Firstly, a happy new year to all IMDb users. I sincerely hope that 2016 brings good luck and happiness to you all.
Now, onto 'Work'. 'Rab C. Nesbitt's Seasonal Greet' broke the ratings figures first in 1988 and then again in 1989 when its national repeat on BBC2 attracted two and a half million viewers. Impressed by its response, Alan Yentob, then controller at BBC2, suggested to Gregor Fisher and Ian Pattison that it be made into a series. Indeed, so keen was he for it to be put into production he agreed to pay for three of the six episodes. Fisher had his doubts as to whether or not it would work but he needn't have worried. The first episode of 'Nesbitt', which went out on 27th September 1990, attracted six million viewers. Testament to its success was the fact that the following year it won the Royal Television Society Award for best sitcom.
'Work' kicks off with Rab returning home after three days from what should have been a routine purchase of a pound of sausages, only to find that Mary has grown tired of his slobbish ways and decides to leave home and live with her mother, taking Gash and Burney along with her.
To add to Rab's problems, he receives a letter from the D. W. P informing him that unless he finds gainful employment, his benefit will be suspended forthwith. In desperation, he takes a job sweeping leaves at the local park. His boss ( played by Dorothy Paul ) is a truly unlikeable woman who is constantly on his case, accusing him of not pulling his weight.
Just when things look bleak for Rab, who should he bump into in a supermarket queue but his estranged wife Mary...
'Work' is a fantastic opener, with the cast firing on all cylinders. Of course, Rab and Mary end up getting back together but you don't need me to tell you that. Dorothy Paul is probably best remembered as Margaret from 'The Steamie', which was written by Tony Roper. Rab justifies his avoidance of getting any work by saying that there is not enough jobs to go around and that only the ones who want to work should get the jobs. He is rather similar to James Shelley from Peter Tilbury's long running 'Shelley' in that respect, though Hywel Bennett's character was more just an idle layabout than a drunk.
Brian Pettifer returns as Andra though Iain McColl replaces Alex Norton as Dodie. Though Norton wasn't bad, McColl was far superior. McColl's Dodie was more of a buffoon than his predecessor, rather like Tam from 'City Lights'. The late Charlie Sim plays Dougie, the barman of The Two Ways pub in which Rab, Jamesie and co frequent. Lee Cornes, who played barman Dick Head in 'Bottom', appears here as the starchy D. S. S clerk.
Funniest bit - Mary headbutting Rab's boss!
Now, onto 'Work'. 'Rab C. Nesbitt's Seasonal Greet' broke the ratings figures first in 1988 and then again in 1989 when its national repeat on BBC2 attracted two and a half million viewers. Impressed by its response, Alan Yentob, then controller at BBC2, suggested to Gregor Fisher and Ian Pattison that it be made into a series. Indeed, so keen was he for it to be put into production he agreed to pay for three of the six episodes. Fisher had his doubts as to whether or not it would work but he needn't have worried. The first episode of 'Nesbitt', which went out on 27th September 1990, attracted six million viewers. Testament to its success was the fact that the following year it won the Royal Television Society Award for best sitcom.
'Work' kicks off with Rab returning home after three days from what should have been a routine purchase of a pound of sausages, only to find that Mary has grown tired of his slobbish ways and decides to leave home and live with her mother, taking Gash and Burney along with her.
To add to Rab's problems, he receives a letter from the D. W. P informing him that unless he finds gainful employment, his benefit will be suspended forthwith. In desperation, he takes a job sweeping leaves at the local park. His boss ( played by Dorothy Paul ) is a truly unlikeable woman who is constantly on his case, accusing him of not pulling his weight.
Just when things look bleak for Rab, who should he bump into in a supermarket queue but his estranged wife Mary...
'Work' is a fantastic opener, with the cast firing on all cylinders. Of course, Rab and Mary end up getting back together but you don't need me to tell you that. Dorothy Paul is probably best remembered as Margaret from 'The Steamie', which was written by Tony Roper. Rab justifies his avoidance of getting any work by saying that there is not enough jobs to go around and that only the ones who want to work should get the jobs. He is rather similar to James Shelley from Peter Tilbury's long running 'Shelley' in that respect, though Hywel Bennett's character was more just an idle layabout than a drunk.
Brian Pettifer returns as Andra though Iain McColl replaces Alex Norton as Dodie. Though Norton wasn't bad, McColl was far superior. McColl's Dodie was more of a buffoon than his predecessor, rather like Tam from 'City Lights'. The late Charlie Sim plays Dougie, the barman of The Two Ways pub in which Rab, Jamesie and co frequent. Lee Cornes, who played barman Dick Head in 'Bottom', appears here as the starchy D. S. S clerk.
Funniest bit - Mary headbutting Rab's boss!
