"Outside Edge" (1994)TV series 1994-1996

Director:

Nick Hurran

Writer:

Richard Harris (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Sitcom | Cricket Game

Awards:

4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Josie Lawrence

...

Maggie Costello (22 episodes, 1994-1996)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Central Independent Television

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 40 Years of Laughter: The Sitcoms (1995) (TV)

"Come Along, Miriam! Chop! Chop!"

I've never been fond of cricket, so I was tempted to give 'Outside Edge' a miss. I only watched because of the presence of Timothy Spaull ( of 'Auf Pet' fame ) and the scrumptious Josie Lawrence. I'm glad I tuned in because if I hadn't I'd have missed I.T.V.'s last truly great sitcom, a delightful show centred around two cricket-mad men, Roger Dervish and Kevin Costello, and their contrasting wives, the prim and proper Miriam and larger-than-life Maggie. Shot on film, and without a studio audience to ruin the best lines, 'Outside Edge' was satisfying on all levels. It didn't bend over backwards to be funny. The regular cast were perfect, in particular Robert Daws, whose 'Roger' must rival 'Gordon Brittas' as the sitcom character you'd most like to throttle. The show had its tragic moments too; witness Maggie's sad pleas for pregnancy in the Corfu Xmas special. With more and more modern sitcoms relying on toilet humour for comic effect, it seems unlikely that we will get many more series of this ilk. More's the pity.