British Comedy Guide
Colin's Sandwich. Colin Watkins (Mel Smith). Copyright: BBC
Colin's Sandwich

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.

F
X
R
W
E

Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 5 - Frank

Colin and Jen are asked to Sarah and Richards engagement party which sparks off a row between them as to their future together. Jen ends up slapping Colin.
Colin gets a phone call to say that his dad has been taken into hospital with a stroke and is in a coma.
Colin meets his mum at the hospital and they are told his dad wont last the night. However his dad clings on and Colin guiltily wishes he would just die.
At home Colin's mum suggests a new angle for his story which he tries out.
One week later and Colin gives his new script to Jen to hand to Hunter. He returns to the hospital only to find his dad has died.
At home Colin gets a message from Hunter saying that he loves the script and one from Des saying that Richard has walked out on Sarah.

Further details

Colin is elated as he's finished his screenplay. This is short lived as Hunter returns it for yet another re-write. Colin despairs that he's out of ideas. Sarah phones and explains that her and Richard are back together and are getting engaged. Colin and Jen are invited to the party.
On the way to the party Colin sees Richard with another woman. During the evening Colin pretends to come on to Richard as a premise to tackling him about seeing another woman. Richard says he was just saying goodbye but to Colin's surprise Richard reciprocates his advances.
Jen and Colin argue about there future together and Colin tells Jen to go. He soon regrets his decision. He goes to apologise but is greeted with a slap. Des phones and tells Colin that his father has suffered a stroke and is in a coma.
Colin meets up with his mum at the hospital. They are informed that his dad will not make it through the night. Des arrives with Colin's script from Hunter. He sends his condolences and to Colin's horror has turned his script over to a team of writers to take the pressure off Colin. Colin's mum enquires how Colin got his black eye and Jen informs her that she did it. His mum replies 'Good for you'.
During the night Colin wishes his dad would just die and then berates himself for doing so. His mum sits in the hospital wishing the same thing.
Back at home Colin's mum suggests a transvestism angle to the story that Colin loves. Jen arrives to pick Colin up.
A week later Colin is in the pub with Jen. He bemoans that his dad his still hanging on. He gives his re-write to Jen to give to Hunter and leaves for the hospital. When he arrives he finds that his dad had died ten minutes after he was last there.

At the funeral home Colin loses his temper with the funeral directors mercenary attitude leaving his mother to sort out the details.
When Colin gets home there is a note from Hunter saying that he loves the new script. Des phones telling Colin that Richard has walked out on Sarah

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 9th February 1990
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Mel Smith Colin Watkins
Louisa Rix Jenny Anderson
Mike Grady Des
Jane Booker Sarah Venables
Nicholas Pritchard Richard Venables
Guest cast
Annette Crosbie Colin's Mum
Geoffrey Whitehead Cosultant
Neil Mullarkey Undertaker
Writing team
Terry Kyan Writer
Paul Smith Writer
Production team
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

Share this page