Series synopsis
Fat Friends is a British drama television series that premiered on ITV1 on October 12, 2000. It ended on March 24, 2005. It was created by Kay Mellor. It stars Ruth Jones, Janet Dibley, Alison Steadman and Gaynor Faye.
Fat Friends is an ITV drama created by Kay Mellor, broadcast from 12 October 2000 to 24 March 2005. It follows a group of overweight people, their laughter and pain and addresses the absurdities of dieting in our modern age. It examines people and how they relate to one another and use body weight as an excuse for all sorts of failings in their relationships, or not living their lives to the full.
Four cast members—Ruth Jones, James Corden, Sheridan Smith, and Alison Steadman—went on to appear ...
Premise
Fat Friends is an ITV drama created by Kay Mellor, broadcast from 12 October 2000 to 24 March 2005. It follows a group of overweight people, their laughter and pain and addresses the absurdities of dieting in our modern age. It examines people and how they relate to one another and use body weight as an excuse for all sorts of failings in their relationships, or not living their lives to the full.
Four cast members—Ruth Jones, James Corden, Sheridan Smith, and Alison Steadman—went on to appear in Gavin & Stacey.
Premise: A Drama To Diet For
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Ruth Jones as Kelly Chadwick
- Janet Dibley as Carol McGary
- Alison Steadman as Betty Simpson
- Gaynor Faye as Lauren Harris
- James Corden as Jamie Rymer
- Lisa Riley as Rebecca Patterson
- Lynda Baron as Norma Patterson
- Jonathan Ryland as Kevin Chadwick
Supporting cast
- Richard Ridings as Alan Ashburn
- Kathryn Hunt as Val Lorrimer
- David Harewood as Max Robertson
- Rita May as Joan Kirk
Guest cast
- Barrie Rutter as Douglas Simpson
- Paul Warriner as Paul Thompson
- Bill Rodgers as Sid the Landlord
- Josie Lawrence as Julia Fleshman
- Oliver Pickering as Russell Simpson
- Julian Kerridge as Sean Hurst
- Ian Kershaw as Simon de Vier
- Jessica Harris as Joanne Simpson
- James Quinn as PC Robert Rymer
- Susan Cookson as Lynette Pickering
- Janine Mellor as Mercedes
- Caroline Pegg as Pippa
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 25 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | October 12, 2000 | November 16, 2000 |
| Season 2 | 7 | September 5, 2002 | October 17, 2002 |
| Season 3 | 6 | January 1, 2004 | February 4, 2004 |
| Season 4 | 6 | February 17, 2005 | March 24, 2005 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Love Me Slender Kelly Simpson is determined to get in her two-sizes-too-small wedding dress in time for her big day. Meanwhile, at the slimming club, her mum, Betty, has won through to the regional finals of Superslimmers 2000, even though her husband isn't that happy about her losing weight. |
October 12, 2000 |
| 2 |
Fat Chance Alan Ashburn is losing weight for his 20th wedding anniversary celebrations but a romantic meal out with his wife ends in their relationship crumbling. |
October 19, 2000 |
| 3 |
Fat Free Lauren Harris has won a role in a soap she's convinced that losing five pounds would make her a better actress. However, problems arise with not only her mum, who is convinced she's anorexic, but also her boyfriend Gareth, whose nickname for her is "Pudding". |
October 26, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Full Belly Carol faces her own problems when her husband leaves, leaving her alone with her son. Things take a darker turn when she decides to go on a diet. |
September 5, 2002 |
| 2 |
Peaches and Dreams Now unemployed, Lauren is seeking Mr Right after splitting up with commitment-phobic Gareth. What's not helpful is her sister's happy marriage and pregnancy making Lauren all too aware of her single status. |
September 12, 2002 |
| 3 |
Forty and In-Faturated Birthday blues are the least of Val's problems. Mistrust, jealousy, and insecurity turn her world upside down after she confronts her male escort lover about what he gets up to with his clients. |
September 19, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Eat Your Heart Out It's Christmas Eve, but the Simpson household isn't filled with joy. Betty can't stop thinking about meeting the son she gave up for adoption when she was just 15. |
January 1, 2004 |
| 2 |
Leggs Over Easy Still coping with the revelations of her mum's past, problems arise in Kelly's marriage—resulting in her sleeping with her husband Kevin's gay brother. When all is revealed, things worsen, especially as Kelly learns she's pregnant! But who is the father? |
January 7, 2004 |
| 3 |
Food for Thought Carol faces problems when she realises she has fallen for fitness instructor Max, which raises new troubles with her teenage son. |
January 14, 2004 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Enough to Go Around The group return from the Spanish vacation they won from Trisha. Betty can't wait to get home to see her long-lost son Simon, and Kelly struggles between raising her baby and helping Kevin run the fish and chip shop. |
February 17, 2005 |
| 2 |
Second Helpings Feeling abandoned by her mum and with her marriage on the rocks, Kelly flees the shop and leaves Kevin alone with the baby. With Max's influence, she decides to take extra aerobic courses, all while trying to resist his charming temptations. Meanwhile, Kevin gets unexpected help from a pretty bystander in the chip shop, adding to Kelly's temperament. |
February 24, 2005 |
| 3 |
Angel's Delight Norma throws herself into pensioner speed-dating and, after two glasses of wine, decides to advertise herself on the local radio lonely hearts phone-in. It's not long before a queue of eligible men forms around the block but it's dashing Eddie who captures her heart. Bowling, dancing, and romancing ensue—and soon a weekend in Filey is on the cards. But is Eddie all he seems? |
March 3, 2005 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | October 12, 2000 |
| Last aired | March 24, 2005 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Thursday |