"Eyes Down" (2003)TV series 2003-2004

Director:

Christine Gernon

Writer:

Angela Clarke (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

15 August 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Bingo | Liverpool | Staff | Lives | Punters

Cast

Paul O'Grady	...	Ray Temple (15 episodes, 2003-2004)
Sheridan Smith	...	Sandy Beech (13 episodes, 2003-2004)
Rosie Cavaliero	...	Christine McMurray (7 episodes, 2004)
Neil Fitzmaurice	...	Bobby Rutt (7 episodes, 2004)
Tony Maudsley	...	Martin Munroe (7 episodes, 2004)
Edna Doré	...	Mary Hardcastle (7 episodes, 2004)
Beatrice Kelley	...	Kitty (7 episodes, 2004)
Hazel Douglas	...	Kathline (7 episodes, 2004)
Margaret John	...	Kay (7 episodes, 2004)
Michelle Butterly	...	Pamela (6 episodes, 2003)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Ray: [on being told Kitty, Kay and Kathleen will be late for bingo] And you all said voodoo was a long-shot.

Vicious yet hilarious.

So often sappy characters and dreary, 'positive' storylines that often make you wretch can bring down a sitcom. Every now and then I wonder what it would be like to see a series that focuses on a group of oddball, venomous people that may not like each other, but the verbal sparring is reason enough to keep tuning in. Well, finally, my prayers were answered when I discovered Eyes Down. The sheer ferocity of barbed comments and often hilarious lines keep you hooked throughout every episode. Of course, a series centred on a thoroughly unlikeable individual has the potential to turn people right off, but Eyes Down blends the right amount of good-natured ribbing and pure bitchiness into every scene.

The series revolves around the staff of The Rio, a bingo hall in the North of England. As manager of The Rio for many years, Ray Temple has had quite enough of it. His life is blighted by the quality of the clientele, and the frankly mystifying behaviour of his staff. He's a loner in this world, believing to be above it all, and delights in making fun of people's insecurities. His staff are a collection of nutcases at best. Number checker Martin is overweight, timid, and madly in love with Christine. Christine runs the canteen, and is also unlucky in love. Divorced from her husband, she only has Penny, her frisky pet Chihuahua, to smother her love upon. Cleaner Mary is an eccentric, toothless elderly lady, ready to dispense advice to the staff and regaling them with tales of the perils of getting old, such as prolapsed wombs and humps on your back. Sandy is the assistant number checker, and also pregnant. Young and pretty, yet extremely dense, she spends her days planning her future for her, the baby and her beloved boyfriend Terry. Finally there's handyman Bobby Rutt, ready to solve any electrical problem. Bobby also has a lust for anything in a skirt with a pair of breasts, and is always ready to drop everything if there's a chance of a 'romantic encounter' with a member of the opposite sex. The cast of characters is rounded off with Kitty, Kay and Kathline, three old age pensioners who religiously come to The Rio, and are obsessed with superstition and luck. They'll go to any lengths to ensure a win, from wearing rings of black pudding around their necks to deciding that flatulence is lucky.

Eyes Down is perhaps one of the more pleasing sitcoms to emerge this year. In my opinion, there has to be a solid set of well drawn out characters in any series to make it watchable. Eyes Down delivers with ease. It's these characters that make it what it is, and make the occasional flaws bearable. The cast are all perfect choices for their roles, and each bring something different to the table. Paul O'Grady has finally stepped out of his famous alter ego's stilettos and made a comedy gem in Ray. Fire in his eyes, venom dripping from his teeth, he clearly enjoys every minute of it, as did I. Although Lily Savage is pretty much an icon, Ray Temple is a worthy addition to O'Grady's numerous guises. Tony Maudsley is passable as Martin, as is Rosie Cavaliero as Christine, but they are the nicest of the bunch, which often means they pale in comparison to the others. Edna Dore is a revelation as Mary, gumming her way through every line with expert precision. You certainly won't forget one of her many little speeches in a hurry. Sheridan Smith has proved herself a talented performer, making Sandy both adorable and funny. Neil Fitzmaurice's impish grins are priceless, and the combined talents of Beatrice Kelley, Hazel Douglas and Margaret John make Kitty, Kathline and Kay hilarious to watch. Eyes Down isn't totally perfect, as there are some glaring faults. The plots can veer towards the thin and unconvincing, some jokes miss the mark by a mile, and the set looks like it was knocked up in ten minutes before taping began. Still, it doesn't detract from the cast, who spit vindictive comebacks at lightening speed, and always raise a laugh. I do hope that Eyes Down returns for a second series, as it's a damn shame when good sitcoms aren't given the chance to develop. Let's hope that we'll all be going to The Rio again very soon.