Coupling
Coupling series two European DVD cover
Genre	Comedy / Sitcom British comedy British sitcom
Creator(s)	Steven Moffat
Starring	Sarah Alexander Gina Bellman Richard Coyle Jack Davenport Kate Isitt Ben Miles
Opening theme	Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Vocals by Mari Wilson)
Ending theme	Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Vocals by Mari Wilson)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
No. of series	4
No. of episodes	28 (List of episodes)
Production
Producer(s)	Sue Vertue
Executive producer(s)	Beryl Vertue (series 1-3) Geoffrey Perkins (series 1 & 2) Sophie Clarke-Jervoise (series 3-4)
Running time	30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC Two BBC Three(Series 4)
Original run	May 12, 2000 – June 14, 2004
Chronology
Related shows	Joking Apart
Links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

Coupling is a British television sitcom written by Steven Moffat that aired on BBC2 from May 2000 to 2004. Produced by Hartswood Films for the BBC, the show centres on the dating and sexual adventures and mishaps of six friends in their thirties, often depicting the three women and the three men each talking amongst themselves about the same events, but in entirely different terms. An American adaptation of the sitcom was briefly produced in 2003. Image File history File links Coupling. ... Comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humour with an intent to provoke[[ laughter in general). ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... British Comedy, in film, radio and television, is known for its consistently quirky characters, plots and settings, and has produced some of the most famous and memorable comic actors and characters in the last fifty years. ... A British sitcom is a situation comedy (sitcom) produced in the United Kingdom. ... Steven Moffat appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Steven Moffat (born 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK) is a British comedy/drama writer who has contributed to television series since the late 1980s. ... Sarah Alexander, as Dr. Angela Hunter in Green Wing. ... Gina Bellman Gina Bellman (born July 10, 1966) is an English actress, born in New Zealand to Russian-Polish-Jewish parents, who emigrated to New Zealand from England in the 1950s. ... Richard Coyle is a British actor. ... Jack Davenport at Pirates of the Caribbean premiere in LA Jack Davenport (born March 1, 1973) is an English actor. ... Kate Isitt is a British actress who is best known for her role as beauty therapist Sally Harper in the BBC television situation comedy, Coupling (Hartswood, 2000-4). ... Ben Miles is a British actor best known for his role as Patrick Maitland on the television situation comedy Coupling. ... Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (also known as Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps in English) is a popular song written in 1947 with Spanish lyrics by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés [1]. The English lyrics were written by Joe Davis. ... Mari Wilson (born Mari MacMillan Ramsey Wilson on 29 September 1957, in London) is a British singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s influenced pop songs, and her (former) trademark beehive hairdo. ... Quizás, Quizás, Quizás (also known as Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps in English) is a popular song written in 1947 with Spanish lyrics by Cuban songwriter Osvaldo Farrés [1]. The English lyrics were written by Joe Davis. ... Mari Wilson (born Mari MacMillan Ramsey Wilson on 29 September 1957, in London) is a British singer, best known for her sometimes quirky, early 1960s influenced pop songs, and her (former) trademark beehive hairdo. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... This is a synopsis of Coupling. ... Geoffrey Perkins has been a central figure in British comedy broadcasting. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... BBC Three, the successor to the similar BBC Choice, is a British television channel from the BBC broadcasting only on digital cable, terrestrial and satellite. ... May 12 is the 132nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (133rd in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 14 is the 165th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (166th in leap years), with 200 days remaining. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Joking Apart was a bittersweet comedy written by Steven Moffat and broadcast on BBC Two. ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Steven Moffat appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Steven Moffat (born 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK) is a British comedy/drama writer who has contributed to television series since the late 1980s. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hartswood Films is a British television production company, founded and run by the experienced producer Beryl Vertue. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC (and also informally known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion... The term date can refer to: A day according to a calendar; see calendar date. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behaviour between two or more humans. ... Coupling was an American remake of the British TV series Coupling. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Conception

The show debuted to unimpressive ratings, but its popularity soon increased and by the end of the third season the show had achieved decent ratings in the UK. The series began airing on PBS stations and on BBC America in the United States in late 2002 and quickly gained a devoted fanbase there as well. The show is syndicated around the world. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is a non-profit public broadcasting television service with 354 member TV stations in the United States, with some member stations available by cable in Canada. ... BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, which was launched on March 29, 1998, available on both cable and satellite. ...

Coupling was based on the writer Steven Moffat meeting his wife Sue Vertue, and on the issues that arise in new relationships. The couple formed the basis for the main characters Steve and Susan. The four other characters are prior relationships and the best friends of Steve and Susan; they represent the extremes of confidence and paranoia between the sexes when it comes to relationships. The two main characters are left to negotiate their own relationship as illuminated by these extremes.

The series has made use of techniques that are unconventional in sitcoms, such as split screen and non-linear narratives. The style of the programme is sometimes farce, but by using non-linear narratives it is farce in a way not achievable on the stage. An example of split screen used in the sitcom That 70s Show. ... A farce is a comedy written for the stage, or a film, which aims to entertain the audience by means of unlikely and extravagant - yet often possible - situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include puns and sexual innuendo, and a fast-paced...

The sitcom has often been criticised as being a 'British version of Friends.' However, in interviews Steven Moffat has cited Seinfeld as being more of an inspiration and this can be seen in some aspects of unusual plotting and character interaction. Friends. ... Seinfeld is an Emmy Award-winning United States based television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, running a total of nine seasons. ...

Four series of Coupling were produced for the BBC. The programme was thought to have ended when the American network NBC began work on an American adaptation, which NBC was reportedly hoping to position as a replacement for Friends. Unlike most American adaptations, this show was intended to be a word-for-word duplicate of the British version, except that it was shortened to allow for the shorter running time of North American 'half hour' shows. The programme was attacked in the press long before the first episode aired, because it was more sexually explicit than typical American television. The US version was cancelled after airing just four episodes. It starred Rena Sofer and Sonya Walger, among others. Gina Bellman, who plays Jane in the British series, made a cameo appearance in the first episode of the American adaptation of Coupling. NBC (an acronym for National Broadcasting Company) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... Rena Sofer (born December 2, 1968 in Arcadia, California) is an American actress. ... Sonya Walger (born June 6, 1974) is an English actress. ...

In 2004, the fourth series started screening on BBC Three, and on BBC2 a few months later. Richard Coyle (who played Jeff) did not appear in the fourth series, and was replaced by Richard Mylan as a new character called Oliver. Richard Coyle did not want to continue in the role so he quit.[1] The BBC approached Moffat about writing a fifth series, but other commitments made it impossible to gather the cast. Moffat moved on to write acclaimed episodes for the revived science fiction series Doctor Who. Many fans of the series were angered that Jeff was no longer in the fourth series and Richard Mylan has said in interview that it took a long time for people to accept his character.[2] BBC Three, the successor to the similar BBC Choice, is a British television channel from the BBC broadcasting only on digital cable, terrestrial and satellite. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Richard Coyle is a British actor. ... Richard Mylan (born in Swansea, date unknown) is a Welsh actor. ... Richard Coyle is a British actor. ... Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television programme (and 1996 television movie) produced by the BBC about the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as the Doctor, who explores time and space with his companions, solving problems and righting wrongs. ...

The DVD releases of all four series are currently available in the UK, US, Israel, Australia and Germany.

Characters

Coupling is almost entirely based around the antics of the six main characters. Coupling features no recurring characters that last beyond a few episodes. In the series, "the women are mainly confident and sexually quite voracious, whilst the blokes are completely useless, riddled with self doubt and awkwardness." [3]

Steve Taylor - Best friend to Jeff, boyfriend/fiancé of Susan and ex-long-term partner of Jane, Steve is skilled at saying the exact wrong thing at the wrong time. (While dating Susan, an attractive woman asked him if he had a girlfriend and he said 'no' -- "I meant to say 'yes,' I just missed by one word.") His inability to handle pressure often leads to humorous and hugely inappropriate responses. Despite this, Steve has some common sense and often refutes the seemingly ridiculous things Jeff and Patrick come up with. Despite his flaws, he means well but always seems to lose control of the situation. No reference is made to Steve's job during the series, but in a DVD commentary, Moffat mentions that Steve is, like him, a writer. At least once per series, Steve goes off on a long rant explaining a difference of perspective between the sexes. In series 4, he has a baby boy with Susan.

The name "Steve Taylor" is very similar to "Steven Taylor", a 1960s regular character from Doctor Who, a series Moffat was a fan of and would later go on to write for. Moffat explained that although he was aware of the Doctor Who connection, the "Steve" was chosen because the character was based upon himself, and the "Taylor" to suggest a thematic link to the character of Mark Taylor in his earlier sitcom Joking Apart.^[1] Steven Taylor is a fictional character played by Peter Purves in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television programme (and 1996 television movie) produced by the BBC about the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as the Doctor, who explores time and space with his companions, solving problems and righting wrongs. ... Joking Apart was a bittersweet comedy written by Steven Moffat and broadcast on BBC Two. ...

Susan Walker - Best friend to Sally, girlfriend/fiancée to Steve and ex-girlfriend of Patrick, Susan is one of Jeff's co-workers. Susan is usually very sensible and organised, a fact often resented by her friends Sally and Jane. Susan can be very insecure and often takes this out on Steve. Steve and Susan's various arguments and differences of opinion make up a majority of the comic exchanges between them. Susan is a successful career woman, speaks French fluently, and takes her work life very seriously. Whilst Susan's job is never directly referred to, she works alongside Jeff, an accountant, and she reveals she has a degree in Economics. In series 4, she has a baby boy with Steve.

Jeff Murdock (Series 1 to 3) - Best friend to Steve and co-worker to Susan, whom he has dated once. Jeff's constant sexual frustration, ridiculous stories and fantasies about women and sex make up a major part of the comedy. Jeff is terrible at talking to women, often stumbling and unintentionally making up lie upon lie in an attempt to avoid looking stupid. These always backfire on him. He is known for a fondness for the word "breasts", often muttering it during conversations. From titbits he occasionally lets slip, it appears that his problems can largely be traced back to his eccentric and domineering mother (who appears in 2.8, "Naked", played by Anwen Williams). Jeff works as an accountant in an office with Susan, and it is through him that Steve and Susan initially meet. Jeff Murdock is a character in the Coupling TV Series, played by Richard Coyle in the first three series, and appearing in the fourth season only in a dream sequence. ...

Sally Harper - Best friend to Susan (and girlfriend to Patrick by series 4), Sally is obsessed with her own appearance and constantly worries about the effects of aging and life in general on her looks. Her worst fear seems to be of dying alone, but she seems totally inept at relationships due to her frequent paranoia. Sally runs her own beauty parlour and is a successful businesswoman, but out of the entire group, she is the most insecure and resentful. A Labour supporter, she finds it difficult to reconcile this with her attraction to Patrick, a Tory. The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Patrick Maitland - Ex-boyfriend to Susan (and Sally's boyfriend by series 4), Patrick has a one-track mind: sex. This gives him a very narrow view of women, but he is great at courting them. Frequent references are made to his rather large penis; Susan nicknames him "donkey" and "tripod," sparking much of Sally's initial interest in him despite her other objections. In one episode it's revealed that unbeknownst to him, a woman from his past made a vibrator from a plaster cast of Patrick's erect penis; the box clearly has a 10-inch measurement on the side when seen later in the episode. Patrick's love of the ladies often backfires, and the series frequently features story lines about his possessive lovers and ex-lovers. Patrick is a successful businessman and is very competitive with others in the same business, but he does have a vague sense of loyalty to his friends. He collects videos of nights with his girlfriends in his rather large "cupboard of love." The character is not to be confused with the real-life Patrick Maitland, the 17th Earl of Lauderdale, who served as a Conservative MP between 1951 and 1959. Patrick Francis Maitland, 17th Earl of Lauderdale (born 17 March 1911) is a British Conservative politician. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ...

Jane Christie - Ex-long-time partner of Steve, Jane is very possessive, and despite breaking up with Steve in the first episode, she never truly seems to let go. Jane has a problem talking to men, often coming on much too strong and appearing desperate or rude to others in her pursuit of a man. Jane claims to be bisexual, although we have never actually seen her date a woman and Susan expresses scepticism, so this claim may be a ploy to entice men. Her claim is also successfully challenged by Oliver Morris in the fourth series. Jane works in a local radio station as a traffic reporter, and is popular mainly due to her flirty nature and sexually explicit reports. She was once briefly fired for telling all the drivers to close their eyes to centre themselves and changing the names of streets for her own amusement, among other things, but was re-hired due to her popularity.

Oliver Morris (Series 4) - Oliver is introduced in the fourth series and eventually becomes involved with Jane. He runs a local science fiction media store called "Hellmouths" and has been out of a relationship for several months. Oliver often has a very cynical outlook, but is prone to accidents, often making a fool of himself in the process. The geekiness of his job is also used for comic effect. Oliver also seems to have inherited Jeff's inability to talk to women.

Other characters

Julia Davis - Julia (the late Lou Gish), appears in five episodes spanning over series 2 and 3. She first appears in Naked, as the new head of department in the office where Jeff and Susan work. Julia and Jeff soon fall for each other due to their shared inability to hold a reasonable conversation with a member of the opposite sex. Despite overcoming the inevitable troubles with each other, their relationship ends when Julia's ex, Joe, a soldier returns from the front line believing Julia to still be his girlfriend. After finding Julia chained to the bed in her room dressed in bondage gear, Joe attacks Jeff. In the following episode, Jeff explains that Julia and Joe have left together to discover their feelings for each other, in Bolton. Lou Gish (27 May 1967 – 20 February 2006) was an English stage, film and television actress. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... Bolton is a large town in the north-west of England. ...

Tamsin - Tamsin (Olivia Caffrey) is Oliver's Irish ex-girlfriend, who left him for unknown reasons around six months prior to the beginning of the fourth series, and has since become pregnant by another man, with whom she has now split. She befriends Susan at an antenatal class. Tamsin and Oliver seem to have a sour relationship with each other, as is shown over the three episodes in which she features. This does not cite its references or sources. ...

James - James (Lloyd Owen) appears in three episodes of series three. He hosts the religious programme at the radio station where Jane works, and Jane pretends to have an interest in religion in order to become his girlfriend. Jane is devastated to find he does not believe in sex before marriage, and even more so to find that he had a fervent sex life before finding God, which included a night with Susan. He leaves on a trip to Germany at the end of The Freckle, the Key, and the Couple who Weren't, and returns in Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, just as Jane is expressing her amazement that the many sexual encounters she has had while he was away have not made her pregnant. ("I have shagged and shagged and shagged and all the little bastards missed!") At this point James decides she is better off without him. Lloyd Owen (born April 14, 1966) is a Welsh actor born in London, England. ...

Main cast

• Steve Taylor – played by Jack Davenport
• Jane Christie – played by Gina Bellman
• Susan Walker – played by Sarah Alexander
• Sally Harper – played by Kate Isitt
• Patrick Maitland – played by Ben Miles
• Jeff Murdock – played by Richard Coyle (Series 1-3)
• Oliver Morris – played by Richard Mylan (Series 4)

Jack Davenport at Pirates of the Caribbean premiere in LA Jack Davenport (born March 1, 1973) is an English actor. ... Gina Bellman Gina Bellman (born July 10, 1966) is an English actress, born in New Zealand to Russian-Polish-Jewish parents, who emigrated to New Zealand from England in the 1950s. ... Sarah Alexander, as Dr. Angela Hunter in Green Wing. ... Kate Isitt is a British actress who is best known for her role as beauty therapist Sally Harper in the BBC television situation comedy, Coupling (Hartswood, 2000-4). ... Ben Miles is a British actor best known for his role as Patrick Maitland on the television situation comedy Coupling. ... Jeff Murdock is a character in the Coupling TV Series, played by Richard Coyle in the first three series, and appearing in the fourth season only in a dream sequence. ... Richard Coyle is a British actor. ... Richard Mylan (born in Swansea, date unknown) is a Welsh actor. ...

Crew

• Steven Moffat – Writer
• Sue Vertue – Producer
• Beryl Vertue – Executive Producer

Steven Moffat appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Steven Moffat (born 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK) is a British comedy/drama writer who has contributed to television series since the late 1980s. ...

Episodes

Main article: List of Coupling episodes

This is a synopsis of Coupling. ...

Continuity

The pornographic video Lesbian Spank Inferno (a major topic in both season one's "Inferno" and season four's "Circus Of The Epidurals") was mentioned previously in the final episode of Moffat's comprehensive school comedy Chalk. Chalk was a British comedy written by Steven Moffat set in the fictional comprehensive school of Galfast High. ...

Post-show story provided by Moffat

On the Outpost Gallifrey internet message board, Steven Moffat provided some short storyline "conclusions" for those wondering what became of the Coupling characters: Outpost Gallifrey is a fan website for the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

"Sally said yes to Patrick, they got married and are very happy... especially as Sally beat Susan to the altar, and finally did something first. Patrick is now a completely devoted husband, who lives in total denial that he was anything other an upstanding member of the community. Or possibly he's actually forgotten. He doesn't like remembering things because it's a bit like thinking.

Jane and Oliver never actually did have sex, but they did become very good friends. They often rejoice together that their friendship is uncomplicated by any kind of sexual attraction - but they both get murderously jealous when the other is dating. Jane has a job at Oliver's science fiction book shop now - and since Oliver has that one moment of Naked Jane burnt on the inside of his eyelids, he now loses the place in one in every three sentences. People who know them well think something's gotta give - and they're right. Especially as Jane comes to work in a metal bikini.

Steve and Susan have two children now, and have recently completed work on a sitcom about their early lives together. They're developing a new television project, but it keeps getting delayed as he insists on writing episodes of some old kids show they recently pulled out of mothballs. She gets very cross about this, and if he says "Yeah but check out the season poll!" one more time, he will not live to write another word.

Jeff is still abroad. He lives a life of complete peace and serenity now, having taken the precaution of not learning a word of the local language and therefore protecting himself from the consequences of his own special brand of communication. If any English speakers turn up, he pretends he only speaks Hebrew. He is, at this very moment, staring out to sea, and sighing happily every thirty-eight seconds.

What he doesn't know, of course, is that even now a beautiful Israeli girl he once met in a bar, is heading towards his apartment, having been directed to the only Hebrew speaker on the island. What he also doesn't know is that she is being driven by a young ex-pat English woman, who is still grieving the loss of a charming, one-legged Welshman she once met on a train. And he cannot possibly suspect that (owing to a laundry mix-up, and a stag party the previous night in the same block) he is wearing heat-dissolving trunks.

As the doorbell rings, it is best that we draw a veil."

Notes

1. ^ Moffat, Steven (2004-06-08). "Coupling Series 4" (requires free registation to view). Outpost Gallifrey. Retrieved on 2006 August 19.

Steven Moffat appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Steven Moffat (born 1961 in Paisley, Scotland, UK) is a British comedy/drama writer who has contributed to television series since the late 1980s. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Outpost Gallifrey is a fan website for the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Coupling

• Official site
• Coupling at the Internet Movie Database
• British Sitcom Guide
• Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide
• BBC Comedy Guide
• Official website for Mari Wilson - the vocalist of the theme song
• Extensive quotes esp. from Jeff's monologues at Richard Coyle's fansite