Constant Hot Water

Constant Hot Water was a British sitcom, written by Colin Pearson. Six episodes were broadcast on ITV1 from 10 January 1986 to 14 February 1986 on ITV.^[1] Every episode was broadcast on Friday nights at 8:30pm, and lasted 25 minutes.

Synopsis

Constant Hot Water starred popular British actresses Pat Phoenix and Prunella Gee, who played rival landladies, Phyllis Nugent (Phoenix) and Miranda Thorpe (Gee), in the seaside town of Bridlington.

Busybody Nugent, who is prim and proper, strongly objects to the arrival of glamorous widow Thorpe, who has opened up her house next door as a rival B&B.^[2] All the men fancy Miranda, but Phyllis believes that she is a 'loose woman', and lowers the tone of the neighbourhood,^[3] even accusing her of running a brothel.^[4]

Reception

The series was unsuccessful and in 2003, it peaked at no.6 as the worst British sitcom in the Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy.^[5] The British Comedy Guide described the humour as "erratic" and added that the show "rarely rose above the mundane".^[6]

Constant Hot Water was never released on video, and it remains unreleased on DVD.

Cast

• Pat Phoenix- Phyllis Nugent
• Prunella Gee - Miranda Thorpe
• Steve Alder - Frank Osbourne
• Roger Kemp - Norman Nugent
• Mohammed Ashiq - Trevor
• Kevin Lloyd - Jeff
• Al Ashton - Brian
• Joe McPartland - Paddy
• Tricia Walsh-Smith - Linda

Episodes

• Bed And Breakfast (10 January 1986)
• Sunday Lunch (17 January 1986)
• One Night In Portofino (24 January 1986)
• The Germans Are Coming (31 January 1986)
• Chef's Special (7 February 1986)
• Full House (14 February 1986)

Trivia

The hotel that the series was filmed in was Leeds House Guest House.^[7]

The theme song for the show was provided by comedy musical cabaret group Instant Sunshine.^[8]

References