1 9 8 8 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes
Writer David Nobbs – who was also responsible for The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin – first introduced the world to Dogfood Dan and the Carmarthen Cowboy in 1982 when it appeared as a one-off Yorkshire Television instalment of ITV Playhouse with David Daker as Dogfood Dan Milton and Gareth Thomas as the Carmarthen Cowboy.
Fast forward six years, and over to BBC2, and it was time for a full series.
Dan Milton (Malcolm Storry) and Aubrey Owen (Peter Blake) are lorry drivers who drive dog food across the country. Meeting in a roadside cafe, the pair get chatting.
Dan – also known as ‘Dan, Dan, the Dogfood Man’ – hails from Hull where he’s married to Helen (Elizabeth Mickery). Dan delivers for the “Bona Fido” dog food company but dreams of driving “abnormal loads”.
Aubrey – aka the ‘Carmarthen Cowboy’ – is an erudite Welshman with a randy streak who drives for “Doggy Dins” and has an ambition to appear on Mastermind. He resides in Carmarthen (natch) with his wife Gwyneth (Arbel Jones).
Coincidentally, they deliver dog food to each others home town on the same day. Tipping each other off on the best places to meet women in their respective hometowns – and bored with their wives – Dan and Aubrey head out to start affairs.
With startling ease, they each embark on one almost instantly. The only problem is that, unbeknownst to them, it’s with each other’s wife.
Every Tuesday the two men meet at the transport cafe halfway between Hull and Camarthen to talk about life.
‘Dogfood’ Dan Milton
Malcolm Storry
Aubrey Owen – the Carmarthen Cowboy
Peter Blake
Helen Milton
Lizzie Mickery
Gwyneth Owen
Arbel Jones