| Spark | |
|---|---|
 Opening title card | |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Written by | Roy Clarke |
| Directed by | Angela de Chastelai Smith |
| Starring |
|
| Composer | Roy Moore |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Mike Stephens |
| Editor | Roger Martin |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 10 November (1997-11-10) – 15 December 1997 (1997-12-15) |
Spark is British televisionsitcom that was first broadcast onBBC One from 10 November to 15 December 1997. Written byRoy Clarke, the six-episode series starredJames Fleet,Jan Francis,Anne Reid,Brigit Forsyth and Rebecca Raybone.
Following the death of his mother, mild-mannered computer expert Ashley Parkerwell finds himself free to experience life and romance. Although already in a relationship with Gillian Wells, who is determined to marry him due to the urging of her mother, Ashley does not love her. With the help of his sister-in-law, Colette, and housekeeper Mrs Rudge, Ashley embarks on a series of dates to find a prospective partner.[1]
The series was broadcast at 8:30 pm onBBC One.[1][2] It has never been repeated since its first broadcast run.[2]
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [2][3] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Fourth Cousin Kimberley" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 10 November 1997 (1997-11-10) | |
| 2 | "Beth" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 17 November 1997 (1997-11-17) | |
Guest starring Guy Vincent and Christopher Armstrong.[2] | |||||
| 3 | "Beth Again" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 24 November 1997 (1997-11-24) | |
Guest starringMike Walling and Christopher Scoular.[2] | |||||
| 4 | "Ursula" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 1 December 1997 (1997-12-01) | |
| 5 | "Ursula... Sober This Time" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 8 December 1997 (1997-12-08) | |
| 6 | "The Girl at the Bull's Head" | Angela de Chastelai Smith | Roy Clarke | 15 December 1997 (1997-12-15) | |
Guest starring Bryan Lawrence and Philip Snipe.[2] | |||||
The series was one ofRoy Clarke's final television sitcoms,[4][5] written at the same time Clarke was writingLast of the Summer Wine (1973–2010).[6]
The series was unsuccessful with the public and only lasted one series.[4]The Independent'sThomas Sutcliffe drew comparisons between the series and theWoody Allen comedy filmPlay It Again, Sam (1972). Sutcliffe noted that Ashley's character is similar to the "klutzy but lovable sexual incompetent" Allen character, while Colette is similar to theDiane Keaton character, who attempts to help Ashley with his relationships. However, Sutcliffe noted that, despite the similarities, Ashley's character "seems to have a mental age of six" which causes viewers to "feel almost embarrassed to be in his company".[7]
Marcus Berkmann, writing inThe Spectator, was critical ofSpark's premise, describing it as being an "old idea" that was "more grizzled" than the elderly characters inLast of the Summer Wine (1973–2010), the sitcomRoy Clarke was writing at the same time. Berkmann also criticised the "awful stereotypical" brother of Ashley, the several "allegedly hilarious" scrapes that Ashley finds himself in, and the bland minor characters, "northern grotesques who ramble on incessantly to fill time before the next scrape".[8]
Mark Lewisohn, writing in theRadio Times Guide to TV Comedy, praisedJames Fleet's andJan Francis's performances in the series, but noted that the plot "moved with the stately pace of the hearse that took away Ashley's mother in the opening episode". Though acknowledging that the series was "bittersweet" and "full of typically colourful Roy Clarke dialogue", Lewisohn noted that the series was "short on belly laughs and long (overlong, really) on whimsy and artful observation".[1]