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FORTYSOMETHING

Acorn Media US / 2 disc set / Region 1 / Released April 2008

Featuring Hugh Laurie, Anna Chancellor, Peter Capaldi, Sheila Hancock,

Fortysomething was Hugh Laurie's last UK series before he headed off to the states and superstardom in House, in fact had this show been handled better by the ITV programmers and been commissioned for a second season then Dr House could well have been struck off.

Written by the very brilliant NIgel Williams and based on his own novel, Fortysomething is the hilarious study of a doctor, Paul Slippery (Laurie) in the grip of a mid life crisis. He's married to the sexy Anna Chancellor who is more interested in her career than Paul, meanwhile his grown up, and in Paul's eyes, highly over sexed sons, are busy paying him out for his own lacklustre sex life.

Fortysomething has all the hallmarks of a quality Williams piece, strong and witty dialogue and some surreal moments. The casting is also a joy, with, besides Laurie and Chancellor, roles for the wonderful Sheila Hancock and Peter Capaldi. Watch out too for Laurie's former comedy double act partner Stephen Fry as a slightly insane butcher.

Incidentally Laurie directed some of the series himself alongside Nic Phillips and the show itself offers up a great chance to see that LAurie is more than just a dodgy American accent and a wonky leg.

Well worth seeking out.

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For more info on this release visit Acorn Media



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