List of Joking Apart episodes: Difference between revisions
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''[[Joking Apart]]'' is a [[BBC Television]] [[British sitcom|sitcom]]. The show was produced by [[Andre Ptaszynski]] for the independent production company Pola Jones and screened on [[BBC Two]]. All twelve episodes from the two series were written by [[Steven Moffat]] and directed by [[Bob Spiers]]. The pilot was transmitted as part of its ''Comic Asides'' series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991. The first episode of the series was transmitted on 7 January 1993, and the final transmitted on 7 February 1995.<ref name="inlay"/> |
''[[Joking Apart]]'' is a [[BBC Television]] [[British sitcom|sitcom]]. The show was produced by [[Andre Ptaszynski]] for the independent production company Pola Jones and screened on [[BBC Two]]. All twelve episodes from the two series were written by [[Steven Moffat]] and directed by [[Bob Spiers]]. The pilot was transmitted as part of its ''Comic Asides'' series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991. The first episode of the series was transmitted on 7 January 1993, and the final transmitted on 7 February 1995.<ref name="inlay"/> |
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The show is about the rise and fall of a relationship, juxtaposing a couple, Mark ([[Robert Bathurst]]) and Becky ([[Fiona Gillies]]), who meet and fall in love before getting separated and finally [[divorce]]d. The show is semi-autobiographical; it was inspired by the then-recent separation of Moffat and his first wife.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Sternbergh |title= Selling Your Sex Life |work=New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03EFD61538F934A3575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |date=2003-09-07 | |
The show is about the rise and fall of a relationship, juxtaposing a couple, Mark ([[Robert Bathurst]]) and Becky ([[Fiona Gillies]]), who meet and fall in love before getting separated and finally [[divorce]]d. The show is semi-autobiographical; it was inspired by the then-recent separation of Moffat and his first wife.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Sternbergh |title= Selling Your Sex Life |work=New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A03EFD61538F934A3575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |date=2003-09-07 |access-date=2008-04-01}}</ref><ref name="ott">{{cite web |first=Graham |last=Kibble-White |title=Fool If You Think It's Over |work=Off the Telly |url=http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/index0494.html?page_id=332 |date=May 2006 |access-date=2006-08-13 |archive-date=3 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703075004/http://www.offthetelly.co.uk/oldott/www.offthetelly.co.uk/index0494.html?page_id=332 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some of the first series followed a non-linear dual structure, contrasting the rise of the relationship with the separation. Other episodes were [[Ensemble cast|ensemble]] [[farce]]s, predominantly including the couple's friends Robert ([[Paul Raffield]]) and Tracy ([[Tracie Bennett]]). [[Paul Mark Elliott]] also appeared as Trevor, Becky's lover. |
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Scheduling problems led to low viewing figures. However, it scored highly on the [[Appreciation Index]] and accrued a loyal fanbase. One fan acquired the home video rights from the BBC and released both series on his own DVD label.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |first=Shane |last=Jarvis |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3652217/Farce-that-rose-from-the-grave.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |title=Farce that rose from the grave |date=2006-05-08 | |
Scheduling problems led to low viewing figures. However, it scored highly on the [[Appreciation Index]] and accrued a loyal fanbase. One fan acquired the home video rights from the BBC and released both series on his own DVD label.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite news |first=Shane |last=Jarvis |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3652217/Farce-that-rose-from-the-grave.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |title=Farce that rose from the grave |date=2006-05-08 |access-date=2016-08-13 |archive-date=9 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170109000647/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3652217/Farce-that-rose-from-the-grave.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Series== |
==Series overview== |
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<onlyinclude>{{Series overview |
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All episodes were released on DVD in the UK between 2006 and 2008 by Replay DVD. A fan bought the rights from 2Entertain, [[BBC Worldwide]]'s DVD interest, and released it on his own [[Independent record label|independent label]].<ref name="ott"/> [[Craig Robins (producer)|Craig Robins]] put up £30,000 of his own money to buy the rights and produced the series one disc.<ref name="radio4">{{cite interview |subject=Steven Moffat |subjectlink=Steven Moffat |interviewer=[[Mark Lawson]] |publisher=[[BBC Radio 4]] |location=London |date=3 July 2006 |title=Interview with Steven Moffat |work=[[Front Row (radio)|Front Row]]}}</ref> As a professional videotape editor, Robins was able to [[Photo restoration|restore]] and [[DVD authoring|author]] the disc himself, using a piece of [[freeware]] to transcribe the dialogue for the subtitles.<ref name="ott"/> |
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| color0S = #FA98C0 |
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| link0S = List of Joking Apart episodes#Pilot (1991) |
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| linkT0S = Pilot |
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| start0S = {{Start date|1991|7|12|df=y}} |
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| color1 = #FFFC72 |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;" |
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| link1 = List of Joking Apart episodes#Series 1 (1993) |
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|- |
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| episodes1 = 6 |
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! colspan="2" rowspan="2" style="width:10%;"|Series !! rowspan="2" style="width:10%;"|Episodes !! rowspan="2" style="width:200px; width:12%;"|Originally aired !! colspan="3" style="width:60%;"|DVD release |
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| start1 = {{Start date|1993|1|7|df=y}} |
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|- |
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| end1 = {{End date|1993|2|11|df=y}} |
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! style="width:20%;"|Release date !! style="text-align:center;"|Discs !! style="text-align:center;"|Extra features |
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|- |
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| style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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| style="text-align:center;"|'''[[#Series 1|1]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|1993 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|29 May 2006 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
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|style="font-size: 90%;" | |
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* Audio commentaries on episodes 1, 3, 4 and 5 by Steven Moffat, Robert Bathurst, Fiona Gillies and Tracie Bennett |
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* Featurette, "Fool If You Think It's Over", with retrospective interviews. |
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|- |
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| style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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| style="text-align:center;"|'''[[#Series 2|2]]''' |
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| style="text-align:center;"|6 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|1995 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|17 March 2008 |
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| style="text-align:center;"|2 |
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|style="font-size: 90%;" | |
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* Audio commentaries on all episodes with various contributors. |
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* Pilot |
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* DVD-ROM content: set of series two scripts and article about the recording of the final episode |
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* 8-page booklet |
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|} |
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| color2 = #2134FF |
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==Pilot== |
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| link2 = List of Joking Apart episodes#Series 2 (1995) |
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The pilot, directed by [[John Kilby]], was filmed at [[Pebble Mill Studios|Pebble Mill]] in [[Birmingham]] on 9–10 August 1990.<ref name="inlay">Gallagher, William. "Joking Apart", Inlay booklet, Series 2 DVD, ReplayDVD.</ref> It was transmitted on BBC2 as part of its ''Comic Asides'' series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991.<ref name="inlay"/> It is included on the bonus disc on the second series DVD release. |
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| episodes2 = 6 |
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| start2 = {{Start date|1995|1|3|df=y}} |
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| end2 = {{End date|1995|2|7|df=y}} |
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}}</onlyinclude> |
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==Episodes== |
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The stand-up sequences were shot against a black background. Although this made it clearer that they were not "real", Moffat thought that it looked odd, and "hell to look at".<ref name="fool">''Fool if You Think It's Over'', featurette, ''Joking Apart'', Series 1 DVD, Dir. [[Craig Robins (producer)|Craig Robins]]</ref> The same script used for the pilot, with minor changes, was reshot by Bob Spiers for the first episode of the series proper. Some footage, such as Mark and Becky's first meeting at the funeral, leading to episode one's shared director credit between Spiers and Kilby.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comparing the Pilot and Episode One |work=jokingapart.co.uk |url=http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/pilot_vs_episode_one.htm |accessdate=2007-02-13}}</ref> |
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===Pilot (1991)=== |
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The pilot, directed by [[John Kilby]], was filmed at [[Pebble Mill Studios|Pebble Mill]] in [[Birmingham]] on 9–10 August 1990.<ref name="inlay">Gallagher, William. "Joking Apart", Inlay booklet, Series 2 DVD, ReplayDVD.</ref> It was transmitted on BBC2 as part of its ''Comic Asides'' series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991.<ref name="inlay"/> It is included on the bonus disc on the second series DVD release. |
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The stand-up sequences were shot against a black background. Although this made it clearer that they were not "real", Moffat thought that it looked odd, and "hell to look at".<ref name="fool">''Fool if You Think It's Over'', featurette, ''Joking Apart'', Series 1 DVD, Dir. [[Craig Robins (producer)|Craig Robins]]</ref> The same script used for the pilot, with minor changes, was reshot by Bob Spiers for the first episode of the series proper. Some footage, such as Mark and Becky's first meeting at the funeral, leading to episode one's shared director credit between Spiers and Kilby.<ref>{{cite web |title=Comparing the Pilot and Episode One |work=jokingapart.co.uk |url=http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/pilot_vs_episode_one.htm |access-date=2007-02-13 |archive-date=21 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621051719/http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/pilot_vs_episode_one.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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==Series 1== |
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The first series has been broadcast twice on [[BBC Two]], first in early 1993. It was repeated in late spring 1994 to lead directly into the transmission of the second series, which was scheduled to be broadcast from June 1994. |
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===Series 1 (1993)=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;" |
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The first series has been broadcast twice on [[BBC Two]], first in early 1993. It was repeated in early spring 1994 to lead directly into the transmission of the second series, which was scheduled to be broadcast from June 1994. |
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{{Episode table |background=#FFFC72 |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |country=UK |episodes= |
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! Episode number !! |Original airdate<ref name="inlay"/> !! |Repeat<ref name="inlay"/> !! style="width:15px;"|# |
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{{Episode list |
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|- |
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|EpisodeNumber=1 |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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|Title=Episode 1 |
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|- |
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|DirectedBy=[[Bob Spiers]] and John Kilby |
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|rowspan="1"|'''1''' ||7 January 1993 ||5 May 1994 ||1 |
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|WrittenBy=[[Steven Moffat]] |
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|- |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|1|7|df=y}} |
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|colspan="6"|Sitcom writer Mark Taylor accidentally attends a funeral, where he meets Becky. The narrative jumps forward in time to their marriage, in which they have a healthy sexual relationship. However, Becky becomes annoyed at his constant jokes, his sarcasm towards her friends, and how he fails to recognise that their relationship is deteriorating. As she arrives home, unaware that her friends are hiding around the house for a surprise birthday party, Becky announces to Mark that she wants a divorce. |
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|ShortSummary=Sitcom writer Mark Taylor accidentally attends a funeral, where he meets Becky. The narrative jumps forward to their married life, in which they have a healthy sexual relationship. However, Becky becomes annoyed at his constant jokes, his sarcasm towards her friends, and how he fails to recognise that their relationship is deteriorating. He has noticed that some of her belongings are no longer in the flat. As she arrives home one evening, unaware that her friends are hiding there for a surprise birthday party, Becky tells Mark that she wants a divorce. He gets her to admit that she is being unfaithful to him, before the party guests, who have overheard everything, leave. |
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|- |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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}} |
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|- |
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{{Episode list |
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|rowspan="1"|'''2''' ||14 January 1993 ||12 May 1994 ||2 |
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|EpisodeNumber=2 |
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|- |
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|Title=Episode 2 |
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|colspan="6"|Robert and Tracy return to the flat to check on Mark following his wife's departure. The three recall the circumstances in which they had first met. A flashback shows Becky and Mark's first date. To surprise his date, Mark strips down to his [[boxer shorts]] and handcuffs himself to the bedpost. Robert and Tracy call at the house unexpectedly, but Mark is unable to free himself before they enter the bedroom.<br />Moffat used a similar scenario for the ''Coupling'' episode "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't"<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't |series=Coupling |credits=wr. Steven Moffat, dir. Martin Dennis |network=BBC Two |airdate=2002-10-21 |season=3 |number=5}}</ref> and reveals in its audio commentary that it is based on a situation with one of his ex-girlfriends.<ref>Moffat, Steven; Davenport, Jack, "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't" ''Coupling'' Series 3, DVD audio commentary.</ref> |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|- |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|1|14|df=y}} |
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|- |
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|ShortSummary=Robert and Tracy return to check on Mark following his wife's departure. The three recall the circumstances in which they had first met. A flashback shows Becky and Mark's first date. Mark manages to get attached by his wrist to one half of a set of handcuffs before they go out, and has to eat one-handed through the meal. They return to Becky's flat and while Becky is getting ready to join him in bed, Mark strips down to his [[boxer shorts]] and decides to disguise his earlier carelessness by handcuffing himself to the bedframe. Robert and Tracy call on Becky unexpectedly, and Becky claims Mark is mending her bedroom radiator; but Mark is unable to free himself before they enter the bedroom to help.<br />Moffat used a similar scenario for the ''Coupling'' episode "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't"<ref>{{cite episode |title=The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't |series=Coupling |credits=wr. Steven Moffat, dir. Martin Dennis |network=BBC Two |airdate=2002-10-21 |season=3 |number=5}}</ref> and reveals in its audio commentary that it is based on a situation with one of his ex-girlfriends.<ref>Moffat, Steven; Davenport, Jack, "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't" ''Coupling'' Series 3, DVD audio commentary.</ref> |
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|rowspan="1"|'''3''' ||21 January 1993 ||19 May 1994 ||3 |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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|- |
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}} |
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|colspan="6"|Mark arrives at Robert and Tracy's house on the wrong night for a dinner party. The couple happen to be entertaining that night, but are instead expecting Becky and her new boyfriend Trevor. They spend the evening trying to keep Mark and Trevor apart, each not knowing that the other is also there. Hopeful of reconciliation, Mark assumes that his friends are trying to smooth things over between Becky and himself. |
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{{Episode list |
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|- |
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|EpisodeNumber=3 |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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|Title=Episode 3 |
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|- |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|rowspan="1"|'''4''' ||28 January 1993 ||26 May 1994 ||4 |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|- |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|1|21|df=y}} |
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|colspan="6"|Mark's friends advise him to sleep with a blonde to console himself after Becky had rejected his marriage proposals and left him. He does, but his date discusses their night as he is leaving a message on Becky's [[answering machine]]. Desperate to prevent Becky from hearing the message, he goes to her flat to change the tape. |
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|ShortSummary=Mark arrives at Robert and Tracy's house for dinner on the wrong night. The couple are instead expecting Becky and her new boyfriend Trevor. They spend the evening trying to keep Mark and Trevor apart, each initially not knowing that the other is also there. At one stage, hopeful of reconciliation, Mark assumes that his friends are trying to smooth things over between Becky and himself. |
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|- |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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}} |
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|- |
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{{Episode list |
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|rowspan="1"|'''5''' ||5 February 1993 ||2 June 1994 ||5 |
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|EpisodeNumber=4 |
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|- |
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|Title=Episode 4 |
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|colspan="6"|After Mark attempts to return Robert's "[[mobile phone|portable telephone]]", he sleeps with Tracy. He hides in the bedroom and the ''en suite'' bathroom as Becky and Robert arrive at the house. After speaking to each other on the phone from adjacent rooms, Robert eventually realises what has happened and threatens to shoot Mark. The episode concludes with Robert and Tracy's, and Becky and Trevor's relationships in jeopardy.<br />This episode makes extensive use of what Moffat labels "techno-farce", which uses technology, predominantly telephones, to facilitate the farcical situations.<ref name="1.5comm">Moffat, Steven, ''Joking Apart'' Series 1, Episode 5, DVD audio commentary</ref> Moffat considers this episode the best of the show.<ref name="1.5comm"/> Discussing the series as a whole, he feels that the story ends after this episode.<ref name="2.6comm">Moffat, Steven, ''Joking Apart'', Series 2, Episode 6 DVD audio commentary</ref> |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|- |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#fffc72;"| |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|1|28|df=y}} |
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|- |
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|ShortSummary=One of Mark's friends advises him to sleep with a blonde to console himself after (brunette) Becky had rejected his marriage proposals. He does so, but as she is leaving the next morning his date discusses their night together while he is leaving a message on Becky's [[answering machine]]. Becky then turns up to talk about their relationship. Desperate to prevent Becky from hearing the message, he goes to her flat to change the tape, but finds Tracy staying there and has to tell her what has happened; she tries to help him, leading to further difficulties. |
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|rowspan="1"|'''6''' ||11 February 1993 ||9 June 1994 ||6 |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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|- |
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}} |
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|colspan="6"|Mark takes a drunken woman back to his flat. The series ends with Becky and Trevor, and Robert and Tracy reconciling their relationships, and Mark being left alone. |
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{{Episode list |
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|} |
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|EpisodeNumber=5 |
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|Title=Episode 5 |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|2|4|df=y}} |
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|ShortSummary=After Mark attempts to return Robert's "[[mobile phone|portable telephone]]", he sleeps with Tracy at her home. Before he can leave, Becky and Robert arrive at the house; Mark hides in the bedroom and the ''en suite'' bathroom. Trevor also eventually arrives. After they end up speaking to each other on the phone from adjacent rooms, Robert eventually realises what has happened and threatens to shoot Mark. The episode concludes with Robert and Tracy's, and Becky and Trevor's relationships in jeopardy.<br />This episode makes extensive use of what Moffat labels "techno-farce", which uses technology, predominantly telephones, to facilitate the farcical situations.<ref name="1.5comm">Moffat, Steven, ''Joking Apart'' Series 1, Episode 5, DVD audio commentary</ref> Moffat considers this episode the best of the show.<ref name="1.5comm"/> Discussing the series as a whole, he feels that the story ends after this episode.<ref name="2.6comm">Moffat, Steven, ''Joking Apart'', Series 2, Episode 6 DVD audio commentary</ref> |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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}} |
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{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber=6 |
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|Title=Episode 6 |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1993|2|11|df=y}} |
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|ShortSummary=Mark takes a drunken woman back to his flat. Then Tracy arrives, claiming to be in love with Mark. Becky arrives and claims to want a serious talk. Mark manages to keep all three women apart, but Trevor and Robert then also turn up together and demanding answers. The series ends with Becky and Trevor, and Robert and Tracy reconciling their relationships, and Mark being left alone. |
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|LineColor=FFFC72 |
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}} |
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}} |
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==Series 2== |
===Series 2 (1995)=== |
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The format was changed for this series, with the dual timelines and much of the flashbacks dropped for a more linear narrative.<ref name="sci-fi2"/> Moffat felt that the relationship had already been sufficiently established in the first series so there was little point going back to the start.<ref name="moffat3">{{cite web |title=In Conversation: Steven Moffat, Part 3 |work=jokingapart.co.uk |url=http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/in_conversation/steven_moffat_p3.htm | |
The format was changed for this series, with the dual timelines and much of the flashbacks dropped for a more linear narrative.<ref name="sci-fi2"/> Moffat felt that the relationship had already been sufficiently established in the first series so there was little point going back to the start.<ref name="moffat3">{{cite web |title=In Conversation: Steven Moffat, Part 3 |work=jokingapart.co.uk |url=http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/in_conversation/steven_moffat_p3.htm |access-date=2007-04-03 |archive-date=24 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324023232/http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/in_conversation/steven_moffat_p3.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Robert and Tracy are given more stories than in the first series.<ref name="sci-fi2">{{cite web |first=Charles |last=Packer |title=Joking Apart: The Complete Second Series |work=Sci-fi Online |url=http://www.sci-fi-online.com/2008_reviews/dvd/08-03-17_jokingapart2.htm | |
Robert and Tracy are given more stories than in the first series.<ref name="sci-fi2">{{cite web |first=Charles |last=Packer |title=Joking Apart: The Complete Second Series |work=Sci-fi Online |url=http://www.sci-fi-online.com/2008_reviews/dvd/08-03-17_jokingapart2.htm |access-date=2008-03-30 |archive-date=23 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723142822/http://www.sci-fi-online.com/2008_reviews/dvd/08-03-17_jokingapart2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Their main story arc begins in the third episode when Robert is caught by all of the main characters and his parents in a maid's outfit being [[BDSM|spanked]] by a [[prostitute]].<ref name="ser2-ep3">{{cite episode |title=Series 2, Episode 3 |series=Joking Apart |credits=wr. Steven Moffat, dir. Bob Spiers |network=BBC 2 |airdate=1995-01-17 |season=2 |number=3}}</ref> The couple temporarily separate while Robert experiments with cross-dressing, but they are reunited by the end of the series. |
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{{Episode table |background=#2134FF |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |country=UK |episodes= |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:99%;" |
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{{Episode list |
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|- |
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|EpisodeNumber=7 |
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! Episode number !! |Original airdate<ref name="inlay"/> !! style="width:15px;"|# |
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|Title=Episode 1 |
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|- |
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|DirectedBy=[[Bob Spiers]] |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|WrittenBy=[[Steven Moffat]] |
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|- |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|1|3|df=y}} |
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|rowspan="1"|'''1''' ||3 January 1995 ||7 |
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|ShortSummary=Set six months after the end of series one, Mark meets Becky in a [[newsagent]]s, where he is purchasing [[pornographic magazine]]s. He discovers the location of Becky and Trevor's house and breaks in using Tracy's keys. However, he is forced to hide under the bed when Becky and Trevor return home. Listening to them having sex, he becomes optimistic when he thinks that Becky begins to shout his name ("M..."). The name turns out to be "Michael" ([[Tony Gardner]]), Becky's solicitor, with whom she is now being unfaithful to Trevor. |
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|- |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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|colspan="6"|Set six months after the end of series one, Mark meets Becky in a [[newsagent]]s, where he is purchasing [[pornographic magazine]]s. He discovers the location of Becky and Trevor's house and breaks in using Tracy's keys. However, he is forced to hide under the bed when Becky and Trevor return home. Listening to them having sex, he becomes optimistic when he thinks that Becky begins to shout his name ("M..."). The name turns out to be "Michael" ([[Tony Gardner]]), Becky's solicitor with whom she is now cheating on Trevor. |
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}} |
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|- |
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{{Episode list |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|EpisodeNumber=8 |
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|- |
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|Title=Episode 2 |
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|rowspan="1"|'''2''' ||10 January 1995 ||8 |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|- |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|colspan="6"|Concerned that Becky is now cheating on him, Trevor visits Mark. Mark's psychiatrist ([[John Fortune]]), Robert and Tracy become convinced that Mark has enacted his fantasies of killing Trevor. |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|1|10|df=y}} |
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|- |
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|ShortSummary=Concerned that Becky is now cheating on him, Trevor visits Mark. Mark's psychiatrist, Robert and Tracy become convinced that Mark has enacted his fantasies of killing Trevor. |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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|- |
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}} |
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|rowspan="1"|'''3''' ||17 January 1995 ||9 |
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{{Episode list |
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|- |
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|EpisodeNumber=9 |
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|colspan="6"|Becky and Mark meet in a pub to discuss their separation. They encounter Robert, who Mark sees buying condoms from the toilets. As their friend seems to be acting strange, Becky and Mark follow him, discovering that he has been visiting a [[prostitute]] ([[Diane Langton]]). |
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|Title=Episode 3 |
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|- |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|- |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|1|17|df=y}} |
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|rowspan="1"|'''4''' ||24 January 1995 ||10 |
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|ShortSummary=Becky and Mark meet in a pub to discuss their separation. They encounter Robert, who Mark sees buying condoms from the toilets. As their friend seems to be acting strangely, Becky and Mark follow him, discovering that he has been visiting a [[prostitute]]. |
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|- |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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|colspan="6"|After locking himself out of his flat and trapping his bath towel in his door, Mark is forced to hide naked in his new neighbour's ([[Nina Young]]) flat.<ref name="Keal">{{cite news|first=Graham |last=Keal |title=New role suits Cold Feet star |url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0300entertainment/onthebox/tm_objectid=15136398&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=new-role-suits-cold-feet-star-name_page.html |work=The Sunday Sun |date=2005-01-30 |accessdate=2008-03-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704112418/http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0300entertainment/onthebox/tm_objectid%3D15136398%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50081%26headline%3Dnew-role-suits-cold-feet-star-name_page.html |archivedate=4 July 2009 |df= }}</ref><ref name="2.4comm">Moffat, Steven; Bathurst, Robert, ''Joking Apart'', Series 2 Episode 4, DVD audio commentary</ref> In preparation for his aunt's ([[Barbara Keogh]]) arrival from Australia, Mark convinces Becky to pretend that they had not separated. Concussed after being punched by his neighbour's brother, Mark awakes he is confronted by a man ([[Kerry Shale]]) in a red [[polo neck]] jumper who claims to be "his very best friend". |
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}} |
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|- |
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{{Episode list |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|EpisodeNumber=10 |
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|- |
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|Title=Episode 4 |
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|rowspan="1"|'''5''' ||31 January 1995 ||11 |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|- |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|colspan="6"|Following directly from the previous episode, it transpires that the man, who identifies himself as Dick, is the personification of Mark's penis. Worried about Mark after being hit, Becky had stayed at his flat. Dick attempts to convince Mark to take advantage of her presence, despite the various notes she has left around the flat declaring her wishes that she wants a platonic relationship. |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|1|24|df=y}} |
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|- |
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|ShortSummary=After locking himself out of his flat and trapping his bath towel in his door, Mark is forced to hide naked in his new neighbour's flat.<ref name="Keal">{{cite news|first=Graham |last=Keal |title=New role suits Cold Feet star |url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0300entertainment/onthebox/tm_objectid=15136398&method=full&siteid=50081&headline=new-role-suits-cold-feet-star-name_page.html |work=The Sunday Sun |date=2005-01-30 |access-date=2008-03-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090704112418/http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0300entertainment/onthebox/tm_objectid%3D15136398%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50081%26headline%3Dnew-role-suits-cold-feet-star-name_page.html |archive-date=4 July 2009 }}</ref><ref name="2.4comm">Moffat, Steven; Bathurst, Robert, ''Joking Apart'', Series 2 Episode 4, DVD audio commentary</ref> In preparation for his aunt's ([[Barbara Keogh]]) arrival from Australia, Mark convinces Becky to pretend that they had not separated. Concussed after being punched by his neighbour's brother, Mark awakes when he is confronted by a man in a red [[polo neck]] jumper who claims to be "his very best friend". |
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| colspan="6" style="background:#5562e8;"| |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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|- |
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}} |
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|rowspan="1"|'''6''' ||7 February 1995 ||12 |
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{{Episode list |
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|- |
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|EpisodeNumber=11 |
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|colspan="6"|The final episode begins after Becky and Michael had slept together while [[house sitting]] for Tracy and Robert, and Michael hides in the bathroom when the latter couple returns. Tracy phones a morning television [[phone-in]] show (hosted by [[Michael Thomas (actor)|Michael Thomas]] and [[Helen Atkinson-Wood]], with appearances by Rachael Fielding and Jonathan Barlow), and when she realises that the show's divorce expert is hiding in her bathroom she takes on his role (with a heavy Northern accent) to give herself advice on the other line. |
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|Title=Episode 5 |
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|} |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|1|31|df=y}} |
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|ShortSummary=Following directly from the previous episode, it transpires that the man, who identifies himself as Dick, is the personification of Mark's penis. Worried about Mark after being hit, Becky had stayed at his flat. Dick attempts to convince Mark to take advantage of her presence, despite the various notes she has left around the flat declaring her wishes that she wants a platonic relationship. |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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}} |
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{{Episode list |
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|EpisodeNumber=12 |
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|Title=Episode 6 |
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|DirectedBy=Bob Spiers |
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|WrittenBy=Steven Moffat |
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|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1995|2|7|df=y}} |
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|ShortSummary=The final episode begins after Becky and Michael had slept together while Becky is [[house sitting]] for Tracy and Robert, and Michael hides in the bathroom when the latter couple return. Tracy phones a morning television [[phone-in]] show, and when she realises that the show's divorce expert is hiding in her bathroom she takes on his role (with a heavy Northern accent) to give herself advice on the other line. |
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|LineColor= 2134FF |
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}} |
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}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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{{wikinews|Fan resurrects sitcom}} |
{{wikinews|Fan resurrects sitcom}} |
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* [http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/ Joking Apart] Unofficial Site, with episode guides and extended interviews with Moffat and Bathurst |
* [http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/ Joking Apart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070310223301/http://www.jokingapart.co.uk/ |date=10 March 2007 }} Unofficial Site, with episode guides and extended interviews with Moffat and Bathurst |
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* {{IMDb |
* {{IMDb episodes|0106041|Joking Apart}} |
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{{featured list}} |
{{featured list}} |
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[[Category:Lists of British sitcom |
[[Category:Lists of British sitcom episodes|Joking Apart episodes]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Television episodes written by Steven Moffat|Joking Apart episodes]] |
Latest revision as of 12:21, 7 June 2024
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Joking_Apart_Comms_1.jpg/220px-Joking_Apart_Comms_1.jpg)
Joking Apart is a BBC Television sitcom. The show was produced by Andre Ptaszynski for the independent production company Pola Jones and screened on BBC Two. All twelve episodes from the two series were written by Steven Moffat and directed by Bob Spiers. The pilot was transmitted as part of its Comic Asides series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991. The first episode of the series was transmitted on 7 January 1993, and the final transmitted on 7 February 1995.[1]
The show is about the rise and fall of a relationship, juxtaposing a couple, Mark (Robert Bathurst) and Becky (Fiona Gillies), who meet and fall in love before getting separated and finally divorced. The show is semi-autobiographical; it was inspired by the then-recent separation of Moffat and his first wife.[2][3] Some of the first series followed a non-linear dual structure, contrasting the rise of the relationship with the separation. Other episodes were ensemble farces, predominantly including the couple's friends Robert (Paul Raffield) and Tracy (Tracie Bennett). Paul Mark Elliott also appeared as Trevor, Becky's lover.
Scheduling problems led to low viewing figures. However, it scored highly on the Appreciation Index and accrued a loyal fanbase. One fan acquired the home video rights from the BBC and released both series on his own DVD label.[4]
Series overview
[edit]Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
Pilot | 12 July 1991 | |||
1 | 6 | 7 January 1993 | 11 February 1993 | |
2 | 6 | 3 January 1995 | 7 February 1995 |
Episodes
[edit]Pilot (1991)
[edit]The pilot, directed by John Kilby, was filmed at Pebble Mill in Birmingham on 9–10 August 1990.[1] It was transmitted on BBC2 as part of its Comic Asides series of pilot shows on 12 July 1991.[1] It is included on the bonus disc on the second series DVD release.
The stand-up sequences were shot against a black background. Although this made it clearer that they were not "real", Moffat thought that it looked odd, and "hell to look at".[5] The same script used for the pilot, with minor changes, was reshot by Bob Spiers for the first episode of the series proper. Some footage, such as Mark and Becky's first meeting at the funeral, leading to episode one's shared director credit between Spiers and Kilby.[6]
Series 1 (1993)
[edit]The first series has been broadcast twice on BBC Two, first in early 1993. It was repeated in early spring 1994 to lead directly into the transmission of the second series, which was scheduled to be broadcast from June 1994.
No. | Titel | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | Bob Spiers and John Kilby | Steven Moffat | 7 January 1993 | |
Sitcom writer Mark Taylor accidentally attends a funeral, where he meets Becky. The narrative jumps forward to their married life, in which they have a healthy sexual relationship. However, Becky becomes annoyed at his constant jokes, his sarcasm towards her friends, and how he fails to recognise that their relationship is deteriorating. He has noticed that some of her belongings are no longer in the flat. As she arrives home one evening, unaware that her friends are hiding there for a surprise birthday party, Becky tells Mark that she wants a divorce. He gets her to admit that she is being unfaithful to him, before the party guests, who have overheard everything, leave. | |||||
2 | "Episode 2" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 14 January 1993 | |
Robert and Tracy return to check on Mark following his wife's departure. The three recall the circumstances in which they had first met. A flashback shows Becky and Mark's first date. Mark manages to get attached by his wrist to one half of a set of handcuffs before they go out, and has to eat one-handed through the meal. They return to Becky's flat and while Becky is getting ready to join him in bed, Mark strips down to his boxer shorts and decides to disguise his earlier carelessness by handcuffing himself to the bedframe. Robert and Tracy call on Becky unexpectedly, and Becky claims Mark is mending her bedroom radiator; but Mark is unable to free himself before they enter the bedroom to help. Moffat used a similar scenario for the Coupling episode "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't"[7] and reveals in its audio commentary that it is based on a situation with one of his ex-girlfriends.[8] | |||||
3 | "Episode 3" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 21 January 1993 | |
Mark arrives at Robert and Tracy's house for dinner on the wrong night. The couple are instead expecting Becky and her new boyfriend Trevor. They spend the evening trying to keep Mark and Trevor apart, each initially not knowing that the other is also there. At one stage, hopeful of reconciliation, Mark assumes that his friends are trying to smooth things over between Becky and himself. | |||||
4 | "Episode 4" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 28 January 1993 | |
One of Mark's friends advises him to sleep with a blonde to console himself after (brunette) Becky had rejected his marriage proposals. He does so, but as she is leaving the next morning his date discusses their night together while he is leaving a message on Becky's answering machine. Becky then turns up to talk about their relationship. Desperate to prevent Becky from hearing the message, he goes to her flat to change the tape, but finds Tracy staying there and has to tell her what has happened; she tries to help him, leading to further difficulties. | |||||
5 | "Episode 5" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 4 February 1993 | |
After Mark attempts to return Robert's "portable telephone", he sleeps with Tracy at her home. Before he can leave, Becky and Robert arrive at the house; Mark hides in the bedroom and the en suite bathroom. Trevor also eventually arrives. After they end up speaking to each other on the phone from adjacent rooms, Robert eventually realises what has happened and threatens to shoot Mark. The episode concludes with Robert and Tracy's, and Becky and Trevor's relationships in jeopardy. This episode makes extensive use of what Moffat labels "techno-farce", which uses technology, predominantly telephones, to facilitate the farcical situations.[9] Moffat considers this episode the best of the show.[9] Discussing the series as a whole, he feels that the story ends after this episode.[10] | |||||
6 | "Episode 6" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 11 February 1993 | |
Mark takes a drunken woman back to his flat. Then Tracy arrives, claiming to be in love with Mark. Becky arrives and claims to want a serious talk. Mark manages to keep all three women apart, but Trevor and Robert then also turn up together and demanding answers. The series ends with Becky and Trevor, and Robert and Tracy reconciling their relationships, and Mark being left alone. |
Series 2 (1995)
[edit]The format was changed for this series, with the dual timelines and much of the flashbacks dropped for a more linear narrative.[11] Moffat felt that the relationship had already been sufficiently established in the first series so there was little point going back to the start.[12]
Robert and Tracy are given more stories than in the first series.[11] Their main story arc begins in the third episode when Robert is caught by all of the main characters and his parents in a maid's outfit being spanked by a prostitute.[13] The couple temporarily separate while Robert experiments with cross-dressing, but they are reunited by the end of the series.
No. | Titel | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | "Episode 1" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 3 January 1995 | |
Set six months after the end of series one, Mark meets Becky in a newsagents, where he is purchasing pornographic magazines. He discovers the location of Becky and Trevor's house and breaks in using Tracy's keys. However, he is forced to hide under the bed when Becky and Trevor return home. Listening to them having sex, he becomes optimistic when he thinks that Becky begins to shout his name ("M..."). The name turns out to be "Michael" (Tony Gardner), Becky's solicitor, with whom she is now being unfaithful to Trevor. | |||||
8 | "Episode 2" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 10 January 1995 | |
Concerned that Becky is now cheating on him, Trevor visits Mark. Mark's psychiatrist, Robert and Tracy become convinced that Mark has enacted his fantasies of killing Trevor. | |||||
9 | "Episode 3" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 17 January 1995 | |
Becky and Mark meet in a pub to discuss their separation. They encounter Robert, who Mark sees buying condoms from the toilets. As their friend seems to be acting strangely, Becky and Mark follow him, discovering that he has been visiting a prostitute. | |||||
10 | "Episode 4" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 24 January 1995 | |
After locking himself out of his flat and trapping his bath towel in his door, Mark is forced to hide naked in his new neighbour's flat.[14][15] In preparation for his aunt's (Barbara Keogh) arrival from Australia, Mark convinces Becky to pretend that they had not separated. Concussed after being punched by his neighbour's brother, Mark awakes when he is confronted by a man in a red polo neck jumper who claims to be "his very best friend". | |||||
11 | "Episode 5" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 31 January 1995 | |
Following directly from the previous episode, it transpires that the man, who identifies himself as Dick, is the personification of Mark's penis. Worried about Mark after being hit, Becky had stayed at his flat. Dick attempts to convince Mark to take advantage of her presence, despite the various notes she has left around the flat declaring her wishes that she wants a platonic relationship. | |||||
12 | "Episode 6" | Bob Spiers | Steven Moffat | 7 February 1995 | |
The final episode begins after Becky and Michael had slept together while Becky is house sitting for Tracy and Robert, and Michael hides in the bathroom when the latter couple return. Tracy phones a morning television phone-in show, and when she realises that the show's divorce expert is hiding in her bathroom she takes on his role (with a heavy Northern accent) to give herself advice on the other line. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gallagher, William. "Joking Apart", Inlay booklet, Series 2 DVD, ReplayDVD.
- ^ Sternbergh, Adam (7 September 2003). "Selling Your Sex Life". New York Times. Retrieved 1 April 2008.
- ^ Kibble-White, Graham (May 2006). "Fool If You Think It's Over". Off the Telly. Archived from the original on 3 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2006.
- ^ Jarvis, Shane (8 May 2006). "Farce that rose from the grave". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
- ^ Fool if You Think It's Over, featurette, Joking Apart, Series 1 DVD, Dir. Craig Robins
- ^ "Comparing the Pilot and Episode One". jokingapart.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2007.
- ^ wr. Steven Moffat, dir. Martin Dennis (21 October 2002). "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't". Coupling. Season 3. Episode 5. BBC Two.
- ^ Moffat, Steven; Davenport, Jack, "The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't" Coupling Series 3, DVD audio commentary.
- ^ a b Moffat, Steven, Joking Apart Series 1, Episode 5, DVD audio commentary
- ^ Moffat, Steven, Joking Apart, Series 2, Episode 6 DVD audio commentary
- ^ a b Packer, Charles. "Joking Apart: The Complete Second Series". Sci-fi Online. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2008.
- ^ "In Conversation: Steven Moffat, Part 3". jokingapart.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
- ^ wr. Steven Moffat, dir. Bob Spiers (17 January 1995). "Series 2, Episode 3". Joking Apart. Season 2. Episode 3. BBC 2.
- ^ Keal, Graham (30 January 2005). "New role suits Cold Feet star". The Sunday Sun. Archived from the original on 4 July 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
- ^ Moffat, Steven; Bathurst, Robert, Joking Apart, Series 2 Episode 4, DVD audio commentary
External links
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/40px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png)
- Joking Apart Archived 10 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine Unofficial Site, with episode guides and extended interviews with Moffat and Bathurst
- Joking Apart at IMDb