My Family (series 7)
The seventh series of the BBC family sitcom My Family originally aired between 6 April 2007 and 26 December 2007. The series was commissioned following consistently high ratings from the sixth series. The opening episode, "The Ego Has Landed", re-introduces the seven main characters. All episodes from the seventh series are thirty minutes in length, with the exception of the Christmas special. The series was once again produced by Rude Boy Productions,[1] a company that produces comedies created by Fred Barron.[2] The series was filmed at Pinewood Studios in London,[3] in front of a live audience.[4]
| My Family | |
|---|---|
| Series 7 | |
 My Family Series 7 DVD Cover | |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of episodes | 9 + Christmas Special |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC |
| Original release | 6 April – 26 December 2007 |
| Series chronology | |
Episode Information
| # | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original airdate | Duration | Viewership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 74 | "The Ego Has Landed" | Dewi Humphreys | Tom Anderson | 6 April 2007 | 30 minutes | 6.65 million |
| Ben and Susan have dinner with Les and Clare Morton, whom they met in Corfu, who ask Ben to be a sperm donor for them, something that increases Ben's ego. However, Dr. Kent Hawthorne (Jeremy Clyde) tells Ben that his sperm are "too lazy." Meanwhile, Janey is horrified when Kenzo's father, Mark Jameson, arrives and says that he now wants to be part of Kenzo's life. Janey is then upset when Kenzo calls Mark's wife, Linda, his "new Mummy", and she stops Mark from seeing Kenzo, until Susan persuades her otherwise. Abi has a dream that Roger cheated on her and later dreams that she has slept with Orlando Bloom. | ||||||
| 75 | "Four Affairs and a Funeral" | Dewi Humphreys | Steve Armogida and Jim Armogida | 13 April 2007 | 30 minutes | 5.58 million |
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Henry (Eric Sykes), an elderly patient of Ben's, comes to the surgery for treatment and confesses that he is unhappy in his marriage; he feels that his wife, at the age of 42, might be a tad too old for him, so he has started an affair with a much younger woman. However, Henry soon dies in the surgery chair and leaves Ben in a very sticky situation – a situation that Roger isn't too pleased about being roped into either. Soon, Ben finds himself comforting the wife of Henry but even sooner, he finds himself being dragged into the world of Henry's other woman. Meanwhile, Susan is getting suspicious and follows Ben to the funeral much to his dismay. Absent: Kenzo Harper | ||||||
| 76 | "Once More With Feeling" | Dewi Humphreys | Steve Armogida and Jim Armogida | 20 April 2007 | 30 minutes | 5.64 million |
| Susan suggests to Ben that they renew their wedding vows, but he is reluctant and when he is given director's tickets for a football match, they have to find a compromise that allows both to happen on the same day. Meanwhile, Janey is trying to getting Kenzo into St. Justin's School, and to do so has to impress the Vicar, Denis, who soon asks Janey out, but later goes off her after a conversation with Susan. However, he still agrees to recommend Kenzo for the school. Also, Abi and Roger decide to marry on a Saturday and Ben's not-so-innocent chat with Kenzo leads to him grassing up Ben and consequently Susan stopping him from going to the football match. | ||||||
| 77 | "Dutch Art and Dutch Courage" | Dewi Humphreys | Steve Armogida and Jim Armogida | 27 April 2007 | 30 minutes | 5.72 million |
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Susan is going away for the weekend with a millionaire James Garrett (Robert Bathurst) on an art-buying trip, which makes Ben jealous. At the hotel it is discovered that James' assistant forgot to book him a room, so he and Susan have to share a twin room. Meanwhile, Michael experiences his first failure when he fails his driving test. The following day Ben drives him to his university interview, and on the way buys Michael his first pint, which results in him throwing up all over the professor. Also, Janey hurts her neck at the gym and Alfie gives her an amazing massage which she then recommends to Abi resulting in a rather jealous Roger. Absent: Kenzo Harper | ||||||
| 78 | "Susan of Troy" | Dewi Humphreys | Ed Dyson | 4 May 2007 | 30 minutes | 6.48 million |
| Susan's mother Grace visits, and tells them she has got married on holiday to Brad. Soon after Ben, Susan, Michael, Janey, Alfie, Grace, Brad, Abi and Roger appear on a family edition of The Weakest Link, presented by Anne Robinson, after Michael applied to go on. Abi is voted off first, followed by Roger, Janey and Brad. Before Grace is voted off, she reveals on air that in 1973 a drunken Susan married a wrestler called Troy the Punisher in Las Vegas. Susan is then voted off, followed by a furious Ben, who demands to know what happened. Susan tells him the marriage was annulled after one day. In the head to head, Alfie beats Michael to win the £3000 prize money. | ||||||
| 79 | "One of the Boys" | Dewi Humphreys | David Cantor | 11 May 2007 | 30 minutes | 6.76 million |
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Ben's old University friend, Charlie Briggs (Diana Weston) arrives and when he arrives Ben faints as it is revealed Charlie has had a sex change and is now a woman called Charlotte. She asks Ben to give her away at her forthcoming wedding, but his initial reluctance sees Susan agree to give her away instead. Meanwhile, Roger's mother Nerys Bailey (Olwyn Reeves) arrives from Wales to meet Abi. She treats Roger like a child, and says that as a wedding present she is buying them a house next to hers in Wales. Susan has to force Roger to tell his mother he does not want to live next to her. Janey needs £10,000 so she can buy a share in a vintage clothing company, but the bank refuses her a loan. Absent: Kenzo Harper | ||||||
| 80 | "Abi Ever After" | Dewi Humphreys | George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore | 18 May 2007 | 30 minutes | 5.86 million |
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The day before Roger and Abi's wedding, Ben and Susan hold a party. Abi's mother Shelley (Lorraine Chase), who has been married several times, tries to make a pass at Ben. Meanwhile, Michael and Alfie try to chat up a girl, and both tell her the other is gay. On the wedding day, Ben is best man and Janey is bridesmaid. It is also Janey's birthday, and her boyfriend Steve dumps her over the phone. When taking their vows, Abi says she cannot marry Roger, and tells Susan that she fears she will end up like her mother. However, Susan talks her round and Abi and Roger marry. Absent: Kenzo Harper | ||||||
| 81 | "Breaking Up Ain't Hard To Do" | Dewi Humphreys | Brian Leveson and Paul Minett | 25 May 2007 | 30 minutes | 5.57 million |
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Ben and Susan's oldest friends, Ted and Joanna Draper (Geoffrey McGivern and Emma Amos), are having marriage problems and Ben and Susan soon get involved. They then argue themselves about what in the house belongs to who. Meanwhile, Janey wants Kenzo to appear in a television advert for breakfast cereal, but pulls him out just before the audition as she begins to feel guilty that she isn't giving Kenzo a choice and is then offered a part herself. Michael tries unsuccessfully to make Alfie an Internet musical star but due to Alfie's stage fright, even though the only other person in the room is Michael, prevents his debut. Absent: Abi Harper, Roger Bailey Jr | ||||||
| 82 | "Life Begins At Fifty" | Dewi Humphreys | George Jeffrie and Bert Tyler-Moore | 8 June 2007 | 30 minutes | 4.84 million |
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Susan is arrested for stealing a pair of £250 sunglasses, at the same as she is going through the menopause. However, she refuses to accept that this has caused her to forget to pay for them. When the case goes to court Ben defends her and tries to persuade the Court that the stealing was a result of the menopause. The Judge (Nichola McAuliffe) dismisses the case and gives Susan advice on the menopause much to Susan's disgust. Meanwhile, Alfie takes Kenzo to the park for Janey and meets a girl called Melanie, and later pretends Kenzo is his son and Janey his ex-wife – but can he convince Janey to play along? Absent: Kenzo Harper Note: This episode was moved back a week, as no episode was aired on Friday 1 June 2007 as BBC One showed live coverage of England's friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium in its time slot On 1 June 2007. | ||||||
| 83 | "Ho Ho No" | Baz Taylor | Tom Anderson | 26 December 2007 | 60 minutes | 6.14 million |
| Susan tells Ben that she has planned his perfect Christmas, a quiet stay at a country hotel without the children. However, she has secretly invited the whole family, and Alfie turns up with his strange uncle and Michael brings his Communist girlfriend Gwen. Susan tries to ensure that Ben does not see the rest of the family, which proves difficult when Abi, who has become the hotel's massage therapist, has to give him a massage. Later that evening, Crystal, one of Ben's patient's who is stalking him, turns up saying her fiance has just escaped from prison and is coming to kill Ben, and a mysterious man (John Challis) who says he is an actor playing Jacob Marley turns up. Susan and Ben then run round the hotel trying to hide from the fiance, and soon Ben sees that the whole family is there. Gwen's father then turns up. Later, when Ben goes to Reception, the Police tell him that Crystal's fiance has been caught. When he and the rest of the family go back into the main hall it has been mysteriously decorated and Christmas presents placed on the floor. | ||||||
Reception
Viewers
The series was once again given a prime-time Friday evening slot, with most episodes airing at 8:30pm. No episodes in the series managed to attract over 6.8 million viewers, a considerable loss compared to previous series.[5]
The final episode of the series, "Life Begins at Fifty", was moved back a week due to international football, as BBC One showed live coverage of England's friendly against Brazil at the new Wembley Stadium in its time slot on 1 June 2007, losing around 1.5 million viewers.
The seventh series averaged 5.92 million viewers for each episode.
| Rank | Episode | Viewership | Audience percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One Of The Boys | 6.76 million | |
| 2 | The Ego Has Landed | 6.65 million | |
| 3 | Susan Of Troy | 6.48 million | |
| 4 | Ho Ho No | 6.14 million | |
| 5 | Abi Ever After | 5.86 million | |
| 6 | Dutch Art And Dutch Courage | 5.72 million | |
| 7 | Once More With Feeling | 5.64 million | |
| 8 | Four Affairs And A Funeral | 5.58 million | |
| 9 | Breaking Up Ain't Hard To Do | 5.57 million | |
| 10 | Life Begins At Fifty | 4.84 million |
Critics
Tom Simpson, of My Family Online, reviewed that one particular episode from the series stands out. He states that "One Of The Boys", written by the mate of Jason, David Cantor, is a "brilliant, lively, funny episode that also contains a rare moment of emotion", and that the episode brought a tear to his eye.[6]
References
- "Sitcom Production Companies". Archived from the original on 16 May 2008.
- "Rude Boy Productions".
- "My Family". Archived from the original on 25 April 2009.
- "Television Audiences". Archived from the original on 18 June 2008.
- "Weekly terrestrial top 30 (BBC 1) w/e 8 Apr. 2007".
- "My Family Online Review".