Material Girl (TV series)

Material Girl is a British romantic comedy produced by Carnival Films, that first aired on BBC One on 14 January 2010. It stars Lenora Crichlow, Dervla Kirwan, and Michael Landes.

Material Girl
GenreRomantic comedy
Drama
Written byJoshua St.Johnston
Colin Bytheway
Ben Ockrent
Imogen Edwards-Jones
Jess Williams
StarringLenora Crichlow
Dervla Kirwan
Michael Landes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerChrissy Skinns
Running time60 minutes
Production companyCarnival Film & Television
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release14 January (2010-01-14) –
18 February 2010 (2010-02-18)

Set in the fashion world, it was inspired by the book Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edwards-Jones. It was described in one of the early promotional items as "a romantic comedy about a young fashion designer battling an evil ex-boss, a sexy-but-devilish business partner and snobby fashionistas to get her break in work and love".[1]

Cast
  • Lenora Crichlow – Ali Redcliffe, a young fashion designer attempting to make a name for herself
  • Dervla Kirwan – Davina Bailey, the current hot designer, who is not about to allow an upstart like Ali take her spotlight
  • Michael Landes – Marco Keriliak, fashion businessman, Ali's business partner
  • O. T. Fagbenle – Chris, motorcycle courier and Ali's ex-boyfriend
  • Nick Blood – Alex, Davina's fashion assistant, Ali's friend and gay flatmate
  • Ingrid Oliver – Mimi Throckmorton, Ali's friend, stockist at a fashion magazine-cum stylist
  • Anna Brewster – Lydia Kane, supermodel and Ali's friend
  • Esther Smith – Trish, Ali's studio receptionist
  • Joanna Kanska – Dorota, Ali's studio dressmaker
  • Malcolm Sinclair – Mitchell Crompton, leading fashion critic
  • Sadie Pickering – Louise, works for fashion magazine
  • Lindsey Coulson – Christina Redcliffe, Ali's mother
  • Anthony Calf – Anthony Chatsworth, an influential fashion magazine editor, had affair with Mimi
  • Charlie Carter – Paparazzi, stitches up Lydia Kane for Mitchell

Episodes

Series 1 began on 14 January 2010 on BBC One. There were 6 episodes in total.[1] The series also aired on BBC HD, with a late repeat the same night on BBC Three.

Episode Title Directed by Written by Original airdate Viewers
1"Episode 1"Cilla WareJoshua St Johnston14 January 2010 (2010-01-14)3 million[2]
2"Episode 2"Cilla WareColin Bytheway21 January 2010 (2010-01-21)2.8 million[3]
3"Episode 3"Sarah O'GormanBen Ockrent28 January 2010 (2010-01-28)2.6 million[4]
4"Episode 4"Sarah O'GormanImogen Edwards-Jones4 February 2010 (2010-02-04)2.4 million[5]
5"Episode 5"Philip JohnJess Williams11 February 2010 (2010-02-11)2.58 million[6]
6"Episode 6"Philip JohnColin Bytheway18 February 2010 (2010-02-18)1.4 million[7]

Reception

The first episode gained 3 million viewers with a 12% audience share,[2] which fell to 2.6 million (11% share) for the third episode.[4]

Critical reviews of the series based on the pilot were mixed, with the London Evening Standard calling it a "jaw-droppingly, buttock-clenchingly dreadful pieces of television".[8] Reviewing the first episode for The Guardian, Sam Wollaston said: "OK, it's silly and deeply shallow. It's also gorgeous, fizzy, bitchy, self-indulgent, obviously bad for you but dangerously addictive. Careful, Material Girl could become a habit."[9]

DVD release

The first series was released in the United Kingdom on DVD on 22 February 2010.[10]

References
  1. "Material Girl press pack: introduction". BBC Press Office. 10 August 2009. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  2. Tryhorn, Chris (15 January 2010). "TV ratings: Material Girl scuppered by strong ITV soap performances". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  3. Deans, Jason (25 January 2010). "TV ratings: 1.2m join Bellamy's People". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  4. Tryhorn, Chris (29 January 2010). "TV ratings: Skins storms back with nearly 1 million viewers". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  5. Tryhorn, Chris (5 February 2010). "TV ratings: Material Girl out of vogue". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 11 February 2010.
  6. Deans, Jason (12 February 2010). "TV ratings: Katie Price pulls in nearly 1.4m viewers". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  7. Tryhorn, Chris (18 February 2010). "TV ratings: Arsenal Champion's League game defeats Holby City". guardian.co.uk. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  8. Laura Craik (15 January 2010). "A new Sex In The City? You must be joking ... this Material Girl is rubbish". This is London. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  9. Wollaston, Sam (15 January 2010). "The Secret Life of Chaos and Material Girl". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  10. "Material Girl: Series 1 [DVD]". amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
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