Thursday, January 31, 2008

At Home with the Braithwaites

I just remembered one of my favorite shows from the recent past. Series 1 & 2 are the only ones available on DVD so someday I may yet see Series 3 & 4. Since I don't know how to make an internal link, here's a condensed Wikipedia blurb:
"At Home with the Braithwaites is a British television programme about a typical dysfunctional suburban family from Leeds. It was first broadcast on January 20, 2000. The show begins when the mother of the family, Alison Braithwaite (played by Amanda Redman), unexpectedly wins 38 million pounds on the lottery on her 40th birthday, from a lottery ticket bought for her by her youngest daughter, Charlotte.
Each of the Braithwaite family — David (Peter Davison), Alison, Virginia, Sarah and Charlotte — have their own issues and flaws. At the start of the first series, David is a weak-willed philanderer, but overall a nice enough guy. Alison is frustrated in her position as a housewife and during the first season attempts to keep the money and the charity trust that she has set up for it a secret from her family, who she believes will waste it all on themselves. Virginia is a lesbian and in love with their next door neighbour, the self-absorbed manipulative Megan. Sarah has a crush on her drama teacher. Charlotte is having problems at school.
As events unfold, the story takes many convoluted turns, many related to the fortune that they have unexpectedly gained, and many related to misunderstandings.
The show ran for four series. It is unlikely that it will ever return."

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