A genre-stretching Carla Lane comedy series about four recovering alcoholics - Derek, Max, Zero and Danny - who meet while undergoing psychotherapy in hospital. The series dealt not with alcoholism so much as failure, with the men seemingly unable to cope with life alone and so drawing necessary strength from their companionship.

In screening the series on BBC1 - rather than BBC2, which had been home to Lane's two previous series, Leaving and The Mistress - the Corporation must have recognised the series' ambition. Some critics slated I Woke Up One Morning for having too much drama and not enough comedy, although this was obviously what the author was striving for. Regardless of any short-comings, however, few British comedy writers at this time were willing to propel the sitcom into such thoughtful and dark areas.

Mark Lewisohn

Last Update: 07:01:2002