Square Deal (TV series)

Square Deal
GenreSitcom
Created byRichard Ommanney
Directed byNic Phillips
StarringLise-Ann McLaughlin
Tim Bentinck
Brett Fancy
Angus Barnett
Theme music composerBrian Bennett
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producerMarcus Plantin
ProducerNic Phillips
Production locationsLondon, England, UK
Running time30 minutes
Production companyLWT
Original release
NetworkITV
Release3 September 1988 (1988-09-03) –
13 October 1989 (1989-10-13)

Square Deal is a British sitcom created by Richard Ommanney which ran for two series between 3 September 1988 and 13 October 1989 on the ITV network.[1] The series starring Lise-Ann McLaughlin and Tim Bentinck as Nigel and Emma Barrington, a yuppie couple whose apparently comfortable lifestyle is brusquely shaken by the arrival on the scene of Sean, an incurable and impoverished young romantic.[2] It was produced by London Weekend Television.

Sean Hooper (Brett Fancy) is a determined dreamer who has set himself until his next birthday – eight weeks hence – to make a success of his life; he then bumps into Emma – literally, they have an accident from which he ends up in plaster – and they agree to go into business together, buying a café/sandwich bar. The enterprise will benefit from a perfect blend of their talents: her business knowledge and his acumen as a sandwich-maker – hitherto, he has been selling them to a market stall to support his career as a writer.

With Sean on the scene, Nigel and Emma's relationship rapidly deteriorates, and a love triangle emerges, first in Nigel's mind and then in reality, as Emma realises that, for all his quirks, Sean is more fun to be with than her husband. An estate agent with a cunning mind, Nigel proceeds to wreck his wife's café plans by gazumping her, and talk of a divorce is soon in the air. Later (in the second series) Sean turns his attentions to rock singing, becoming a fledgling star, while Nigel becomes Sean's landlord and develops an interest in his new neighbour, Geraldine (Georgina Melville).[3]

Cast

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Episode list

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Series 1

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# Title Director Writer Original air date
1"Episode 1"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney3 September 1988 (1988-09-03)
2"Episode 2"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney10 September 1988 (1988-09-10)
3"Episode 3"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney17 September 1988 (1988-09-17)
4"Episode 4"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney24 September 1988 (1988-09-24)
5"Episode 5"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney1 October 1988 (1988-10-01)
6"Episode 6"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney8 October 1988 (1988-10-08)
7"Episode 7"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney15 October 1988 (1988-10-15)

Series 2

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# Title Director Writer Original air date
8"Episode 1"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney1 September 1989 (1989-09-01)
9"Episode 2"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney8 September 1989 (1989-09-08)
10"Episode 3"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney15 September 1989 (1989-09-15)
11"Episode 4"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney22 September 1989 (1989-09-22)
12"Episode 5"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney29 September 1989 (1989-09-29)
13"Episode 6"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney6 October 1989 (1989-10-06)
14"Episode 7"Nic PhillipsRichard Ommanney13 October 1989 (1989-10-13)

Reception

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In a positive review, James Green wrote in The Stage and Television Today, "On the casting side the best thing is the impossibly pretty Lise-Ann McLaughlin as the fore-mentioned wife. How Timothy Bentinck, as her estate-agent husband can act the lord and master in these times of femine independence is criminal. She not only looks surperb but is expected to work at the do-it-yourself chores to put a few more thousands on the home."[4] The historian Mark Lewisohn called the show "modestly successful, if flawed".[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Highlights". Widnes Weekly News. 1 September 1988. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ Bayne, Jo (3 September 1988). "Back with life among the vets". Western Daily Press. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "BBC – Comedy – Guide – Square Deal". Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  4. ^ Green, James (8 September 1988). "The taking of Peckham LWT". The Stage and Television Today. No. 5604. p. 19. ProQuest 962508092.
  5. ^ Lewisohn, Mark (1988). Square Deal. London: BBC Worldwide. p. 631. ISBN 0-563-36977-9. Retrieved 11 September 2023 – via Internet Archive.
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