- This article is about the British sitcom. For the film, see My Family (film). For the Hong Kong TVB series, see My Family (TVB).
My Family is a British sitcom that has aired on BBC One since 2000. Created by American Fred Barron, My Family is about the fictional Harper family, and stars Robert Lindsay and Zoë Wanamaker as Ben and Susan Harper, a middle-class couple who in live in Chiswick, West London. Their three children, Nick, Janey and Michael are played by Kris Marshall, Daniela Denby-Ashe and Gabriel Thomson. In later series more characters appear including Ben's first cousin once removed Abi (Siobhan Hayes), Ben's fellow dentist Roger Bailey (Keiron Self) and Nick's friend Alfie (Rhodri Meilir).
Eight series have so far been aired, and a ninth series is currently in production.[1][2] A total of 20 episodes were commisioned before Series 8 aired. This included a Christmas Special meaning that Series 9 should contain 12 episodes.
Cast
Main characters
Recurring characters
Plot
My Family is about the life of the Harpers, a fictional English family, who live in 78, Lancaster Road, Chiswick, London. Ben, a dentist, and Susan, a tour guide who later works for an art gallery, have three children, Nick, Janey and Michael, all of whom cause problems in their own way. While Susan is a control freak, Ben prefers to leave the children to it and tries not to get involved. Janey later goes to University, but drops out and moves back in later, while Nick finally gets his own place. The first series features Ben's dental assistant, Brigitte, who unintentionally annoys Ben constantly. In the third series, Abi Harper, the daughter of Ben's cousin, comes to live with them, and she eventually falls for Roger, Ben's neighbouring dentist. Abi later leaves to become a nun. The humour, like most domestic sitcoms, derives from the relationships of the family members and the situations they end up in.
Characters
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Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker as Ben and Susan.
The main characters in My Family are parents Ben and Susan Harper. They have three children, Nick, Janey and Michael. Nick is a regular character until the 2003 Christmas special, and makes one appearance in 2004's fifth series before making his final My Family appearance in the 2005 Comic Relief short as actor Kris Marshall wanted to do other projects and avoid being type-cast.[4] Janey is a regular until the 2002 Christmas special and does not appear in Series Four (2003), while the character is at University. Janey returns as a main character in Series Five.
Abi Harper first appears in Series Three as the daughter of Ben's cousin Richard.[5] Series Three also see the first appearance of Roger Bailey, Jnr. Roger, who becomes a main character in the fourth series, is a dentist and the son of Ben's former mentor. In the 2005 Christmas special Alfie Butts, a friend of Nick's, moves into the Harper household.[4]
My Family also features several recurring characters. In the second series "Stupid" Brian appears as Janey's boyfriend.[4] Series Four features played Fiona, Michael's girlfriend. That series also sees the introduction of Hubert, a friend of Michael's, and Grace Riggs, Susan's mother, both of whom appear in subsequent series until Series Seven.[4] A minor recurring character from the 2006 Christmas Special to Series Seven is Denis, the local Vicar. In addition, Mr. Alexander Casey, the Harpers' neighbour, appears in two episodes, "Driving Miss Crazy" (2001) and "Neighbour Wars" (2008).
Episodes
Opening titles used during the 3rd series
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The first episode aired on 19 September 2000, and eight series have so far been aired with seven specials, including four Christmas specials. The eighth series ended on 23 May 2008. A Comic Relief special short-episode has also aired. A ninth series is now being filmed
The BBC and UKTV refuse to re-broadcast the series four episode "Blind Justice" due to an upheld Ofcom complaint. Although no reason was given, it is likely that was considered offensive to blind people. This episode is banned from British TV, but it is still on the Series Four UK DVD release and has been screened on BBC America.citation needed
The episodes are recorded in front of a live audience in Pinewood Studios, Iver, Buckinghamshire, except where the set used is too large, this is then filmed, and played out to an invited audience 'as-live'. Also, the show, unlike most British sitcoms but in common with most American television comedies, has no location footage.
The series is scripted by a team of writers, following the American model. Historically, British sitcoms were more generally written by one or two writers. By employing a wider number of writers to brainstorm jokes for each episode, the BBC has been able to maintain a consistent and relatively long-lived product without having to wait for a single writer to produce more material.citation needed
Reception
Initially, the show received a poor critical response, with many dismissing it's humour as mundane and dated.citation needed However, the programme received above average audience ratings, and further series were commissioned, with critical aprroval gradually improving as the series progressed. Star Zoë Wanamaker said in 2007 that she was no longer happy with the quality of the writing, and claimed she and co-star Robert Lindsay even refused to film one episode because it was so poor.[6]
In 2004, the show came 24th in Britain's Best Sitcom.
DVD releases
The first eight series have been released on DVD in the UK, minus the Christmas specials that accompanied series 3, 4 and 7. and the specials that accompanied series 5. A Christmas Specials DVD was released on 20 November 2006, and this contained the 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Christmas specials. The first two series are available in Canada and the United States on Region 1 DVD, and in Australia on Region 4 DVD. Series 8 will be released on 14 July 2008. [7]
Notes
References
External links
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