Me and Mrs Jones (TV series)
Me and Mrs Jones is a British comedy about the life of a woman named Gemma Jones. The first series began on 12 October 2012 on BBC One. It stars Sarah Alexander and Neil Morrissey.[1]
Me and Mrs Jones | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Written by | Oriane Messina Fay Rusling |
Directed by | Nick Hurran |
Opening theme | "Busy" by Olly Murs |
Composer | Mark Russell |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producers | Beryl Vertue Gregor Sharp |
Producer | Serena Cullen |
Production locations | Teddington Studios, London, England |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | Hartswood Films |
Release | |
Original network | BBC One |
Original release | 12 October – 23 November 2012 |
On 10 December 2012, it was announced that the comedy would not return for a second series.[2][3]
Synopsis
Gemma Jones is the mother of twin daughters Charlotte and Jess and adult son Alfie. The show follows Gemma's life as she navigates relationships with Tom, the father of one her daughters' playmates, and Billy, a friend of Alfie's.
Cast
- Sarah Alexander – Gemma Jones – The main character of the series and the mother of Alfie, Charlotte and Jess.
- Neil Morrissey – Jason Jones – Gemma's ex-husband and Charlotte and Jess's father.
- Jonathan Bailey – Alfie Jones – Gemma's son and Charlotte and Jess's older half-brother.
- Robert Sheehan – Billy Delaney – Alfie's friend and one of Gemma's love interests
- Nathaniel Parker – Tom Marshall – Gemma's admirer and the father of Poppy.
- Vera Filatova – Inca – Jason's girlfriend.
- Kelle Bryan – Fran – Gemma's friend.
- Katherine Jakeways – Caroline
- Danni Bennatar – Charlotte Jones – Jess's twin sister, Alfie's half sister and Gemma and Jason's daughter.
- Sophie Alibert – Jess Jones – Charlotte's twin sister, Alfie's half sister and Gemma and Jason's daughter.
- Madeleine Harris – Poppy – Tom's daughter and one of Charlotte and Jess's classmates.
Episodes
Series 1 (2012)
# | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | UK viewers (million)[4] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 12 October 2012 | 3.13 | |
Gemma's life involves ferrying her twin daughters around and dealing with her ex, Jason, and his Swedish girlfriend Inca. Her life changes when her son, Alfie, returns from travelling with friend Billy and Tom asks her out on a date. Gemma unexpectedly finds she has more than one love interest. | ||||||
2 | "Episode 2" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 19 October 2012 | 2.42 | |
It is parents' evening at the school, and Gemma is struggling to get her mind off Billy. She finds herself in a disastrous teacher's meeting, where Inca takes over, and at a school play where the drama is off stage rather than on. | ||||||
3 | "Episode 3" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 26 October 2012 | 2.72 | |
Gemma finds herself at a self defense class run by Tom. When an inflamed Jason gate-crashes the class he is attacked from all sides, and Billy must decide if he can carry on living under Gemma's roof. | ||||||
4 | "Episode 4" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 2 November 2012 | 2.7 | |
It's Alfie's birthday at the bar and Gemma finds herself encouraging Billy to date another woman. Tom helps Fran pull the man of her dreams and Inca overhears some information that has a disastrous effect on her relationship with Jason. | ||||||
5 | "Episode 5" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 9 November 2012 | 2.43 | |
Tom hosts a dinner for Gemma who shows up with an uninvited guest. Much to the annoyance of a lovelorn Jason, Inca goes on a blind date at the bar where she inadvertently gives Billy some advice about love that forces him to finally confront Gemma | ||||||
6 | "Episode 6" | Nick Hurran | Oriane Messina & Fay Rusling | 23 November 2012 | 1.72 | |
A gathering at Gemma's is never a quiet affair, and between a trampoline accident, a proposal, a fire outbreak and a surprise guest, Gemma receives two tempting offers. |
Reception
Me and Mrs Jones was not received kindly in early reviews. Writing for The Stage, reviewer Harry Venning wrote:
Of the many unkind epithets suggested by Roget’s Thesaurus, excruciating is the one that best describes this show. Until I watched it, I did not realise it was physically possible to grit one’s teeth, curl one’s toes and clench one’s sphincter all at the same time. And stay that way for half an hour.[5]
Metro's reviewer was somewhat kinder, calling Me and Mrs Jones "grown-up comedy with child-like humour" (going on to explain that "child-like" was more akin to "childish").[6]
The British Comedy Guide reviewed it as follows: "We absolutely loved Me And Mrs Jones; it mightn't have had the packed-out laughs of a studio sitcom, but it oozed warmth, good humour and all-round likeability...If a second series isn't commissioned of this heart-warming, laugh-out-loud comedy, it'll be the televisual crime of the year." [7]
References
- "New Show for Nostalgic Morrissey". Belfast Telegraph. 18 October 2012.
- Morgan Jeffery (10 December 2012). "'Me & Mrs Jones' dropped after one series by BBC One". Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
- "BBC One axes Me And Mrs Jones". British Comedy Guide. 10 December 2012.
- "Weekly Top 30 Programmes (See relevant weeks)". BARB.co.uk. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
- Venning, Harry (15 October 2012). "TV review: Me and Mrs Jones; Cuckoo". The Stage.
- Metro TV Reporter (12 October 2012). "Me And Mrs Jones was a grown-up comedy with childlike humour". Metro.
- "Me and Mrs Jones British Comedy Guide". British Comedy Guide. 10 December 2012.
- "Me & Mrs. Jones (DVD)". BBC Shop. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
- "DVD information". UK: Amazon. Retrieved 10 November 2012.