One-off comedy drama featuring characters from award-winning BBC sketch series 'The Fast Show'. Ralph Mayhew (Charlie Higson) lives alone in a faded stately home. His only friend is Ted (Paul Whitehouse), the elderly Irish estate worker. But their way of life is under threat: Ralph must marry before his 35th birthday or lose everything. Just when it all seems hopeless, along comes Wendy (Kathy Burke). As Ralph's affection for Wendy grows, his dependence on Ted wanes. Is this the end of a beautiful friendship ? Is Wendy all that she seems ? Will Ralph go through with the marriage ? And will he save the Hall ?
Acting
Whitehouse and Higson's decades-honed sketch chemistry finally gets room to breathe.
Writing
Fast Show alumni weaponize cringe comedy for genuine melancholy.
Director
Christine Gernon
Paul Whitehouse
Ted / Rowley Birkin / Kevin Brown
Kathy Burke
Mrs. Ted
Simon Day
Tall Tom / Cliff Carter / Friend of Dorothy
Paul Bigley
Short Tom
Arabella Weir
Mrs. Jenkins / Ralph's Mother / Henrietta Gladstone
Mark Williams
Confirmed Bachelor
Simon Roberts
Cousin Jack
Miranda Richardson
Henrietta Blough-Pendleton
Gina Bellman
Henrietta Spain
Fiona Allen
Dog Barking Woman
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released in 1998, this quietly queered the British heritage film genre years before The Favourite made it fashionable.
Higson and Whitehouse reportedly improvised several Ted-Ralph scenes; the ache in their silences wasn't entirely scripted.
US
GB
