Let Them Eat Cake (TV series)

This article is about the British sitcom. For other uses, see Let them eat cake (disambiguation).

Let Them Eat Cake
Let Them Eat Cake DVD cover
Created byPeter Learmouth
Written byPeter Learmouth
Directed byChristine Gernon
Starring
ComposerNick Bicât
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
ProducerChristopher Skala
Running time29 minutes
Production companyTiger Aspect Productions
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release9 September (1999-09-09) –
14 October 1999 (1999-10-14)

Let Them Eat Cake is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One in 1999. Starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, it is one of the few programmes in which French and Saunders have both appeared which they did not create themselves.

Plot

It is 1782, seven years before the French Revolution. The most reviled woman in France is the ambitious and immoral Comtesse de Vache, who stalks the halls of the Palace of Versailles, spreading terror into the hearts of her fellow aristocrats by gathering their darkest and most intimate secrets. The Comtesse's servants are her maid, former sex worker Lisette, and her flamboyantly gay couturier, Bouffant. Her constant rival is Madame de Plonge, who is accompanied by her naïve yet sharp-witted daughter, Eveline.

Cast

Steadman was credited as a "special guest star" despite appearing in four of the six episodes.

Guest stars

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"The Pox"9 September 1999 (1999-09-09)
Madame de Plonge tries to humiliate the Comtesse de Vache by convincing her to seduce one of her lovers. Meanwhile, the Comte de Vache has contracted the pox and wishes to end his life pressed against Colombine's bosom.
2"Murder"16 September 1999 (1999-09-16)
Colombine loses a bet against the Marquise de Fufu and is arrested after the Marquise is found brutally murdered in her apartment.
3"The Portrait"23 September 1999 (1999-09-23)
The Marquis de Sade has escaped from the Bastille and it seems that Colombine has become a favoured victim of his depravities. Meanwhile, a famous artist wants to paint Colombine. Guest starring Richard E. Grant and Maggie Steed.
4"Making Voopee"30 September 1999 (1999-09-30)
Colombine believes herself to be pregnant and thinks the King to be the father. She then conspires to do away with the King's legitimate son so that her own will become heir to the throne of France.
5"A Marriage of Convenience"7 October 1999 (1999-10-07)
A Duke is offering a vast sum to anyone who can provide him with a "show wife," which he needs to appear to be one of the lads. Colombine tries to enlist her estranged sister, Cecille (played by Kathy Burke), for the job.
6"The Royal Command Performance"14 October 1999 (1999-10-14)
The King and Queen have decided to hold a Royal Command Performance, consisting basically of them copulating, and Colombine does her best to outshine her nemesis, Madame de Plonge.

DVD releases

Let Them Eat Cake was released in Region 2 (UK) and Region 4 (Australia) on 5 March 2007.

References

  • Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003