Borderline
- TV sitcom
- Channel 5
- 2016 - 2017
- 12 episodes (2 series)
Improvised mockumentary about the border guards working in an airport. Stars Jackie Clune, David Avery, Liz Kingsman, David Elms, Jamie Michie and more.
Episode menu
Series 1, Episode 3 - The Cop
Further details
The regular flight schedule into Northend Airport is suspended, and a special guest is in the building, in the form of Detective Terry Bradshaw from the London Met. This silver-tongued, handsome charmer takes the morning briefing, and explains that a renowned international criminal has been extradited back to the UK, and will be landing at Northend later today, at which point Terry will then escort them down to London. All he needs is someone to stamp the criminal's passport.
No one is more excited than Clive, who has always dreamed of being a policeman - saving lives, going on stakeouts, saying "10-4" without knowing what it means. Proctor, meanwhile, is just thrilled that she is no longer the one in charge, as everything, for today, must go through Terry. She puts her feet up and abdicates all responsibility.
Terry shows his true colours when he cruelly dismisses the ever-keen Clive - though Clive is too optimistic and naive to realise it. Tariq sees though the facade and is less than thrilled at Terry's presence in the office, not least as he is uncomfortable with the detective's interest in Andy. In a rash moment, feeling angry that Andy seems to be falling for the detective's sleazy charms, Tariq decides to call his ex-girlfriend, Monica.
The moment of truth arrives when the criminal comes through passport control, and just when all seems to be going wrong, Clive saves the day, leaving Terry with egg on his face.
As the team leave, Andy tells Tariq she was never interested in Terry, but the conversation is interrupted by the surprise arrival of Monica, who has turned up early for their date. It's a bit of a nightmare for Tariq, but it's a problem of his own making, so now he has to deal with it.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 16th August 2016
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- Channel 5
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Jackie Clune | Linda Proctor |
David Avery | Tariq Mansoor |
Liz Kingsman | Andy Church |
David Elms | Clive Hassler |
Jamie Michie | Grant Brodie |
Ralf Little | Narrator |
Katharine Bennett-Fox | Monica |
Graham Dickson | Detective Terry Bradshaw |
Chris Gau | Writer |
Michael Orton-Toliver | Writer |
Matt Jones | Story |
Ralf Little | Story |
Matt Jones (as Matt L Jones) | Director |
Zoƫ Rocha | Producer |
Ralf Little | Executive Producer |
Sarah Doole | Executive Producer |
Chris Gau | Executive Producer |
Michael Orton-Toliver | Executive Producer |
Amer Iqbal | Editor |
Jonathan Paul Green | Production Designer |
Andrew Rodger | Director of Photography |
Lucia Santa-Maria | Costume Designer |
Velina Iankova | Make-up Designer |
Vlad Berkhemer | Composer |
Jake Rollins | 1st Assistant Director |
Press
The Met meet Northend Airport's border-force team as this border-control spoof continues. It's a crime-cracking coupling as likely as Sherlock and Eamonn Holmes, yet Proctor's posse are tasked with processing a criminal who is arriving by plane. Was their dedication to duty the reason for their selection? Or is it merely that Northend is dreary enough to deter press attention? Either way, with all other activity on hold, idling about doing nothing is the day's main task. So, business as usual.
Mark Gibbings-Jones, The Guardian, 16th August 2016