A television comedy-drama mini-series – by Bob Denton
THE CHAIN PARTICIPANTS:
NADIA AND RYAN
Mid-20s couple who have been renting a one-bedded flat in Redland, Bristol for two years:
Nadia Anand: indulged daughter of successful Indian parents, rather quick to swear. Born in Bristol, a midwife at St Michael’s Hospital, plays netball and viola for Bristol Symphony Orchestra.
Ryan Doyle: calm, diffident, well-spoken, born in Surrey. Attended UWE where he met Nadia. A wildlife researcher for the BBC Natural History Unit, attends a gym, plays rugby, potholes.
KYLE AND ETHAN
30-somethings in a two-bedded mid-terrace property in Totterdown, Bristol for three years:
yle Baker: fussy, meddlesome, from Weston-super-Mare. A successful freelance interior designer, fair-haired, ambitious for expanding his work. He has a bichon frise called ‘Chico’.
Ethan White: penchant for sleeveless T-shirts to show off his ink, vain, larger than life. Australian, in UK for eight years, gym manager, personal trainer, fair-haired, slowly spoken, over-uses Oz idioms.
LIZ AND TIM
Late 40s, four-bedded detached period home in Nailsea (Bristol dormitory) for thirteen years:
Liz Marshall: pessimistic, loyal, earth-mother. She misses her 20-year-old daughter Jessica (at Exeter Uni). She works locally as a clerk and volunteers at animal sanctuary. She has a cockapoo, ‘Henry’.
Tim Marshall: Intolerant, bit of a bore, a warehouse manager at nearby Avonmouth. Keen on local history and over-uses figures of speech. Has Ganesh, a mynah bird.
SANDRA AND DONALD
60-somethings in a three-bed house in Westbury Park, Bristol for 20+ years, now downsizing:
Sandra Webb: erratic, clumsy, likes her drink, retired lower-school teacher. She would like to move to Hampshire to be near her daughter but will not defy Donald on his wish to stay living locally.
Donald Webb: over-confident pompous, ex-Royal Navy, former pharmaceutical rep, now retired and very committed to Bristol. He has been ill which has triggered the desire to move.
MANDY AND CHRISTOPHE
Early-40s childless couple, lived in a Bristol Harbourside apartment for three years, now divorcing:
Mandy Leclerc: anxious, temperamental and spiteful. From Bristol she met Christophe while she was working as a PA at Airbus. She plans to move in with her widowed mum in Hungerford.
Christophe Leclerc: arrogant, serial adulterer, French from Toulouse. He works at Airbus and wants to hurry matters up to move back to his home town.
MINOR PARTS:
Steve Watson of Prestige Homes, Nailsea: early 50s, predictable, pedestrian. He dresses in ‘county style’ – brown/green jacket with leather elbows, cavalry twill trousers and brogues.
Jack Dawes of Luce Dawes Property Agents: mid-20s, theatrical, likeable, Afro-Caribbean, perhaps just a little too slick, sharply-dressed with jacket that’s too small, tight trousers, bare ankles…
Vincent Young: nice personality but young (19). Inexperienced (in life as well as estate agency), he wears a suit that looks as if it belongs to someone else, more suitable for a wedding or attending court.
Jessica Marshall: Marshall’s daughter, currently at Exeter University, dresses as a typical student.
Dominik and Helena Jankowski: young Polish couple who are interested in Kyle/Ethan’s house.
Mrs Wilson, views Liz/Tim’s house, but is mot sincerely interested.
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