Barbara (TV series)

infobox television
show_name = Barbara


caption =
genre = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
starring = Gwen Taylor
Sam Kelly
Benedict Sandiford
Sherrie Hewson
Elizabeth Carling
Mark Benton
Madge Hindle
John Arthur
country = UK
network = ITV
first_aired = 10 July 1995
last_aired = 30 March 2003
num_episodes = 29
imdb_id = 0187623

"Barbara" is a British sitcom starring Gwen Taylor in the title role. A pilot aired in 1995, and three series then aired from 1999 to 2003. It was made by Central Television.

Background

"Barbara" first aired a pilot within the "Comedy Firsts" series on 10 July 1995. Four years later, on 27 June 1999 the first of three series aired. Some of the cast and names of the characters changed when the first series aired. Unusually for a British sitcom, "Barbara" was written by a team of writers; Mark Bussell, Rob Clark, Ramsay Gilderdale, Graham Mark Walker and Justin Sbresni. The successful BBC sitcom "My Family" has used the same writing method since it first aired in 2000. The second series of "Barbara" was aired in three parts, while the third series was shown in two parts.

Cast

Pilot

*Gwen Taylor - Barbara Liversage
*Sam Kelly - Ted Liversage
*Benedict Sandiford - Neil Liversage
*Shirley Anne Field - Jean
*Caroline Milmoe - Linda Benson
*Glen Davies - Martin Benson
*Madge Hindle - Doreen
*John Arthur - Phil

eries

*Gwen Taylor - Barbara Liversidge
*Sam Kelly - Ted Liversidge
*Benedict Sandiford - Neil Liversidge
*Sherrie Hewson - Jean
*Elizabeth Carling - Linda Pond
*Mark Benton - Martin Pond
*Madge Hindle - Doreen
*John Arthur - Phil
*Julie Atherton - Chrissy

Plot

Barbara Liversidge (spelt Liversage in the pilot) is a no-nonsense nosey middle-aged Yorkshire doctor's receptionist with a sharp tongue. She has been married to her husband Ted, a taxi driver, for 35 years. Their twenty-something lovelorn son Neil does very little. Their daughter, the long-suffering Linda is married to Martin Pond (Benson in the pilot). Martin is a chef in the pilot, while in the three series is a TV presenter who has his own show "Pond Life" on a local TV channel. Jean is her preening sister who is married to the simpering Phil. Barbara's colleague at the doctor's surgery is Doreen. Benedict Sandiford did not appear in the pilot. John Arthur did not appear in the pilot.

Episodes

Pilot (1995)

*"Job" (10 Jul 95)

eries One (1999)

#"Birthday" (27 Jun 99)
#"Rivals" (4 Jul 99)
#"Amour" (11 Jul 99)
#"Friends" (18 Jul 99)
#"Coffee" (25 Jul 99)
#"Scattering" (1 Aug 99)

eries Two (2000-01)

#"Kids" (24 Nov 00)
#"Massage" (1 Dec 00)
#"Mum" (8 Dec 00)
#"Christening" (15 Dec 00)
#"Tyres" (22 Dec 00)
#"Fox" (24 Dec 00)
#"Sisters" (23 Mar 01)
#"Mate" (30 Mar 01)
#"Wedding" (6 Apr 01)
#"Sheep" (24 Jun 01)

eries Three (2002-03)

#"Queenie" (30 Apr 02)
#"Flood" (7 May 02)
#"Valentine" (11 May 02)
#"Crime" (14 May 02)
#"Weekend" (21 May 02)
#"Baby" (28 May 02)
#"Honeymoon" (23 Feb 03)
#"Neighbours" (2 Mar 03)
#"Guy Fawkes" (9 Mar 03)
#"Kirsty" (16 Mar 03)
#"Cottage" (28 Mar 03)
#"Who Shot Barbara?" (4 Apr 03)

References

*Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003
* [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/barbara/index.html "Barbara"] at British TV Comedy

External links

*
* [http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/barbara/index.html "Barbara"] at British TV Comedy