The Old Guys

Production

The sitcom is produced by BBC Scotland, and is written by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell and Sam Bain. The show was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, BBC Controller of Comedy Commissioning in 2008. It is recorded at BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow.

In 2005, while in the early stages of development, a script for The Old Guys was used for a BBC Three competition, The Last Laugh, aimed at encouraging young writers. Along with seven other scripts for potential sitcoms, the first 13 scenes were published, and entrants invited to write the remainder.

Characters

• Roger Lloyd-Pack as Tom
• Clive Swift as Roy
• Jane Asher as Sally
• Katherine Parkinson as Amber
• Vincent Ebrahim as Rajan
• Justin Edwards as Steve

Title music

For its theme tune the series has used Ivor Cutler's distinctive song "I'm Happy", which can be found on his 1967 Ludo album. The theme song heard during the end credits is "Barabadabada" from his 1976 Jammy Smears album. Series 1 used the original recording of "I'm Happy", whilst Series 2 used a version performed by Lloyd-Pack and Swift.

Episodes

Main article: List of The Old Guys episodes

The Old Guys ran for twelve episodes over two series. All episodes are thirty minutes. The first series aired at around 9:30 pm every Saturday. The first episode gained 4.95 million viewers, an audience share of 22.5%. The second episode slumped slightly with 3.75 million (17.2%) viewers. The second series began on 9 July 2010 and ended on 13 August 2010. Both series of the show are occasionally repeated on Gold as part of their late-night broadcasting schedules. In 2011, rumours were spread that the writers of The Old Guys were secretly developing a 60 minute special for a Christmas broadcast in which Tom and Roy decide what to get each other for Christmas. This rumour was later denied by officials. The show has since been cancelled.--

Reception

The Old Guys received mixed reviews. David Chater in The Times stated, "There is nothing wrong with the comic performances, but such an unashamedly old-fashioned format is strangely at odds with its subject matter. Peep Show this isn't." The Daily Mirror commented, "Moved to a new home on Friday nights, where it's much-needed, the second series of The Old Guys feels as comfortable as a pair of slippers."

International distribution

In Australia the show originally aired on ABC1. In the US the first series is currently available on some PBS stations.

Home media

The first series of The Old Guys was released on Region 2 DVD on 28 June 2010. Both series are also available to buy on iTunes, despite the second one not being released on DVD.

References

References

1. "The Old Guys". British Comedy Guide.
2. (19 March 2008). "Two brand new sitcoms from BBC Scotland – ''Life Of Riley'' and ''The Old Guys''". BBC Press Office.
3. "''The Old Guys'' Series 2 (2010)". [[British Comedy Guide]].
4. Guide, British Comedy. "The Old Guys press clippings".
5. (28 June 2010). "The Old Guys - Series 1".