Fast Freddie, The Widow And Me (ITV1 2011, Laurence Fox, Sarah Smart)

One off festive drama Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me stars Laurence Fox and Sarah Smart. The story follows wealthy but decidedly narrow minded car dealer Jonathan Donald who learns a few lessons about life when he is given a community service order to work at an organisation called The Moonbeam Club which helps young adults in need.

The club is run by the recently widowed Laura Cooper, initially not interested Jonathan’s attitude and commitment begins to change as he gets to know one of the club’s member’s – eighteen year old Freddie Copeland. Feisty, an expert with gadgets and a demon on the PlayStation, Jonathan is shocked to learn Freddie suffers from kidney disease and genetic heart condition which means he’ll be lucky to survive the next couple of months.

One of Freddie’s dreams is to have his own idea of a perfect Christmas. But having grown up in various care homes Freddie knows his dream is unlikely to come true, especially since he’s never had the courage to make contact with his real mother. Against Laura’s careful advice, Jonathan decides to take it upon himself to give Freddie the Christmas he’s always dreamed of. But can he make the impossible possible and make his final Christmas the best Freddie has ever had?

A nice mix of comedy and drama, writer Christopher Dunlop remarked of the production “I’ve always wanted to write about the magic of Christmas colliding with the way we torment ourselves trying to make that one day perfect. Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me creates an idyllic family Christmas from the most unlikely collection of characters who in the process, rediscover faith in life, love and hope for the future.”

production details
UK / ITV1 / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast 27 December 2011

Writer: Chris Dunlop / Producer: Madonna Baptiste / Director: David Richards

cast
Laurence Fox as Jonathan Donald
Sarah Smart as Laura Cooper
Jack McMullen as Freddie
Tamzin Outhwaite as Patsy Morgan
Marian McLoughlin as Julia
David Westhead as Charlie Archer
Larissa Toussaint-Grant as Kare
Vahid Gold as Mark
Faye Daveney as Natasha
Calvin Demba as Terry
Davood Ghadami as Alex
Judy Flynn as Cathy
Bill Paterson as Judge Underwood
Debra Baker as Susie Copeland
James Weber Brown as Max Greene
Nyasha Hatendi as Doctor David
Ann Beach as Freddie’s Grandma
Reece Beaumont as Peter