Life of Riley (British TV series)

Life of Riley
Life of Riley titles
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Georgia Pritchett
Written by	Georgia Pritchett
Directed by	Martin Dennis
Starring	Caroline Quentin Neil Dudgeon
Opening theme	"The Life of Riley"
Composer	Willie Dowling - Jackdaw 4
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Alan Tyler Rosemary MaGowan
Producer	Catherine Bailey
Production locations	Pacific Quay Studios, Glasgow, Scotland
Editor	Furgus MacKinnon
Running time	6x 30mins
Production companies	Catherine Bailey Productions Limited BBC Scotland
Original release
Network	BBC One/BBC HD
Release	8 January 2009 – present

Life of Riley is a 2009 British comedy television series, shown on BBC One & BBC HD. The show stars Caroline Quentin and Neil Dudgeon, and is set around a dysfunctional family, who are recently married.

Airing

The first episode aired on 8 January 2009, and is currently showing on Thursdays at 8:00pm on BBC One. Each episode of Life of Riley also airs in High-definition on BBC HD.

Development

The six episode series was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, BBC Controller, Comedy Commissioning. The show is produced by Catherine Bailey Productions Limited for BBC Scotland, and is distributed by Outright Distribution Ltd. The series was written by Georgia Pritchett, and it was filmed at Pacific Quay Studios in Glasgow, Scotland and on location.

The theme music is a cover version of The Lightning Seeds' song, "The Life of Riley".

Plot

Jim (Dudgeon) and Maddy Riley are newlyweds, Jim has 2 children from a previous relationship, teenagers Katie and Danny, whilst Maddy also has two children of her own - primary schooler Ted from her previous marriage and baby Rosie with Jim.

Cast

• Caroline Quentin - Maddy Riley
• Neil Dudgeon - Jim Riley
• Lucinda Dryzek - Katy Riley
• Taylor Fawcett - Danny Riley
• Patrick Nolan - Ted Jackson

Critical Reception

Reviews for the series have been almost universally negative. The Herald described it as "a palpable flop" and "unfunny in any age" [1]. The Daily Telegraph noted that it was "another half-hour firmly on Planet Sitcom: that strange world where people behave not like anybody in real life, but merely like people in other sitcoms" [2]. The Daily Record called it a "lazy insult of a comedy" [3]. The Northern Echo observed that "there was something missing for a comedy – jokes" [4]; The Daily Mirror comments that there are "some witty moments but these are drowned out by more regular unfunny happenings, so unimaginative and staid it's embarrassing" [5]. The Independent headlined its review of the opening episode by calling it "a marital comedy divorced from wit" [6].

Episodes

Life of Riley will have run for six episodes by the end of series one. All episodes are thirty minutes. The first series currently airs at 8pm every Thursday.

In an unusual move it was announced in January 2009 that Lucy Lumsden, Controller of BBC Comedy Commissioning had ordered a 2009 Christmas special and two more series of ten episodes each (taking production up to 2011). A BBC press release quotes her as saying that Life of Riley is "going to be a cornerstone of BBC1 comedy programming for many years to come, and is the natural successor to My Family" (BBC Press Office)

#	Episode	Writer/s	Viewers	Original Airdate
1	"In The Family Way"	Georgia Pritchett	5.05m (20.8%)	8 January 2009
When Maddy finds a pregnancy test, she is convinced it belongs to one of her stepchildren - but she has a big surprise in store!
2	"New Beginnings"	Georgia Pritchett	TBA	15 January 2009
The cat's gone missing, half their possessions have vanished and a crate is doubling as the baby's cot. Maddy catches Danny smoking but Jim's way of disciplining Danny and his friend isn't the best idea.
3	"The Ex Factor"	Georgia Pritchett	TBA	22 January 2009
Maddy's husband Jim decides that her ex-husband Robbie is his new best friend. While the two of them bond by putting up shelves, Maddy's stepson decides to come out of the closet.
4	"Beating the Bully"	Georgia Pritchett	TBA	29 January 2009
Maddy's concern at Jim's new interest in boxing is not helped when he is entered for a fight with the local champion.
5	"Watch Thy Neighbour"	Georgia Pritchett	TBA	5 February 2009
Maddy and Jim invite the local busybody in for a cup of tea; getting rid of him proves to be easier said than done. Guest star: Matthew Kelly
6	"Stars in Their Eyes"	Georgia Pritchett	TBA	12 February 2009
Are the lives of the Riley family about to be made famous? A chance encounter with a TV comedy writer leaves Maddy in a spin...

External links

• Life of Riley programme guide at BBC Online
• Review, Leicester Mercury