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 5 - Frank
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
Mel Smith | Colin Watkins |
Louisa Rix | Jenny Anderson |
Mike Grady | Des |
Jane Booker | Sarah Venables |
Nicholas Pritchard | Richard Venables |
Annette Crosbie | Colin's Mum |
Geoffrey Whitehead | Cosultant |
Neil Mullarkey | Undertaker |
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 |