6.8 /10 1 Votes
5.7/10 TV Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 2 First episode date 20 March 2001 Networks BBC, BBC Two | 7.8/10 IMDb Genre Comedy Original language(s) English No. of episodes 12 (list of episodes) Final episode date 18 February 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Starring Paul Whitehouse
Fiona Allen
Mark Heap
Clive Russell
Pearce Quigley Cast Paul Whitehouse, Johnny Vegas, Fiona Allen, Mark Heap, Clive Russell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Happiness s01e04 desparate dan
Happiness was a British sitcom broadcast on BBC2 with dramatic, melancholy overtones written by Paul Whitehouse and David Cummings with Whitehouse in the lead role.
Contents
There were two series, the first running in 2001 and the second in 2003. Whitehouse has stated that there will probably not be a third.
Synopsis
Whitehouse plays Danny Spencer, a successful voice artist for a popular cartoon bear called Dexter. Spencer is trying to come to terms with the death of his wife, though much of his concern is that he finds he isn't feeling the loss as deeply as he should.
Approaching his fortieth birthday he is independent and single and the programme's themes are largely bound up with the opportunities and problems that this situation creates. His friends are a disparate group, ranging from the strait-laced Terry and Rachel (Mark Heap, Fiona Allen), through the down and outs - Charlie and Sid (Johnny Vegas and Pearce Quigley), to the archetypal man in a mid-life crisis, Angus (Clive Russell). To varying degrees these friends offer Spencer inspiration and cautionary tales as to how Spencer can fill his life.
Awards
Critical reception
Simon Hoggart described the series as "part of that newish genre, the situation tragedy", and Andrew Billen criticised it for the "emptiness at its heart and not enough going on peripherally to make up for it". Nicholas Barber thought it "an impressive leap from catchphrase-heavy sketch comedy" with "topnotch supporting actors". Many reviews singled out Johnny Vegas's performance as being the strongest among the cast.