Teachers (UK TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Teachers
format = Comedy/Drama


network = Channel 4
creator = Tim Loane
executive_producer = Jane Fallon
head writer =
starring = Andrew Lincoln
Adrian Bower
Navin Chowdhry
Raquel Cassidy
distributor =
first_aired = 21 March 2001
last_aired = 22 December 2004
runtime = 48 minutes
num_series = 4
num_episodes = 40
list_episodes = List_of_Teachers_Episodes
theme_music_composer = Belle and Sebastian
endtheme = The Boy With The Arab Strap
country = flagcountry|UK
language = English
related = Teachers (US)
website = http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/T/teachers/
imdb_id = 0280330
tv_com_id = 6327

"Teachers" is a British television comedy-drama, originally shown on Channel 4. The series has many subtle as well as obvious jokes and follows a group of secondary school teachers as they show themselves to be just as immature as their students.

While the first series centres around "Simon Casey" (played by Andrew Lincoln), later series have a more balanced ensemble cast. The cast changes dramatically over time, with few original characters remaining in the fourth series. While some of these disappearances are explained, others happen between series without explanation.

The first three series are set in the fictional Summerdown Comprehensive, which merges with another school in the fourth series to form Wattkins School.

The series was filmed at the former Lockleaze school, and other locations around Bristol, England.

"Teachers" was nominated for six BAFTA awards between 2002 and 2004, and was nominated for Best British Comedy Show at the British Comedy Awards in 2003.

In January 2005, after a muted reception to the fourth series, Channel 4 announced that "Teachers" would not continue for a fifth series. A short-lived U.S. version was aired in 2006.

Cast

Main cast

upporting Cast

*Lloyd McGuire – Bob Porter, the previous head of English. Though initially a relatively minor character (his role in series 1 was as a scary authority figure who would get on Simon's back about incomplete work), by Series 3 he had developed into a main character, almost one of the gang (though he was repeatedly made fun of and generally disliked) and most of his scenes revolved around his buffoonery or foul mouth. Lost his position to Ewan, whom he hates a lot. He ordered a bride from Thailand (Ping) who had an affair with Ewan later on. Ping dumped Bob at their wedding reception. His first wife - Yvonne - left him for 'the Sky installation man' in series 3. This was because she was not satisfied with their sex life, after a brief revival, due to the series 2 Christmas party.
*Ellen Thomas – Liz Webb, one of the school secretaries, known for her witty and acerbic put-downs. Her daughter, Kayla, was in Brian's class in series 2 and 3. Despite being married, she had a one night stand with Kurt, and an intense affair with Bob for a few days after the Bonfire Night Disco.
*Gillian Bevan – Clare Hunter, the headmistress. Usually provides the staff with their topic of discussion for the episode (disabilities, age awareness etc.). Had a brief fling with Bob. Was renowned for her iron-like nature, as exemplified with her no-nonsense approach towards Carol and the "Come In" buzzer which sounded on the opening of her office door.
*Ursula Holden-Gill – Carol Schicklgruber, one of the school secretaries. Speaks very rarely and incoherently, apart from when repeating something that Clare has said, when her impression is perfect. Had a brief relationship with Kurt, and it is suggested they got back together after the second series, though they are not together in the third. Carol is pregnant at the start of Series 3 and the father is unknown. The baby is born later in the series and is regularly accidentally left behind by Carol in various locations. It is eventually revealed that the baby is Chinese, and therefore not Kurts. The assertion by the main characters is that the maths teacher Mr Chong is the father, an assumption reinforced by Carol's reaction towards him in Series 4.
*Zoe Telford – played the police officer girlfriend of Simon, Maggie. Dumped by Simon in the final episode of series 1, after he slept with Jenny, and is not seen again.
*Jonas Armstrong – played Antony Millington, a student who has a brief affair with Penny, who originally thinks he's a teacher. He dumps her after deciding that he needs to focus on his school work, though she rather childishly tries to make his life miserable. He then mentions the affair to Liz to try to get Penny off his back, but they manage to reconcile before any news of it gets to the headmistress. The two get back together at the end of series 4 when the school year ends.
*Jason Boyd played premature balding student "Grint" the 3rd and 4th series. He had an episode focused on him when he was found "wanking in a cupboard" by Damien. He is a practicing Buddhist and also was seen to be a member of the 'Aryan Society' along with Carol the school secretary, in series 4 which Penny is invited to join..
*The Canteen Dwarfs – Although the very first episode features tall dinner ladies, many of the school's canteen staff are dwarfs, for no apparent reason. They appear as background characters in various scenes, seldom speaking or interacting with the teaching and administrative staff. Dramatically, the Canteen Dwarfs are used to perpetrate many visual jokes, running parallel to the (spoken) dialogue of the main characters, usually at the bin-yard behind the school kitchen. For example, whilst some teachers have a sly smoke between lessons, a dwarf is seen climbing out of a large industrial rubbish bin. A few moments later, another dwarf follows. The teachers seem oblivious.
*Liz White played Eileen, a dinner lady who spends the night with Simon and in a later episode goes on a date with Brian in series 3. She is not a dwarf.
*Damien Goodwin - played Alec, the school psychologist. He had a relationship with Jenny. Kurt, Brian and Simon usually came to him for advice, which didn't please Susan. Jenny broke up with him because she thought the relationship was getting boring.
*Suthas Bhoopongsa - played Ping, Bob's Thai bride. Bob got her over the internet in Series Four. When she arrived, she slept with Ewan, without Bob knowing. Bob married Ping in the final episode, but she left him, because she only wanted British citizenship.
*Kara Tointon played Pauline Young, a year 11 pupil in Simon's class and friends with Cheryl. Pauline slept with Cheryl's boyfriend and gave him crabs, which Brian accidently revealed. Also "complained" when Bob stared at her breasts during French. She only appeared in Series 1 not returning for Year 13 to work for her dad in an office job.
*Phoebe Thomas played Cheryl Cassidy, Pauline's friend and also a year 11 pupil in Simon's class. Dumped her boyfriend following Simon's advice after he wouldn't have sex with her but later realised this was due to him catching crabs off her friend Pauline. She only appeared in Series 1 with no explanation to her departure.
*James Corden played Jeremy Stevens, probably the smartest pupil in Simon's year 11 class. He would always worry about Simon's lack of "proper" teaching and loved being tested, much to his fellow classmates dismay. He disappeared after Series 1 and returns in Series 3, as a sixth former, when Simon's returns from travelling and quizzes him on the places he went.

Episodes

"List of Teachers Episodes"

Themes

Like many sitcoms "Teachers" had certain themes that it maintained through every episode. These included:
*Appearances of animals, particularly donkeys, in unusual places
*Every day beginning with some form of journey, usually to school, with the name of the day written in the scenery or a prop. A police car with sirens usually featured.
*A staffroom scene early in the episode, usually with an announcement by Clare to set up one of the plots or premises of the episode.
*Smoking is a very prominent feature in every episode. A lot of the scenes in all episodes, primarily through the first three seasons, feature members of the cast smoking as they banter

Every episode featured contemporary music, usually with clips of at least five songs (regularly including the bands The Dandy Warhols and Feeder), and the soundtrack to all four series has been released on CD by the Channel 4 shop. The theme tune is the solo section of "The Boy With The Arab Strap" by Belle and Sebastian.

DVD Release

All four series of Teachers have been released individually and as a complete boxed set in Region 2 (UK).

ee also

*Teachers (US TV series)

External links

* [http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/T/teachers/ "Teachers"] at Channel4.com
* [http://www.teachers-online.co.nr Teachers Online] (Unofficial fansite)
* [http://www.geocities.com/weloveteachers WeLoveTeachers] (Unofficial fansite)
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=BS7+9XT&btnG=Search&ll=51.493542,-2.561231&spn=0.011169,0.042915 Probable location of Summerdown School]