Carla Lane

THE MISTRESS

UK BBC SITCOM 12 x 30 mins colour
Series One (6) 17 Jan-21 Feb 1985 BBC2
Series Two (6) 22 Jan-26 Feb 1987 BBC2

MAIN CAST
Maxine
Luke

Helen
Jamie

CREDITS
Writer
Director/Producer

Felicity Kendal
Jack Galloway (series 1)
Peter McEnery (series 2)
Jane Asher
Tony Copley (series 2)

Carla Lane
Gareth Gwenlan

After exploring the mind of a woman contemplating but never committing adultery (Butterflies), and a woman discovering that her long-term live-in lover was having an affair (Solo), writer Carla Lane here turned her attention to a fully fledged 'other woman' comedy, depicting a man's mistress. This is Maxine, who manages a florist shop and is having an affair with Luke (whose wife, Helen, is unsuspecting).

This series came at a time when Carla Lane was writing increasingly downbeat comedies, intentionally moving away from gags and utilising humour as a pressure valve in situations tinged with angst, disillusionment and melancholy. But the character of Maxine - despite suffering understandable pangs of guilt and worries regarding her insecure relationship - remained chirpy, liberated and optimistic. This appeared to indicate that, superficially at least, the advantages of conducting an affair outweigh the disadvantages. As Lane also realised, however, one's viewpoint on dangerous liaisons depends entirely upon one's role in the scenario.

Mark Lewisohn

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