Can’t Buy Me Love (ITV1 2004, Martin Kemp, Michelle Collins)

Drama inspired by the true story of Howard and Kathy Walmsley, Can’t Buy Me Love is a romantic comedy drama set in Essex.

Dave (Martin Kemp) is a roguish painter and decorator who is plagued by bills and debts and the financial pressures he and his wife Donna (Michelle Collins) are under, threaten to tear them apart.

When Donna finally snaps and threatens divorce, Dave delivers some timely and stunning news – they have won the lottery!

The only problem is…they haven’t. At first Dave manages to avoid telling Donna how much he has won, but then she discovers that the jackpot, on the day he says he won, was 8.9 million. For the next six months Dave has to keep up the facade that he is a lottery millionaire. He maintains this lie by borrowing £10,000 from his mistress, Alison. Banks and building societies are only too eager to give them credit, enabling them to go on a monster spending spree.

The pressure continues to mount on Dave as he maintains his lie and juggles the two women in his life. The question is how long can he get away with it? Michelle Collins as Donna Harris.

production details
UK / ITV – Hewland International / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast 13 December 2004

Writer: Tony Jordan / Music: Warren Bennett / Executive Producer: Jane Hewland / Producer: Kumari Salgado / Director: Reza Moradi

cast
Martin Kemp as Alan Harris
Michelle Collins as Donna Harris
Harley Cuthbert as Vicky
Jo-Anne Knowles as Gilly Thwaite
Julie Peasgood as Janice
Daniel Kruyer as Charlie
Cavan Clerkin as Nick
Freddy White as Ollie Moss
Ann Penfold as Yvonne
Charles Collingwood as Victor
Ross Boatman as Detective Sergeant Colin Briggs
Martin Cole as Detective Constable Mark Wicks
Ray Macallan as Neville
Terence Maynard as Derek
David Crow as Police Constable
Helen Cotterill as Auntie Vi
Frances Lima as Liz
Tony Longhurst as Pete
Alex Bartram as Car Salesman
Kate Collins as Tina