In five part BBC drama serial The Men’s Room, married Charity Walton (Harriet Walter) begins a steamy affair with womanising work colleague Mark Carleton (Mark Carleton). Their relationship is followed over the course of the 1980’s.
The Men’s Room was a strong grown up drama based on the novel by Ann Oakley, it did though stir up a huge amount of publicity thanks to the frankness of dialogue and graphicness of love scenes. It’s probably the series that moved the fabulous Bill Nighy into household name status. He had been a popular actor for many years but this took him to another level.
Cast: Harriet Walter as Charity; Bill Nighy as Mark; Amanda Redman as Sally; Bill Stewart as Swinhoe; James Aubrey as Steve; Cheryl Hall as Mavis; Mel Martin as Jane; Patrick Drury as James; Charlotte Cornwell as Margaret; Kate Hardie as Tessa Pascoe; David Ryall as Pascoe; Ian Redford as Eric; Philip Croskin as MacKinnon; Joycelyn Barker as Rachel; Tom Bradford as Tom; Spike Hood as Dan; Jethro Hood as Harry; Gemma Settle as Joanna; Hayley Brook Scott as Susan; Victoria Scarborough as Shelley
Writer: Laura Lamson / Novel: Ann Oakley / Script Editors: Stephanie Guerrasio, Brian Wright / Theme Music: Sarah Jane Morris and Andy Roberts / Production Design: Malcolm Thornton / Producer: David Snodin / Director: Antonia Bird
UK / BBC Two / 5×50 minutes / 25 September – 23 October 1991
