999 | 5,950,000 | 1 |
4 | "Do They Take Sugar?" | 29 January 1999 | 6,100,000 | 1 |
5 | "Saturday Night Diva" | 5 February 1999 | 5,840,000 | 2 |
6 | "I Do, I Do, I Do" | 12 February 1999 | 5,350,000 | 2 |
Series 2 | ||||
No. | Title | Air date | Ratings[1] | |
Viewers | Rank | |||
S | "Millennium" | 29 December 1999 | 3,980,000 | 3 |
1 | "Teacher's Pet" | 14 January 2000 | 6,790,000 | 1 |
2 | "Stiff" | 21 January 2000 | 5,420,000 | 3 |
3 | "Prison Visitor" | 28 January 2000 | 5,570,000 | 2 |
4 | "Dirty 30" | 4 February 2000 | 6,160,000 | 1 |
5 | "Glad to be Gay?" | 11 February 2000 | 4,720,000 | 2 |
6 | "Sofa Man" | 18 February 2000 | 7,100,000 | 1 |
Series 3 | ||||
No. | Title | Air date | Ratings[1] | |
Viewers | Rank | |||
1 | "Down and Out" | 2 November 2001 | 6,790,000 | 22 |
2 | "Lollipop Man" | 9 November 2001 | <6,150,000 | — |
3 | "Secrets and Flies" | 23 November 2001 | <5,830,000 | — |
4 | "Trauma" | 30 November 2001 | <5,960,000 | — |
5 | "Singing in the Drain" | 7 December 2001 | <5,920,000 | — |
6 | "Decoy" | 14 December 2001 | <5,550,000 | — |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award Show | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | British Comedy Awards
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Best TV Comedy Actress | Kathy Burke | Nominated | [2] |
Best TV Sitcom | Gimme Gimme Gimme | Nominated | |||
2000 | Best TV Comedy Actress | Kathy Burke | Nominated | [2] | |
2001 | BAFTA TV Awards | Best Comedy Performance | Kathy Burke | Nominated | [3][2] |
2002 | Best Comedy Performance | Kathy Burke | Nominated | [4][2] | |
Best Scripted Comedy | Francis Matthews Tristram Shapeero Jonathan Harvey |
Nominated | |||
British Comedy Awards | Best TV Comedy Actress | Kathy Burke | Won | [5][2] | |
National Television Awards | Most Popular Comedy Performer | Kathy Burke | Nominated | [2] |
Home media
Gimme Gimme Gimme' has been released entirely on VHS and DVD on Region 2 in the United Kingdom via Video Vision Ltd. and
Series | Release date | Features | ||
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VHS & Region 2 | Region 2 (reissue) |
Region 4 | ||
The Complete First Series | 1 October 2001[6][7] | 30 April 2007[8] | 22 April 2003[9][10] |
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The Complete Second Series | 17 November 2003[11] | 27 August 2007[12] | 3 June 2009[13][14] |
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The Complete Third Series | 11 November 2002[15] | 27 August 2007[16] | — |
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The Complete Collection | 17 November 2003[17] | 13 November 2006[18] | — |
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From November 2020, the entire series was made available on BBC iPlayer for one year. In December 2022, it became available to stream on BritBox.[19]
References
- Brown, David (2015) The BBC would never make Gimme Gimme Gimme today, says its writer Jonathan Harvey Radio Times
- Harvey, Jonathan (2002). Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Book Boxtree. ISBN 978-0752272689.
- ^ Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Awards". kathyburke.co.uk. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Television in 2001". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Television in 2002". awards.bafta.org. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "PAST WINNERS 2002". britishcomedyawards.com. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 1 [VHS]". amazon.co.uk. October 2001. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme Series 1 DVD". dvd-fever.co.uk. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 1 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme Series 1 on DVD". dvdorachar.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Season 1". Booktopia. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 2 [VHS]". amazon.co.uk. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 2". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme Series 2 on DVD". dvdorachar.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Season 2". Booktopia. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 3 [VHS]". amazon.co.uk. 11 November 2002. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Series 3 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme: The Complete Collection [VHS]". amazon.co.uk. 17 November 2003. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme - The Complete Collection". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
- ^ "Gimme Gimme Gimme". newonbritbox.info. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
Further reading
- Padva. Gilad (2005). Desired Bodies and Queer Masculinities in Three Popular TV Sitcoms. In Lorek-Jezinska, Edyta and Wieckowska, Katarzyna (Eds.), Corporeal Inscriptions: Representations of the Body in Cultural and Literary Texts and Practices(pp. 127–138). Torun, Poland: Nicholas Copernicus University Press.