Colin's Sandwich
- TV sitcom
- BBC Two
- 1988 - 1990
- 12 episodes (2 series)
The story follows the life of an amateur writer and his attempts to get his work published. Stars Mel Smith, Louisa Rix, Mike Grady, Tony Haase, Lee Cornes and more.
Episode menu
Series 2, Episode 4 - Night Thoughts
Two more visits to Hunter with no joy and Colin has no sleep due to working on the script.
Colin shows Des his new computer but ends up erasing his whole script which he then re-writes over night.
At work Colin tells Travers that he's thinking of giving up his job to concentrate on writing. Travers then offers Colin a promotion. He doesn't respond however because he's over tired from all night re-writes. In fact he's asleep.
Further details
Colin is in Hunter's office reading his story. Hunter asks him to re-work the start because it's boring.
Colin returns to the flat but cannot find the inspiration to write. He phones Jen and under protest she allows him to come to her place.
Colin is restless in bed and can't settle. Jen thinks she has heard someone in the garden. Terrified Colin heads for the living room. A man's face appears at the window and he faints.
Colin presents the re-written script to Hunter who says he likes it but throws it in the bin. He says he has to show him what happens not tell him and does he know what a screenplay is? Colin says yes. Back at home Colin ponders on what a screenplay is.
Two more visits to Hunter leads to inevitably more re-writes. Colin through lack of sleep and unable to meet Hunter's demands is despairing.
Back at work Travers sends Colin off to represent him at a radio phone-in but he only ends up getting angry at a caller on air. Travers threatens to caution Colin but decides not to. He tells Colin to get some sleep. He stays up all night working on the re-write.
Colin goes to work the following day but it turns out it's a Sunday. He considers that perhaps he needs to give up his job and Jen agrees. Des comes around and asks him to show him the features on the new computer Jen has bought him. However Colin succeeds in erasing his whole screenplay. He digs out an old copy from the bin and spends all night re-writing the re-write. He goes to bed but has nightmares about Hunter and Jen dumping him.
Colin delivers his script to Hunter but he is on his way to Miami and will read it when he gets back. Colin is way passed his deadline which Hunter says is unacceptable. He does eventually take the script to read on the plane.
Colin tells Travers that he is going to quit but Travers responds by telling Colin that they were thinking of promoting him and the new post comes with a company car. However Travers soon realises that Colin is fast asleep.
Broadcast details
- Date
- Friday 2nd February 1990
- Time
- 9pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Cast & crew
Mel Smith | Colin Watkins |
Louisa Rix | Jenny Anderson |
Mike Grady | Des |
Andrew Robertson | Travers |
Nicholas Ball | Alan Hunter |
Roy North | Radio Presenter |
Terry Kyan | Writer |
Paul Smith | Writer |
Jamie Rix | Director |
John Kilby | Producer |
Jamie Rix | Producer |
Phil Southby | Editor |
Andrée Welstead Hornby | Production Designer |
Andrew Mackenzie | Costume Designer |
Fran Needham (as Frances Needham) | Make-up Designer |
John Green | Lighting Designer |
Christine Büttner | Graphics |
Jim Cadman | Sound Designer |
Alec Curtis | Camera |
Roger Goss | Camera |
Peter Laskie | Production Manager |
Colin March | Sound Designer |
Georgina Overell | Properties |
Susan Silburn | Production Assistant |
Francis Smith | Properties |
Adam Tandy | Floor Manager |
Hilary West | Vision Mixer |
Richard Wilson | Technical Co-ordinator |
Video
Radio Interview
Colin is asked to do a radio phone-in by his boss Travers to get some positive publicity for British Rail. But it turns out nobody wants to listen to Colin's answers to their query's, they just want to have a good old grumble. Not unexpectedly, Colin lets one caller have it with both barrels.
Featuring: Andrew Robertson (Travers), Mel Smith (Colin Watkins), Raymond Mason (Angry Caller) & Roy North (Radio Presenter).