Way to Go (TV series)
Way to Go is a British television sitcom, created by American television writer and producer Bob Kushell, about three men who start an assisted suicide business. The series premiered on BBC Three on 17 January 2013 and ran to six 30-minute episodes.[1] In July 2013 it was announced that Way to Go had been axed after one series.[2]
Way to Go | |
---|---|
Genre | Sitcom |
Created by | Bob Kushell |
Starring | Blake Harrison Marc Wootton Ben Heathcote Laura Aikman Sinead Matthews |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 6 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Jon Plowman |
Producer(s) | Justin Davies |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | BBC Three |
Original release | 17 January – 21 February 2013 |
External links | |
Website |
Regular cast and characters
- Blake Harrison as Scott
Scott is a receptionist at a veterinary clinic who dropped out of medical school when he couldn't afford to pay for it. The moral centre of the show, Scott constantly struggles with the implications of the business of death that is opening up life opportunities for him and his friends.
- Ben Heathcote as Joey
Scott's womanizing, gambling-addicted, wise-cracking half brother.
- Marc Wootton as Cozzo
Scott's waggish pal who works as a fast-food machine repair technician.
- Laura Aikman as Julia
The daughter of Paddy, the boys' first client, she ends up becoming Scott's girlfriend.
- Sinead Matthews as Debbie
Cozzo's extraordinarily tolerant, newly pregnant wife, who also happens to be a police officer.
- Hannah Job as Lucie
Scott's sexy, but somewhat vapid ex-girlfriend who has high expectations and "great arms".
- Melanie Jessop as Dr. Jill
Scott's Machiavellian, sexually-harassing boss, she is the veterinarian at the pet clinic.
Episodes
# | Title | Writer | Director | Original air date | Viewers | |
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1 | "The Beginning of the End" | Bob Kushell | Catherine Morshead | 17 January 2013[3] | TBA | |
Scott, fresh off being dumped by his girlfriend, helps prevent his brother Joey from being killed by money-lenders by reluctantly agreeing to an offer to assist the terminally ill man across the hall with his suicide. Scott employs his friend Cozzo to help build the machine that will do it. But Cozzo, whose prying wife Debbie is a police officer, decides that if he's going to take the risk, they should turn assisted-suicide into a business. | ||||||
2 | "The Business End of Things" | Bob Kushell | Catherine Morshead | 24 January 2013[4] | TBA | |
When the guys' second client deems their assisted-suicide operation amateurish, Scott drags his bumbling group to a business seminar, where things get even more unprofessional. Joey, meanwhile, still owes money to his lender and, as punishment, has to sadistically punish someone else. | ||||||
3 | "The Be-All and End-All" | Bob Kushell | Catherine Morshead | 31 January 2013[5] | TBA | |
Scott dances on the edge when he falls for Julia - who is his first client, Paddy's, beautiful daughter. Julia's on a search for Paddy's valuable George Best football boots, the very thing her father gave Scott as payment for assisting him with his suicide. Will Scott keep her from discovering his illegal business? Joey romances a Goth girl on the floor of a chicken restaurant, and Cozzo's wife Debbie becomes suspicious after finding his hidden stash of money. Meanwhile, the three friends make a dirty old man's final wish come true. | ||||||
4 | "The Bitter End" | Russell Arch | Catherine Morshead | 7 February 2013[5] | TBA | |
When Scott's troubles in the bedroom are exacerabated by his sexual harassment at work, he plans a special night for Julia. Joey falls off the gambling wagon and Cozzo has to pretend he's Jewish in order to satisfy a client's dying needs. | ||||||
5 | "Dead End" | Brian Dooley | Catherine Morshead | 14 February 2013[5] | TBA | |
Scott and Cozzo force Joey to go to a gambling addicts group, only to have it backfire on their business. Cozzo decides to get healthy for his baby. Scott, in a desperate move to get Julia back, claims he's struggling with an addiction of his own: sex. | ||||||
6 | "The End of the Beginning" | Jeff Greenstein | Jeff Greenstein | 21 February 2013[5] | TBA | |
After Julia breaks up with Scott, he decides to get away and suggests the guys splurge on a corporate retreat at a beautiful hotel in the country. While there, Cozzo faces his body issues, Scott hooks up with his ex-girlfriend and Joey meets his childhood hero, an 80s TV star (Warren Clarke) who asks Joey to help him die. |
Music
The show's theme tune, "Superstar Luck Machine" was composed by Ian Masterson.[6]
Controversy
A week and a half before the show began airing, Conservative Tory MP Mark Pritchard publicly criticised the BBC for commissioning the programme and turning the subject of assisted dying into "a matter of fun".
References
- "BBC Three commissions new comedy Way To Go". BBC. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2012.
- Jeffery, Morgan (1 July 2013). "BBC Three axes controversial sitcom 'Way To Go'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- "Way To Go - Episode 1.1. The Beginning Of The End". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "Way To Go - Episode 1.2. The Business End Of Things". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "Way To Go - Episode 1.3. The Be All & End All". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "Way To Go - Production Details". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 21 February 2013.