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Married Single Other
Married Single Other is a British six-episode comedy-drama television miniseries created and written by Peter Souter. The series is based on the lives of group of people who are either married, single or "other", other being defined as in a relationship. It began airing on Monday 22 February 2010 on ITV (except STV in central and northern Scotland). The drama series was later screened on STV from February 2012. The series was filmed on location in various areas of Leeds, while Left Bank Pictures television studios annexed to The Leeds Studios were used for interior shooting.[1] PremiseThe series revolves around three lower middle class couples living in suburban Leeds. Two of the couples have adolescent children, although there is less focus on them than on their parents. While all three couples appear throughout, episodes generally centre mostly on one of the couples. The series has been compared to an earlier ITV comedy drama, Cold Feet (1997–2003). Characters Main characters
Supporting characters
Production The series has been filmed around several areas of Leeds, generally breaking away from using traditional Yorkshire Television locations such as Chapel Allerton, Kirkstall and Yeadon, instead using areas such as Little London, Lincoln Green, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Burmantofts. Extensive parts of the city centre are used, in particular Clarence Dock. Clint is seen climbing to Abbey's flat which is located above the river terrace of Aire Bar on Call Lane. Allerton High School in Alwoodley is used throughout the series. Eddie and Lillie were shown to get married at Leeds Civic Hall and then had the wedding reception in a marquee on Blenheim Square, Little London. Their house and Clint's flat are in Hanover Square, Burley. Shots of Leeds are used in between scenes. The theme tune to this programme is "Find My Way Back Home" by Priscilla Ahn. The programme also relies on leitmotifs through the episodes, using music by bands such as The Cure, Radiohead and Goldfrapp. Babs performs The Housemartins' Caravan of Love at Eddie and Lillie's wedding. In May 2010 ITV announced the series' cancellation.[2] Executive producer Andy Harries told The Guardian "We had an amazing cast, a devoted following and some strong ideas for series two. It's a horrible feeling to be dumped, we thought there was still life in the relationship, but we're definitely 'other' now."[2] He told the 2010 Edinburgh International Television Festival, "It averaged 4.65 million across the series, the best for an ITV drama to be decommissioned in the last four years [...] The audience didn't stay. I suppose the stories weren't strong enough. There were some weaker episodes. It found its strength towards the end, I think a second series would have found its feet and grown its audience. ITV disagreed."[3] Episodes
ReceptionMarried Single Other generally received positive reviews. The series has on occasions been compared to Cold Feet, given the similarly aged cast, Northern middle-class setting and similar themes. The series has the same director and producer as Cold Feet, Declan Lowney and Andy Harries respectively.[1] Tim Dowling from The Guardian wrote "Yes, it's predictable. Yes, it's a lot like Cold Feet. And Married Single Other is also a pleasure to watch". Dowling drew similarities from the series compared with Cold Feet such as the "a northern location, a large cast of inter-connected characters, implausibly wry dialogue, dangerous levels of sentimentality, some well-signposted cliches and Ralf Little."[4] On the Box also likened it to Cold Feet, claiming "ITV must be furiously trying to work out how to replicate the success of Cold Feet, the influential comedy drama about the turbulent relationships of a handful of 30-somethings".[5] Stephen Armstrong from The Times called the programme "a strangely rare television gem - a genuinely good romcom with no bonnets in it."[6] The Leicester Mercury gave a more negative review stating "Married Single Other (ITV, 9pm) teetered precariously on the brink of schmaltz for nearly an hour, before finally giving up and plunging headlong into lines which even Richard Curtis would think were OTT."[7] Brian Viner in The Independent thought it 'lacks almost all of Cold Feet's many virtue... it's more of a wilting carnation than a golden rose.' And noted that 'you can be fairly sure that the writer has spent too long studying the life and works of Richard Curtis – either that or browsing in Clinton Cards'[8] Unreality Primetime said of the series "It's not that it’s not good; it’s just not Cold Feet good – yet – so I think ITV shot itself in the foot by offering up that comparison."[9] The series has been nominated in the Best Drama/Entertainment category at the 2010 Royal Television Society Yorkshire Awards.[10] InternationalIn In In In In In In In In In DVD releaseMarried Single Other was released on DVD and Blu-ray by 2 Entertain on 5 April 2010. References
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