Boomers is a British television sitcom that was first broadcast on BBC One on 15 August 2014. The show was originally titled Grey Mates but was changed to Boomers in June 2014. Spanning two series and a special, it follows the ups and downs of three late middle-aged, recently retired (or due to retire) couples who live in Thurnemouth, 'Norfolk's only west-facing resort'. The series was written by Richard Pinto, directed by Adam Miller and made by Hat Trick Productions.[1] Paul Schlesinger is the producer and Jimmy Mulville is the executive producer for Hat Trick Productions.[2]
| Boomers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Created by | Richard Pinto |
| Written by | Richard Pinto |
| Directed by | Adam Miller |
| Starring | Philip Jackson Alison Steadman Russ Abbot Stephanie Beacham June Whitfield James Smith Paula Wilcox |
| Theme music composer | Smokey Robinson and The Miracles |
| Opening theme | "Tears of a Clown" |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Paul Schlesinger |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Hat Trick Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | 15 August 2014 – 29 April 2016 |
Cast
edit- Russ Abbot as John
- Stephanie Beacham as Maureen
- Philip Jackson as Alan
- James Smith as Trevor
- Alison Steadman as Joyce
- June Whitfield as Joan
- Paula Wilcox as Carol
Production
editIn September 2013, it was announced that Hat Trick Productions was recording a pilot of Boomers, then titled Grey Mates. The non-broadcast pilot was filmed in Hunstanton in northwest Norfolk and Herne Bay as well as the studio in September 2013.[3]
Boomers, which was announced by Charlotte Moore, went into production in spring 2014.[4][5][6] Filming began in May 2014.[7]
The exteriors for the series were filmed in Herne Bay in Kent.[8]
The theme tune is Tears of a Clown which accompanies the opening titles.[9]
Filming for subsequent episodes took place in September 2015. A special was broadcast on BBC One on 23 December 2015, followed by a six-part second series beginning on 25 March 2016.
Episodes
editSeries 1 (2014)
editThe first series consists of six episodes and began airing on BBC One on 15 August 2014.
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) (Source: BARB[10][11]/Digital Spy[12]†) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 15 August 2014 | 5.324 | |
|
A funeral is approaching, and Alan is particularly looking forward to it as his old friend Mick is attending, from his retirement home in Spain. No one else is quite so pleased. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode Two" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 22 August 2014 | 4.25 | |
|
Carol and Trevor celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. With Joyce having organised a gastro-pub lunch, it looks like it could be a party to remember. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode Three" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 29 August 2014 | 3.01† | |
|
Thurnemouth Day comes once a year; it's when the town puts on its party hat and celebrates its history. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode Four" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 5 September 2014 | 2.86† | |
|
Joyce is retiring and Alan has invited all of their friends round to the house for a party. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode Five" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 12 September 2014 | 2.65† | |
| 6 | "Episode Six" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 19 September 2014 | 2.85† | |
|
Everyone goes on a holiday to a seaside resort but Joyce doesn't like it because they go every year. Joyce decides to go dancing with Carol because she is worried, when Carol dances with a man that she knows from the past Joyce is concerned, it is reviled that the man in question is gay and the dance is platonic, Joyce dances with him and breaks his arm. Meanwhile, the men go rock climbing. | ||||||
Christmas Special (2015)
editThe Christmas Special aired on BBC One on 23 December 2015. (Source: British Comedy Guide[13])
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Christmas Special" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 23 December 2015 | TBA | |
|
It's Christmas Eve, and the three couples have reached the Eurotunnel in Calais, returning from a long weekend visiting the Christmas markets in Cologne. | ||||||
Series 2 (2016)
editThe second series consists of six episodes and began airing on BBC One on 25 March 2016. (Source: British Comedy Guide[14])
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (7) | "Camping" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 25 March 2016 | 4.00 | |
|
Celebrating Trevor's birthday and anniversary on a campsite, Joyce, Maureen and Carol strike up an interesting new friendship with a strapping young Nordic man. | ||||||
| 2 (8) | "Matt & Seb" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 1 April 2016 | 4.01 | |
|
New couple Matt and Seb are having a housewarming party. John's keeping a low profile as he thinks he's catnip to gay men and Trevor's got performance anxiety as his and Carol's period of sexual lent draws to a close. | ||||||
| 3 (9) | "Naming Ceremony" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 8 April 2016 | TBA | |
|
Joyce steals her own granddaughter at her Naming Ceremony for essential Facebook updates, while Carol attempts to publish her own version of Fifty Shades of Grey (and Trevor frets because it might be based on personal experience). | ||||||
| 4 (10) | "Mick's Return" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 15 April 2016 | TBA | |
|
Mick returns from his Spanish paradise minus his young Lithuanian wife and has a surprise in store for Joyce. | ||||||
| 5 (11) | "Murder Mystery" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 22 April 2016 | TBA | |
|
It's John's birthday and he's decided to do something different this year - a Murder Mystery Party. | ||||||
| 6 (12) | "Wedding" | Adam Miller | Richard Pinto | 29 April 2016 | TBA | |
|
Maureen's mum Joan shocks everyone with a surprise announcement that proves there's still life in the old dog yet! | ||||||
- † - Marks the overnight ratings, used because the show is out of the Top 30 on BARB's listings for those weeks.
DVD release
editThe complete first series of Boomers was released on DVD on 22 September 2014.[15]
References
edit- ^ Waters, Lowenna (2 December 2013). "Russ Abbot to star in new BBC sitcom, Grey Mates". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ "Charlotte Moore announces three new series across drama, factual and comedy for BBC One in 2014". BBC. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ Considine, Pippa (3 September 2013). "Hat Trick behind Grey Mates sitcom pilot for BBC". Televisual. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ "BBC One commissions brand-new comedy Grey Mates". BBC. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ Plunkett, John (2 December 2013). "BBC1's Grey Mates sitcom to star Alison Steadman and Russ Abbot". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan (2 December 2013). "Russ Abbot to star in new BBC One sitcom Grey Mates". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
- ^ "Filming commences on new BBC One comedy Grey Mates". BBC. 8 May 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
- ^ Kent Film Office (23 March 2016). "Kent Film Office Boomers Article".
- ^ Baker, Stella (6 September 2014). "Tears of a clown". Stella Baker. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ^ "BARB - Weekly Top 30". BARB. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ "BARB - Weekly Top 10". BARB. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ "Digital Spy - TV Ratings". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
- ^ "British Comedy Guide - Boomers". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "British Comedy Guide - Boomers". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ "Boomers". Amazon UK.
External links
edit- Boomers at BBC Online
- Boomers at IMDb
- Boomers at British Comedy Guide
