A man’s fortieth birthday triggers a spectacular mid-life crisis in this three-part comic drama.
On the eve of turning forty, architect Gregory (Mark Benton) finds his comfortable life imploding. He is juggling an affair, a demanding job, and the elaborate party preparations being orchestrated by his wife, Maggie (Kerry Fox). His anxieties are amplified by his circle of friends, including the enigmatic television producer Ralph (Eddie Izzard), the successful Rob (Hugo Speer), and his ex-flame Jess (Joanne Whalley). Over three consecutive days, Gregory’s personal and professional deceptions unravel, forcing him to confront the state of his marriage, his career, and his identity as he stands on the precipice of middle age.
Written by Bryan Elsley, this miniseries is a sharp anatomy of male anxiety. The narrative uses the looming milestone of a fortieth birthday not as a simple gimmick but as the catalyst for a full-scale emotional breakdown. The production draws its strength from a formidable ensemble cast, with Benton’s central performance capturing a man whose desperation is both pathetic and darkly comic. While the subject of the mid-life crisis was a television staple of the period, Elsley’s script gives the material a cynical, contemporary edge, constructing a witty and painful account of personal failure.
Broadcast: Channel 4, 3 Episodes, 8 April – 10 April 2003
Written by: Bryan Elsley
Director: David Moore
Producers: Stewart Barlow, Emma Burge
Executive Producers: Bryan Elsley, Charles Pattinson, George Faber
Main Cast: Mark Benton (Gregory), Kerry Fox (Maggie), Eddie Izzard (Ralph), Nimmy March (Anita), Vincent Regan (Ken), Hugo Speer (Rob), Joanne Whalley (Jess), Amira Casar (Kristina), Yasmin Kerr (Amy), Caroline Chikezie (Denise), Jalaal Hartley (Teddy), Chloe Howman (Angela), Millie Findlay (Katy), Adie Allen (Joanne)
