Ted And Alice (BBC-1 2002, Dawn French, Stephen Tompkinson)

Somewhat unusual and definitely on the surreal side, three part comedy drama, Ted and Alice follows the relationship between tourist office worker Alice and alien Ted who has left his own planet (which is all hermaphrodite) to look for love because he is tired of being a freak thanks to being all male.

Alice is already involved in a relationship, with village copper Barry, but feels neglected and taken for granted by him, after meeting Ted though she thinks he might be her real life D’Arcy. Meanwhile Stan and Shane are a pair of alien hunters who are rightly convinced that there is strange goings on in town.

Writer Vivians hangs a nice and funny romantic comedy on this basically silly scifi premise, there are some brilliantly funny moments too not least the dance in the first episode between Ted and fellow villager Mark (who later reveals himself to be an alien too!). Watch out for an early role for a pre Little Britain David Walliams amongst the fab cast too.

production details
UK / BBC One – Granada / 3×60 minute episodes / Broadcast 4 – 18 April 2002

Writer: Nick Vivian / Idea: Steve Shill / Music: Neil Arthur / Production Design: Chris Wilkinson / Costumes: Yves Barre / Visual Effects: Graham Brown / Producer: Jacinta Peel / Executive Producers: Jon Plowman, Sita Williams / Director: Steve Bendelack

cast
DAWN FRENCH as Alice Putkin
STEPHEN TOMPKINSON as Ted
OWEN TEALE as Barry Branch
DAVID TROUGHTON as Stan
DAVID WALLIAMS as Shane
KATY CAVANAGH as Joy
PETER SERAFINOWICZ as Mark
ELEANOR BRON as Perdita Lowe
GERALDINE McNULTY as Karen
DANNY TENNANT as Martin Meddick
FRANCES COX as Molly
OLIVIA JARDITH as Mabel
VINCENT MARZELLO as Hank
LORELEI KING as Ellen
PIP TORRENS as Dr Handford