Linda Green
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | October 30, 2001 |
| Fate | Cancelled after second season |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Owner | BBC One |
| Parent | Red Production Company |
Linda Green is a British comedy-drama television show that was broadcast on BBC One from 30 October 2001 until 17 December 2002. The independent Red Production Company produced the series for the BBC, with creation credited to Paul Abbott. Among the writers were Sorted creator Danny Brocklehurst, Catherine Johnson, and Russell T Davies. The production was overseen by Phil Collinson.
Plot
The narrative follows Linda Green, a woman in her thirties who works as a car sales representative by day and performs as a singer in a nightclub during the evenings. The storyline delves into her romantic and personal difficulties, highlighting her connections with Jimmy McKenzie (Sean Gallagher), a mechanic and occasional romantic interest; Michelle Fenton (Claire Rushbrook), who works as a chiropodist; and Darren Alexander (Daniel Ryan), a kitchen fitter by trade. Michelle and Darren cohabit with their children Jamie (Lee Shepherd), Leanne (Jodie Hamblet), and in the second season, their newborn Eric. Despite their family duties, Michelle and Darren frequently accompany Linda and Jimmy for social outings.
Linda's family comprises her mother Iris, employed as a magistrates' court clerk (Rachel Davies), and her father Frank, who serves as a deputy headteacher (Dave Hill). She has two younger siblings: Katie (Jessica Harris), who acts as her close confidante, and Philip ("Fizz") (Bruno Langley), who hopes to enlist in the Army despite his parents' concerns. As the eldest sibling and favored child of her father, Linda often relies on her parents for guidance during her relationship challenges. Her former partner Ricky Pinder (John Donnelly) reappears in the series as Katie's boyfriend. Recurring characters include club singer Coral (Jacinta Sloan) and comedian Danny De Bouy.
Cast
The role of Linda was played by Liza Tarbuck, primarily recognized as a television presenter, though initially trained as an actress with a prominent role in ITV’s sitcom Watching starting in 1987. The show featured guest appearances from well-known actors such as Christopher Eccleston, David Morrissey, Simon Pegg, Pam Ferris, Anne Reid, Amelia Bullmore, George Costigan, Jamie Theakston, Martin Freeman, Peter Kay, Nicholas Gleaves, Maxine Peake, Meera Syal, and Mark Benton. Additionally, Tarbuck’s father, Jimmy Tarbuck, portrayed her character’s uncle Vic Green, an ex-Army man. Emerging stand-up comedians Sarah Darlington and Jolanta Migdalska also appeared, alongside Andy Devine, who played Syd Jenkins, the gruff boss of Linda and Jimmy.
Renewal
Although the series initially attracted strong viewership, audience numbers declined during its second season, leading to its cancellation after that run. The second season has not been made available on DVD.