Ordinary Lies

Ordinary Lies
Genre	Drama
Created by	Danny Brocklehurst
Written by	Danny Brocklehurst
Directed by	John McKay Juliet May
Starring	Jo Joyner Michelle Keegan Max Beesley Jason Manford Rebecca Callard Sally Lindsay Shazad Latif Manjinder Virk
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	6
Production
Executive producer(s)	Nicola Shindler
Producer(s)	Tom Sherry
Location(s)	The London Studios Warrington
Running time	60 minutes
Production company(s)	Red Production Company
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One BBC One HD
Picture format	16:9 1080i
Original run	17 March 2015 (2015-03-17) – present
External links
Website

Ordinary Lies is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC One on 17 March 2015. The six-part series, written by Danny Brocklehurst, is set in a car showroom.^[1][2]

The executive producer is Nicola Shindler.^[3] The series was commissioned by Charlotte Moore for the BBC.

Plot

JS car dealership employs a number of 'ordinary' people, with dark secrets. As each episode unravels, it becomes clear how quick lies can escalate with shocking consequences.

Episode One (17 March) focuses on disorganised family man, Marty, (Jason Manford) who is in trouble with boss Mike (Max Beesley) for repeatedly arriving late for work. He tells a shocking lie, that his ill wife has died, to escape getting sacked. However, secretary Kathy (Sally Lindsay) homes in on his lie, but not before he has cheated with accountant Grace (Rebecca Callard). Meanwhile, Mike wants to embark on a future with the deputy manager Beth (Jo Joyner), but she is hung up on her husband, who has been inexplicably missing for a year.

Episode Two (24 March) focuses on two of JS Motors receptionists Tracy (Michelle Keegan) and Viv (Cherelle Skeete) who tell everyone at work that they are both going to Ibiza on holiday when actually they are doing a job for Tracy's boyfriend Jimmy and going to Dominican Republic to smuggle drugs back into the UK. Whilst Tracy makes it back to the UK, Viv isn't so lucky.

Episode Three (31 March) focuses on Mike's Secretary, Kathy, (Sally Lindsay). Kathy's husband Ralf (Tony Maudsley) cannot have sex and Kathy is desperate for a partner to do it with after years of being celibate. Kathy gets involved with Niall, (Edward MacLiam) and things start to escalate after Kathy witnesses an attack when with Niall.

Episode Four (7 April) focuses on another of Mike's employees, Rick (Shazad Latif). Following some problems in Rick's marriage, Mike allows him to stay as a guest in his home until he can get himself back on his feet. But Rick soon finds himself becoming too close with Mike's 15 year old daughter, Ruby (Holly Earl). Rick struggles to understand his feelings towards the immature Ruby. Though he is fully aware that legally she is a child, with her consent he takes her virginity, but soon comes to realise exactly what he has done.

Episode Five (14 April) focuses on car salesman Pete (Mackenzie Crook). After an affair in his marriage which resulted in a child, Pete is left to pay the consequences when the woman he had an affair with and her new partner Lloyd (Darren Connelly) start to demand money with the threat that he won't be allowed to see his son. After the theft of two cars from the dealership everything spirals out of control. Meanwhile Beth (Jo Joyner) finds out who her silent calls are from and Jason (George Bukhari) reveals the truth about his relationship.

Episode Six (21 April) focuses on deputy manager Beth (Jo Joyner). When JS Motors deputy Manager Beth Corbin's 16 month estranged husband returns just when Beth is about to settle down with Mike.

Cast

Main cast

The below cast members were credited, for at least some of their appearances, in the opening titles:

• Max Beesley as Mike Hill, owner and boss at JS, going through a turbulent separation, and having an affair with Beth
• Jo Joyner as Beth Corbin, deputy manager, whose husband has been missing for a year
• Michelle Keegan as Tracy, a receptionist at JS who becomes involved with drug trafficking (1.01-1.04, 1.06)
• Sally Lindsay as Kathy Kavanagh, Mike's secretary and a mother who is keeping her own secrets
• Shazad Latif as Rick, a mechanic as JS who became involved with Mike's 15 year old daughter (1.01-1.04)
• Holly Earl as Ruby Hill, Mike's 15 year old daughter who becomes involved with Rick (1.04)
• Ellie Haddington as Gina Corbin, Beth's mother-in-law and Dave's mother (1.05-1.06)
• Shaun Dooley as Dave Corbin, Beth's missing husband (1.06)
• Jason Manford as Marty McLean, a down on his luck salesman who lies that his wife has died to keep his job (1.01-1.03, 1.05-1.06)
• Mackenzie Crook as Pete Blythman, an employee and former gambler (1.01-1.03, 1.05-1.06)

Supporting cast

• George Bukhari as Fat Jason, a salesman at JS who struggles with his weight
• Rebecca Callard as Grace, a young, lonely accountant who has a fling with Marty (1.01-1.03, 1.05-1.06)
• Belinda Stewart-Wilson as Alison Hill, Mike's estranged wife (1.02-1.04, 1.06)
• Manjinder Virk as Marianne Morton, a receptionist who is hiding a secret about Beth's husband
• Fisayo Akinade as Ziggy, a mechanic at JS who works with Rick in the workshop (1.01-1.04, 1.06)
• Cat Simmons as Emma, bride-to-be working at JS
• Kris Mochrie as Jez, Emma's fiancé (1.01-1.04, 1.06)
• Cherrelle Skeete as Viv, a receptionist at JS who becomes involved with drug trafficking (1.01-1.02)
• Erin Shanagher as Katriana Mclean, Marty's ailed wife who he claims to be dead (1.01)
• Tony Maudsley as Ralf Kavanagh, Kathy's husband (1.03)
• Edward MacLiam as Niall, Kathy's sex buddy (1.03)

Episodes

Series 1 (2015)

References

External links

• Ordinary Lies at the Internet Movie Database
• Ordinary Lies at BBC Programmes