Executive Stress
Executive Stress is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1986 to 1988. Produced by Thames Television, it first aired on 20 October 1986.[1] After three series, the last episode aired on 27 December 1988.
| Executive Stress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Directed by | David Askey (series 3) John Howard Davies (series 1–2) |
| Starring | Penelope Keith Geoffrey Palmer Peter Bowles Harry Ditson Elizabeth Counsell Mark Caven |
| Theme music composer | Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| Opening theme | Why We Fell in Love |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 19 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | James Gilbert John Howard Davies |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 20 October 1986 – 27 December 1988 |
Written by George Layton, Executive Stress stars Penelope Keith as Caroline Fairchild, a middle-aged woman who decides to go back to work. Her husband, Donald, is played by Geoffrey Palmer in the first series. However, Palmer was unable to return for the second series, so Peter Bowles played Donald in the remaining two series.[1] Keith and Bowles had previously appeared together in another BBC comedy series, To the Manor Born.[2]
Production
When writing Executive Stress, George Layton was inspired by his wife's difficult experience juggling a career in public relations after having had two children.[3] His wife resigned a month after going back to work because she felt guilty, and Layton commented how "like Caroline In the series, she’d had a very good job and it set me thinking about all the compromises women have to make."[3] The programme was set in the world of publishing as it was one of the few industries of the era dominated by women, meaning Donald and Caroline could realistically be on an equal footing at work.
The producer, John Howard Davies, commissioned a second series before the first series had even aired.[3]
The opening theme, "Why We Fell in Love," was performed by Julie Covington. The lyrics were written by Tim Rice with the instrumentals composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber.[4]
Cast
- Penelope Keith – Caroline Fairchild (née Fielding)
- Geoffrey Palmer – Donald Fairchild (series 1)
- Peter Bowles – Donald Fairchild (series 2 and 3)
- Harry Ditson – Edgar Frankland Jr
- Elizabeth Counsell – Anthea Duxbury
- Mark Caven – Anthony
- Hilary Gish – Nicky
- Richard Marner – Herman Ginsberg (series 1)
- Timothy Carlton – Peter Stuart (series 1)
- David Neville – Peter Stuart (series 2)
- Lorraine Doyle – Jackie (series 1 and 2)
- Ben Robertson – Stephen Cass (series 1 and 2)
- Wanda Ventham – Sylvia (series 2)
- Donald Pickering – Gordon (series 2)
- Vincent Brimble – Tim Jackson (series 3)
- Geoffrey Whitehead – Peter Davenport (series 3)
Plot
After 25 years of marriage, mother-of-five Caroline Fairchild decides to go back to work.[2] Her husband Donald would like her to work part-time in their home town of Amersham in Buckinghamshire.[2] Instead she gets a job in London as an Editorial Director for a company called Oasis Publishing.[1][2] At the company she is reunited with her former secretary, Anthea Duxbury, who is a sales export director.[2]
In the second episode of the first series, Caroline provides her home address of Bluebell House, Windlesham Road, Upper Woodley, Near Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire to Peter Stuart, the personnel director. Her telephone number is (0296) 23190. Later in the episode, she has another telephone line installed at home for Donald with the number (0296) 85512. In a later episode, Donald provides his private office line to a headhunter. The number is 240-1429, at this time most likely with the 01 area code. Later Caroline shares this number with a friend.
Oasis Publishing is owned by the American Frankland Corporation, which is run by Edgar Frankland, Jr., the son of the corporation's boss.[2] On Caroline's first day at work, The Frankland Corporation takes over Ginsberg Publishing, the company that Donald works for. Donald is moved to Oasis, and Caroline and he find themselves working together.[2] However, an unwritten rule at Frankland states that married couples cannot work together, so they have to pretend not to know each other, so Caroline uses her maiden name of Fielding.[1][2] In Series Two, Edgar finds out they are married, but does not sack them and makes them joint managing directors of Oasis.[1][2]
Episodes
Three series of Executive Stress were broadcast from 1986 to 1988. The first series, made of seven episodes, aired on Mondays at 20:00 following Coronation Street, as did the six-episode second series.[2] The third series, also of six episodes, aired on Tuesdays at 20.30 following The Bill.[2]
| Series | Episodes | Year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 1986 | |
| 2 | 6 | 1987 | |
| 3 | 6 | 1988 | |
Series 1: 1986
| # | Title | Original Airdate[5] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | 20 October 1986 |
| 2 | "Episode Two" | 27 October 1986 |
| 3 | "Episode Three" | 3 November 1986 |
| 4 | "Episode Four" | 10 November 1986 |
| 5 | "Episode Five" | 17 November 1986 |
| 6 | "Episode Six" | 24 November 1986 |
| 7 | "Episode Seven" | 1 December 1986 |
Series 2: 1987
| # | Title | Original Airdate[5] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | 21 September 1987 |
| 2 | "Episode Two" | 28 September 1987 |
| 3 | "Episode Three" | 5 October 1987 |
| 4 | "Episode Four" | 12 October 1987 |
| 5 | "Episode Five" | 19 October 1987 |
| 6 | "Episode Six" | 26 October 1987 |
Series 3: 1988
| # | Title | Original Airdate[5] |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode One" | 22 November 1988 |
| 2 | "Episode Two" | 29 November 1988 |
| 3 | "Episode Three" | 6 December 1988 |
| 4 | "Episode Four" | 13 December 1988 |
| 5 | "Episode Five" | 20 December 1988 |
| 6 | "Episode Six" | 27 December 1988 |
Reception
In an article published in The Daily Mail two days before the first episode broadcast, Corinna Honan praised Penelope Keith saying, "This is Keith at her best playing a totally believable middle class, middle-aged woman with wit, finesse and touching vulnerability".[3] Honan also said that Geoffrey Palmer is the "perfect foil with his dry humour, understated style and rubbery features".[3] She also said that the programme "makes very serious points about women, work and motherhood".[3]
Broadcast around the world
In the United States, many PBS member stations aired at least the first series in the 1980s and 1990s.
Reruns of the series also aired in 2009 in Australia on ABC Television.[6]
DVD release
The complete first and second series of Executive Stress were released on 26 April 2010 and 24 January 2011, by Network, The third (and final) series was finally released on 20 May 2013, followed by a complete series set (consisting all three series) on 13 August 2018.
| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 26 April 2010 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 24 January 2011 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 20 May 2013 |
| The Complete Series 1 to 3 Box Set | 13 August 2018 |
See also
- The Cara Williams Show, an American sitcom of 1964 with a similar premise.
References
- "Summary". British TV Comedy. 2006. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
- Lewishohn, Mark (2003). Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy. London: BBC Worldwide. ISBN 0-563-48755-0.
- Honan, Corinna (18 October 1986). "A brand new Penny!". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013.
- Jennifer J. Bogdanski. "Sir Tim Rice – Singles & Other Songs". Tim Rice official web site. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- "Executive Stress Episode Guide". TV.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- "ABC Television airing schedule". ABC Television. Retrieved 1 January 2008.