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6-part drama, written by Billy Ivory, filmed and based in Nottingham. Was shown at 9.00pm on BBC One from Tuesday, 28th September 2004.
What does Ben have to say about his character?
"My character Kelvin is married but he's a love rat. He chooses to have sex with other women as that's part of his make-up. It's what he's always done so why change?"
Married Kelvins idea of saturday night fun is to desert his wife and kids and bed a beauty that he chats up in a Nottingham nightclub. "I definately wasn't like that in my 20s and I don't think I've ever used a chat-up line. My wife and I skirted around each other for a long time."
"When I didn't have much acting work, I used to paint people's houses with a bunch of mates. The last time was about 2 or 3 years ago. It was fun to put on my old painting gear. The nice thing now is I'm paying someone to do up my house at the moment!"
"I really enjoyed it [filming in Nottingham] as I grew up in the Peak District near Nottingham. When I first read the script, it was like hearing things I'd encountered in my youth."
"The scripts made me laugh out loud. I was like my character Kelvins romantic mate Gary. When it came to girls I was always asking 'How do I find the one?'"
- Teletext interview, September 24th 2004
"Kelvin
is married to Liz, played by Andrea Lowe, and they have two young daughters,'
says Ben. 'But there's an unspoken understanding between him and Liz and
among their friends that he sleeps around but no one pulls him up on it.
It sounds like a contradiction in terms, but he's a devoted father and
he loves his family - he just sleeps around. Californians would call him
a sex addict.
'He's constantly saying to Gary, "Stop worrying about finding 'the one' - just come out and have a good time." I'd say Kelvin's emotional age is 19. But as the series unfolds, he learns a few lessons.'
Ben says he was suprised to be offered the part of Gary. 'I'm 37 and Kelvin is in his mid- to late 20s, so it was bizarre. Make-up did a wonderful job as you'll see and, yes, the hair dye was well and truly flowing.'
He also points out that age is not the only difference between him and his character. 'I'm married with two children so I can relate to the chaos having kids can cause - but that's about it. I've never slept around and I don't think I've ever used a chat-up line in my life!'
- TV Guide "Changing Relations", 25th September 2004
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Episode One
Gary Scant is a twenty-something man on a mission: to find “the one”. Set in the vibrant city of Nottingham, A Thing Called Love follows Gary, his friends and family as they try to comprehend the mysteries of the human heart.
The gang have
all gathered at the local ice rink to witness Robbie popping the big
question to Paula. Shocked and thrilled, Paula immediately says yes but
her excitement is not shared by all. Mel, Gary’s long-term girlfriend,
is left wondering why, despite being together for several years, Gary
still hasn’t proposed to her.
The lads head off for a night on the town and after a few beers, Robbie
seems to put all thoughts of his recent engagement behind him. Kelvin,
Gary’s
best friend and a married father of two, is also keen, as usual, to check out
the local talent. Shortly afterwards, the lads decide to head home with a group
of local girls. Gary is stunned when he realises their intentions and is left
alone with one of the girls, Christine.
Gary has never been unfaithful to Mel and has no intention of starting now. But Christine’s honesty and frankness catches him off guard and he becomes caught up in the intensity of the moment.The day after, Gary is appalled by his behaviour but, after a great deal of soul-searching, concludes that the incident was a wake-up call – a reminder of how much he’s been taking Mel for granted. As Valentine’s Day draws nearer, Gary calls on Kelvin and Paula to help him prepare the perfect night for Mel. However, when the big day finally arrives, a heart-to-heart with Paula leaves Gary with further food for thought: is Mel really “the one”?
Episode Two
Following
his break-up with Mel, Gary has moved in with Paula. Keen to help her
best friend get back on his feet, she sets him up with old school friend
Sonya. However, Gary cannot be swayed by the body beautiful and is determined
to stay celibate until he finds the woman of his dreams.
Meanwhile, his younger brother, Michael, is on a mission to have as much sex as possible and his forthcoming 18th birthday seems like the ideal time to start. However, it’s not entirely straightforward for Michael, because of his cerebral palsy, and he’s hoping his brother will help him put his plan into action.
Gary is appalled when Michael reveals that he’s met a girl – Natasha – on the internet who has agreed to come along to his party and fulfil his wish. However, after their parents uncover part of the plan, Gary has a change of heart and is determined to bring about Michael and Natasha’s liaison.
Episode Three
Gary attends
the christening of Floyd and Chantelle’s baby, Sonny, and decides
that he’d like to be a parent, too. However, he isn’t quite
prepared for Paula’s suggestion of them having a baby together,
with a little help from a turkey baster.
Meanwhile, Floyd is finding parenthood increasingly difficult to cope with. Chantelle seems so caught up in the throes of motherhood, that Floyd feels like he no longer exists.To make matters worse, whilst Chantelle is being showered with praise, no one acknowledges the fact that he’s just been promoted at work. Desperate to take a more active role in his son’s life and regain his relationship with Chantelle, Floyd insists on attending a mother and baby class much to her, and the other mums’, annoyance. Chantelle and Floyd have a huge argument and he storms out to work. He ends up beating the living daylights out of a young boy at one of the bars and loses his job.
Feeling ashamed
and in desperate need of a friend, he heads off to see Gary. However,
he is horrified to find Gary in bed with someone close to him. It’s
the final straw. He spends the night on a park bench and the next day,
as Chantelle talks to a friend in the park, he takes baby Sonny. Chantelle
is distraught but it doesn’t occur to her that Sonny may be with
Floyd. When Gary calls round to explain the events of the previous night
he puts two and two together and sets off to find them.
Floyd seeks refuge with his mum, who tries to make him see things from Chantelle’s point of view. He finally understands that her love for him hasn’t diminished but that there is someone else they now have to consider. The day’s revelations are an eye-opener for Gary and Paula, and quash their enthusiasm for having a baby.
Episode Four
Paula has
never felt anything but sisterly love for Gary; that is, until she offers
to give him a massage, as William Ivory’s romantic comedy continues.As
Gary stretches out on the floor, half naked, it suddenly dawns on her
that her feelings have changed.The realisation takes Paula by surprise
and she tries to fathom out how to broach the subject with Gary.
Episode Five
Whilst Paula is enjoying the early stages of her new relationship with Tony, Gary realises he’s missed his chance to tell her how he feels about her, as the romantic comedy continues.
In a bid to cheer Gary up, Kelvin decides a night out on the town is in
order and they head off to a local strip bar. However, having scantily
clad girls gyrating in front of him is the last thing Gary needs and
he bails out, leaving Kelvin to prop up the bar. Kelvin soon gets chatting
to Rich, who has also been enjoying the show and, after a few more drinks,
Rich persuades Kelvin to go back to his place for a night cap. One thing
leads to another and the pair end up having sex.
Kelvin has always loved to experiment when it comes to sex – but always
with women.This new experience has left him in a state of disarray.
Meanwhile, Liz has just discovered she’s expecting their third child and
is keen to share the news with Kelvin but, after finding evidence that he was
with someone else the previous night, she finds herself having to quiz him about
his promiscuity. Despite promising Liz that he will put an end to his womanising
ways, Kelvin, still baffled by the experience with Rich, gets drunk and heads
off to the strip bar once again. Liz, fearing that he’s up to his old tricks,
follows Gary, who has gone to find Kelvin, and is devastated by what she discovers.
Paula has also decided that despite Tony being everything she wants in a man – kind,
attentive and full of surprises – her heart belongs to someone else...
Episode Six
Kelvin and
Gary’s worlds are falling apart around them in the final episode
of William Ivory’s romantic comedy, A Thing Called Love.
Due to his recent exploits, Liz has thrown Kelvin out of their home and refuses
to let him see her or their two daughters. Kelvin is devastated. Gary tries to
comfort Kelvin but, when Paula discovers that Gary lied to her, she throws him
out of her flat.The pair are left homeless and alone.
As Gary moves back in with his mum and dad, Kelvin concocts a drunken plan
to win back Liz. Gary and his brother, Michael, decide they need to keep
an eye on Kelvin in his fragile state. Kelvin waits for his two girls
outside their Brownies’ pack meeting and hands them each a puppy, but Liz sees him and
is furious. In the fracas that follows, the puppies escape and run across the
road. Gary and Michael go after them and tragedy strikes…
Gary is heartbroken and in complete shock, while a desperate Kelvin is
consumed with grief and guilt and heads off alone. Gary calls Paula – the only person
he wants to be with during this time.
Will they finally get together? Or has too much happened and they are destined
to be just good friends?"
Descriptions from BBC Press Office
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- BBC1 "A thing called Love" website.
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- ATCL scans on this website
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