Wasn't this a blinder? The program introduced me to Ken Stott in the starring role as a double-glazing salesman who moonlighted as a hospital radio DJ. He was absolutely believable as a man in early middle-age, gradually coming to terms with the fact that he was never going to get 'the big break' - either in records or windows.
Harassed and resented by younger and more competitive salesmen, pestered by his ageing mother/grandmother to find himself a wife; his self-esteem was in decline, and he took to his evenings at the hospital turntables as a kind of escapism.
I should mention here that it was a psychiatric hospital.
Enter Tennant's character as the manic-depressive. At his euphoric heights he had moments of unrestrained genius. Unfortunately at his most extreme he actually had to be restrained - forcibly and rather cruelly, by strong nurses. One of them, almost inevitably, had issues of his own, and bordered upon the sadist. Very quickly he advanced from enthusiast, to assistant, to DJ maestro. Performing hilarious double-acts with the highly knowledgeable character of Stott, to whom he referred as 'Dr Boogie'.
The chemistry between the two set the real high-points of comedy, though there were interesting touches also in his double-glazing world. The later turnaround of events wasn't entirely unexpected but it was handled deftly and with a believable and humane hand.
One-line gags aren't quite as sharp as those in Hollywood's 'Crazy people' but the acting and the fractured romance is a hell of a lot more believable.
I should like to personally thank the contributor 'Bayingatthemoon' for providing us with such a rare and enjoyable comedy-drama, and for advising us of its imminent release onto DVD.
Anyone who has seen this series knows where the latest incarnation of 'Dr Who' developed his manic disposition. Our new time-lord once spent time in a padded cell.
Another highly recommended bit of old telly.
Harassed and resented by younger and more competitive salesmen, pestered by his ageing mother/grandmother to find himself a wife; his self-esteem was in decline, and he took to his evenings at the hospital turntables as a kind of escapism.
I should mention here that it was a psychiatric hospital.
Enter Tennant's character as the manic-depressive. At his euphoric heights he had moments of unrestrained genius. Unfortunately at his most extreme he actually had to be restrained - forcibly and rather cruelly, by strong nurses. One of them, almost inevitably, had issues of his own, and bordered upon the sadist. Very quickly he advanced from enthusiast, to assistant, to DJ maestro. Performing hilarious double-acts with the highly knowledgeable character of Stott, to whom he referred as 'Dr Boogie'.
The chemistry between the two set the real high-points of comedy, though there were interesting touches also in his double-glazing world. The later turnaround of events wasn't entirely unexpected but it was handled deftly and with a believable and humane hand.
One-line gags aren't quite as sharp as those in Hollywood's 'Crazy people' but the acting and the fractured romance is a hell of a lot more believable.
I should like to personally thank the contributor 'Bayingatthemoon' for providing us with such a rare and enjoyable comedy-drama, and for advising us of its imminent release onto DVD.
Anyone who has seen this series knows where the latest incarnation of 'Dr Who' developed his manic disposition. Our new time-lord once spent time in a padded cell.
Another highly recommended bit of old telly.