Family (2003 TV series)

Family
Genre Crime drama
Created by Tim Vaughan
Roger Smith
Jamie Foreman
Starring Martin Kemp
Jamie Foreman
David Calder
Simone Lahbib
Camille Coduri
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 1
No. of episodes 6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Michelle Buck
Tim Vaughan
Producer(s) Rebecca Edwards
Location(s) London, England, UK
Running time 60 mins (w/advertisements)
Production company(s) LWT
Release
Original network ITV
Picture format 16:9 576i
Audio format Stereo
Original release 29 September (2003-09-29) – 12 November 2003 (2003-11-12)

Family is an ITV crime drama series, first broadcast on 29 September 2003, starring Martin Kemp and Jamie Foreman as the protagonists, Joey and Dave Cutler. Based on a crime family operating in London's east-end, Family only lasted one series before being axed by the broadcaster. A DVD of the complete series was released on 30 March 2009.

Plot

Family follows a family of London gangsters headed by Ted Cutler (David Calder). One of his sons, Joey (Martin Kemp), is happily married with two children and tries to keep 'business' separate from home life, while the other son, Dave (Jamie Foreman) is a loose cannon with a nasty temper who has just returned from America, where he fled following a family rift. Only Joey sees a way out by running a high class restaurant - but this venture is not without violence.[1]

Production

Jamie Foreman devised and co-wrote the show alongside scriptwriters Tim Vaughan and Roger Smith. Nick Elliott, controller of ITV drama, said of the series;

"Jamie plays the loopy brother, while Martin is like Al Pacino's character in the Godfather, desperately wanting to be straight but going along with the dodgy stuff. There will also be this father figure. It's a contemporary London gangster show and it will have a lot of authenticity. There'll be a contrast between Martin living a normal suburban lifestyle, then going to meetings to discuss rubbing someone out and being involved in rackets and organised crime. He's got a wife and a daughter who takes cello lessons, who don't know about the other life he leads."

Elliott commissioned the six-part series alongside Granada South drama controller, Michele Buck.[2]

Reception

Family was well received by critics and media buyers, who welcomed it as part of a "quality-based offensive" in ITV's autumn schedule. But after a respectable start with 6.1 million viewers watching on 29 September, the programme lost nearly two million viewers, drawing only 4.3 million in the same slot four weeks later. Although there were only two more episodes to be aired, Nigel Pickard, Head of ITV's programming, ditched the show from its prime time slot and consigned it instead to a graveyard slot of 11:30pm on Wednesdays.[3] This meant that the episode previously scheduled for 27 October 2003 was replaced with a re-run of Airline.[4]

Cast

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date UK viewers
(millions)[5]
1"People United By Conviction"David DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan29 September 2003 (2003-09-29)6.35m
In an attempt to expand their empire, the Cutler family decide to plan an armed robbery on a high-class East End restaurant. Following the robbery, Ted (David Calder) and Joey (Martin Kemp) approach the owners, Rory (Charles Daish) and Jenny (Pandora Clifford), and offer them protection in return for 40% of the restaurant's annual takings. Meanwhile, Ted 's estranged son Dave (Jamie Foreman) returns from America after more than ten years away, and immediately makes his presence known. But Dave's behaviour soon endangers the Cutler family empire when a spat gets out of hand, and he ends up throwing restaurant manager Liam (Hywel Morgan) out of a balcony window to his death.
2"A Collective Body of Persons"David DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan6 October 2003 (2003-10-06)5.26m
With Liam safely out of the picture, attentions turn to Martin (John Ashton), who owes the Cutlers £6000. With his daughter's wedding looming, Joey warns him that failure to repay the debt will result in him leaving the wedding reception in a coffin. Martin decides to rob a local off-licence with the help of his nephew, Graham (Danny Midwinter), but is surprised when Ted rebuffs his efforts to clear his name and instead wipes the debt and demands that the money be spent on his daughter's honeymoon. A furious Martin unleashes his anger at the Cutlers, unaware that his actions will have fatal consequences. Meanwhile, Dave's wife Yvonne (Holley Chant) returns from America with their two year-old son, Eddie.
3"A Fundamental Social Group"David DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan13 October 2003 (2003-10-13)5.05m
Joey is concerned about Jacqueline's blossoming relationship with boyfriend Mike (Crispin Bonham-Carter), and issues her a stern warning. Meanwhile, the McLeod's hire a new restaurant manager, Lucy (Jo Joyner), but her first day proves eventful when she stumbles upon Rory trying to take his own life. Jenny subsequently makes the decision to hand over the running of the restaurant to Ted and Joey, and offers to sell her and Rory's shares in the business. Joey is surprised to discover that Ted has lined Dave up as the new restaurant manager, and his day goes from bad to worse when Mickey (Matt Bardock) informs him that the Rozzers want £25,000 to cover up Dave's involvement in Liam's death.
4"Sharing Goals and Values"David DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan20 October 2003 (2003-10-20)Under 4.59m
Elliott Johnson (Ray Emmet Brown), the son of one of Ted's former associates, approaches the family asking for help after committing an armed robbery to the tune of £150,000. Although Elliott promises the family a cut of the proceeds, Dave becomes greedy and decides to make some sneaky decisions of his own. Meanwhile, it's Joey and Sophie's wedding anniversary, and Joey is busy organising a surprise party. Dave's working relationship with Lucy begins to blossom, so much so that friendship soon turns into romance. Meanwhile, Ted (David Calder) seeks revenge after receiving word from the police that the victim of the armed robbery undertaken by Elliott is a former business associate.
5TBADavid DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan5 November 2003 (2003-11-05)Under 4.47m
6TBADavid DruryRoger Smith & Tim Vaughan12 November 2003 (2003-11-12)Under 4.90m

References

  1. ↑ https://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-DVD-Martin-Kemp/dp/B001MK9ZNA/
  2. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/sep/02/broadcasting
  3. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/nov/03/broadcasting.ITV
  4. ↑ http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=94739
  5. ↑ http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/
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