Created by real life problem page penner Anna Raeburn and Len Richard (an American who had worked on Three’s Company, the US version of Man About The House) the show has Jane working for both Person magazine and a radio show and struggling to deal with the numerous problems that are clogging up her own life.
Series one saw her split from her psychiatrist husband Laurence (played by a very drippy SImon Williams) and in the second season she was still dealing with the aftermath of their break up even though Laurence has moved on to an affair with colleague Indira.
Jane had more problems too, having been asked to move out of the flat she is sharing with gay friends Michael and Rob as well as having to deal with her interfering mother Bea (Maria Charles); Not only that but new boy Vincent Fish (a very young but still brilliant Bill Nighy) has designs on her.
Incredibly smart and very funny Agony is a hugely under rated sitcom, never mentioned in the lists of great ITV sitcoms but deserving to be right up there.
production details
UK / ITV – London Weekend Television / 20×25 minutes / Broadcast 11 March 1979 – 1 March 1981
Creator: Anna Raeburn, Len Richmond
Producer: John Reardon
cast
MAUREEN LIPMAN as Jane Lucas
SIMON WILLIAMS as Laurence Lucas
MARIA CHARLES as Bea
PETER BLAKE as Andy Evol
DIANA WESTON as Val Dunn
PETER DENYER as Michael
JAN HOLDEN as Diana
