A family man struggles to balance the conflicting demands of his children, his ex-wife, and his new partner.
George Kinsey (Rik Mayall) is a divorced father attempting to build a new life with his partner, Annie (Julia Ford). His efforts are continually undermined by the chaotic demands of his family: his adult children, his ever-present ex-wife Kay (Gemma Jones), her new partner Gordon (Jack Shepherd), and George’s sharp-tongued mother, Lily (Edna Doré). The serial follows George’s attempts to navigate various domestic crises, from anniversaries and new relationships to his mother’s sudden engagement, all while trying to keep his own life with Annie on a stable footing.
Created by Mike Bullen, All About George arrived with considerable expectations, following the success of his previous series, Cold Feet. The programme shifted the focus from thirty-something professionals to the chaotic dynamics of a blended family. It also marked a notable change of pace for its star, Rik Mayall. Trading his usual anarchic comedy for a more restrained, dramatic performance, Mayall played the beleaguered family man with a weary warmth. While it shared some of Cold Feet’s observational humour and emotional honesty, the series struggled to find a large audience and was not recommissioned. It remains an interesting entry in Bullen’s portfolio, an attempt to replicate a successful formula in a new domestic setting.
Broadcast: ITV – Granada, 6 Episodes, 29 September – 3 November 2005
Created by: Mike Bullen
Written by: Mike Bullen, Charlie Martin, Chris Chibnall
Directors: Euros Lyn, Jeremy Webb
Executive Producers: Andy Harries, Mike Bullen
Producer: Lucy Bedford
Main Cast: Rik Mayall (George Kinsey), Julia Ford (Annie), Gemma Jones (Kay), Jack Shepherd (Gordon), Edna Doré (Lily), Aidan McArdle (Dave), Sian Brooke (Laura), Penny Downie (Evelyn)
