Solo (TV series)

infobox television
show_name = Solo


caption =
genre = Sitcom
runtime = 30 minutes
creator =
starring = Felicity Kendal
Elspet Gray
Stephen Moore
Michael Howe
country = United Kingdom
language = English
num_series = 2
num_episodes = 13
producer = Gareth Gwenlan
network = BBC1
first_aired = Original Series:
11 January 1981
last_aired = 17 October 1982
Comic Relief Special: 10 March 1989
imdb_id = 0081934

"Solo" is a British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1981 to 1982. Starring Felicity Kendal, "Solo" was written by Carla Lane, a writer well known for having previously written the sitcom "Butterflies".cite book|last=Lewishohn|first=Mark |authorlink=Mark Lewisohn|coauthors=|title=Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy|year=2003|publisher=BBC Worldwide|location=London|isbn=0563487550]

Following the success of "The Good Life", Kendal was given her own sitcom, "Solo", where she plays Gemma Palmer, a woman who changes her life after discovering her live-in boyfriend has had an affair.

Production

Following the success of the BBC sitcom "The Good Life", each of its four main stars were given their own programme with them as the lead, and "Solo" was Kendal's. Similar to Carla Lane's sitcom "Butterflies", "Solo" has serious themes and plots but still has humour. The programme was produced by Gareth Gwenlan.

Cast

*Felicity Kendal - Gemma Palmer
*Elspet Gray - Mrs. Elizabeth Palmer
*Sarah Bullen - Julia
*Stephen Moore - Danny Tyrrell "(series 1)"
*Debbie Wheeler - Josie "(series 1)"
*Stella Goodier - Bernadette "(series 1)"
*Michael Howe - Sebastian Bale "(series 2)"
*Belinda Mayne - Rosie "(series 2)"
*David Rintoul - Rex Collins "(series 2)"

Plot

eries One

When thirty-year-old Gemma Palmer discovers that her live-in boyfriend Danny Tyrrell has been having an affair with her best friend Gloria, she chucks him out her flat and quits her office job.cite web|url=http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/solo/index.html|title=Solo - Summary|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=|last=|first=|year=2006|format=|work=|publisher=British TV Comedy] cite episode|title=Series One, Episode Two|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-01-18] The incident makes Gemma realise that she was being treated as a doormat by her friends and colleagues, and gets rid of all her old friends. She then tries to change herself into a stronger person, but she is unable to changer her core beliefs and remains very emotional. Despite splitting from Danny, they remain friends, and he wants them to get back together. Danny and Gemma briefly live together towards the end of the series, but after one week she asks him to leave, saying she wants to be single again.

Gemma's traditional-thinking mother is the widowed 55-year-old Mrs. Palmer, whose husband Arnold died after 30 years of marriage and three children. She would like Gemma to settle down, marry and have children, like she did, but Gemma wants more out of life.cite episode|title=Series One, Episode One|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-01-11] During the series, she starts a relationship with a 35-year-old man, the unseen Howard.cite episode|title=Series One, Episode Four|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-02-01]

The flat above Gemma's is occupied by two flat-sharing twenty-somethings; blonde Josie, a petrol pump attendant, and Bernadette, a nurse. Josie is constantly worrying and talking about her current boyfriend, and later becomes pregnant by the unseen Geoffrey.cite episode|title=Series One, Episode Three|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-01-25] Bernadette meanwhile has little luck with men.cite episode|title=Series One, Episode Five|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-02-08] At the end of the series, Josie and Geoffrey get a bedsit together.cite episode|title=Series One, Episode Six|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-02-15]

eries Two

The second series begins six months after Gemma told Danny to leave and she is now 31 years-old.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode One|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-09-05] Happily living alone, she has a brief relationship with 19-year-old Raif before meeting Sebastian Bale, a philander who lives in the apartment above her.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Two|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-09-12] The night they meet, they sleep together but after that, they become good friends and breakfast with each other most mornings.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Three|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-09-19] cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Six|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-10-10] Towards the end of the series, Sebastian begins to grow ever closer to Rosie, whom he met a party.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Five|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-10-03] Rosie soon separates from her partner, artist Rex Collins, and he and Gemma then start seeing each other. The series ends with Sebastian and Rosie engaged, with he having to reluctantly end the daily breakfast he enjoyed with Gemma. Gemma meanwhile appears to separate from Rex after arguing about her future domestic role if they got married.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Seven|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-10-17]

Gemma’s mother Mrs. Palmer, whose first name is revealed as Elizabeth, continues her relationship with the younger Howard.cite episode|title=Series Two, Episode Four|series=Solo|serieslink=Solo|credits=|network=BBC|station=BBC1|airdate=1981-09-26] She continues to wish that Gemma would settle down, and after one argument she and Gemma meet less often to give Gemma her own space. As the series ends, Mrs. Palmer goes through the menopause but Howard sticks by her, despite her worries.

Episodes

"Solo" aired for two series from 11 January 1981 to 17 October 1982, and each of the thirteen episodes is thirty minutes long. When originally aired, the episodes were broadcast on Sunday evenings on BBC1. On 10 March 1989, seven years after the last episode aired, a Comic Relief special short episode, "The Last Waltz", aired on BBC1. Written especially by Carla Lane, it features characters from four of Lane's sitcoms; "Solo", "Butterflies", "Bread" and "The Liver Birds".

eries One (1981)

DVD releases

The two series of "Solo" were released in a boxset in Region 2 (UK) on 17 March 2003.cite web|url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solo-1-2-Felicity-Kendal/dp/B00006FI61/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1199649472&sr=8-1|title=Amazon.co.uk|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=|year=|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|language=English]

References

;General
*cite web|url=http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/solo/list.html|title=Solo - Episode List|accessdate=2008-01-06|author=|last=|first=|year=2006|format=|work=|publisher=British TV Comedy

;Specific