Between the Sheets (2003)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Between the Sheets is a mini-series in six parts which premiered on British television (BBC) in 2003. 

 

Here is some basic information about it:

 

** Directed by Jane Prowse (3 episodes) and Robin Sheppard (3 episodes)

** Written by Kay Mellor (6 episodes)

** Released on DVD in 2010

** Run time: 6 x 50 minutes = 300 minutes

 

The cast includes the following:

 

** Alun Armstrong as Peter Delaney (husband of Hazel)

** Brenda Blethyn as Hazel Delaney (wife of Peter)

** James Thornton as Simon Delaney (son of Peter and Hazel)

** Gaynor Faye as Georgia Lovett (a nightclub hostess)

** Julie Graham as Alona Cunningham (a therapist) (Paul’s partner)

** Richard Armitage as Paul Andrews (a parole officer) (Alona’s partner)

** Adam Scourfield as Kieran Cunningham (son of Alona)

** Katrine de Candole as Bahuska Versotko (au pair for Alona and Paul)

** Dean Andrews as Steve Ashby (a park and wildlife agent)

** Vinette Robinson as Tracey Ellis (a teenager on parole)

 

Here is some background information: the actress Gaynor Faye is the daughter of writer Kay Mellor.

 

Between the Sheets is the story of three couples and the problems they have in their relationships:

 

** The first pair is Peter and Hazel

** The second pair is Alona and Paul

** The third pair is Simon and his ex-girlfriend

 

How are they connected?

 

The first and the third pair know each other, because Simon is the son of Peter and Hazel. Alona meets Peter and later Hazel when they come to her to talk about the problems in their marriage.

 

Intimate problems are discussed very openly here and intimate relations are shown very openly here. This is the reason why this program is rated suitable for 18 years and older. If you are offended by graphic scenes, you should stay away from this program.

 

However, if you can accept it, you will find that this is a funny, lively, entertaining, and captivating drama about life in the modern world. It may also give you something to think about.

 

There are many characters here. Most of them have flaws, they are not perfect, but even so most of them are still likeable, because they also have some good qualities.

 

There are three major story-lines:

 

(1) Peter and Hazel have problems, because they have not been intimate for a long time. Can this change? Can they find a way back to each other or will they have to go separate ways?

 

(2) Simon has left his girlfriend, because he does not like her anymore, but she wants to have him back. 

 

He has already found a new love interest (Georgia). How will this play out? Will he go back to his former girlfriend? 

 

Will he start a relationship with his new love interest (there are complications, which I am not going to explain here)? 

 

Or will he have to do something else?

 

Alona and Paul have problems, because they have not been intimate for a while. Paul is accused of inappropriate conduct towards one of his clients, who is a minor (Tracey).

 

When an official investigation is started, it puts a lot of strain on his relationship with Alona. 

 

The teenager Tracey claims he was intimate with her. But he denies the charges. Is it true or not?

 

Along the way, other problems pop up. Some of them are quite serious, while others are not so serious. There is no need to mention them here. I do not want to reveal too many details. I do not wish to spoil the viewing for anyone. But I can say this:

 

When we get to the end of the drama, only one of the three major story-lines seems to find some sort of conclusion: the story about Peter and Hazel.

 

The other two story-lines are left hanging in the air. They are not resolved. There is no indication of where they are going.

 

Perhaps this was deliberate. Perhaps they were left hanging in the air, so they could be covered in a sequel, another six episodes, but there never was a sequel.

 

The fact that only one of three story-lines seems to come to a conclusion means that this drama is not quite successful.

 

What do reviewers say about it? 

 

On IMDb it has a rating of 75 percent which corresponds to (almost) four stars on Amazon.

 

On Amazon there are at the moment more than 40 ratings of this product, more than 20 with reviews.

 

The average rating is 4.1 stars which corresponds to a rating of 82 percent.

 

If you ask me, both these ratings are very appropriate. I have to remove one star, because two of three story-lines never seem to find a conclusion. That is why I think this drama deserves a rating of four stars (80 percent).

 

*****

Between the Sheets

A miniseries in six parts which

premiered on British television (BBC)

in 2003

 

*****