In the ultra-Thatcherite future (1999) the Queen has resigned and Charles is king, television is called Murdochvision and the UK is subdivided into two regions with security guards manning the border posts and identity papers required to pass: Northern Britain is cold, bleak and bankrupt, while sunny South Britain is a place of relative luxury.
When Australian baron Lord Tewkesbury, the wealthy owner of International Entirety PLC (the biggest private company in Britain), decides his hapless and snobbish son and heir Giles (Adrian Edmondson) needs more life experience, he arranges for Giles to work under the assumed name Alexander G St Clair.
Unfortunately, a computer error results in Giles being sent to North Britain to do menial labour while impoverished young Scotsman Gavin Sinclair (John Gordon Sinclair) is transferred to sunny South Britain.
The short-lived Channel 4 series came from Birds of a Featherand The New Statesman creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. The following year, they teamed up with writer Paul Makin for Nightingales.
Gavin Sinclair
John Gordon Sinclair Giles Tewkesbury
Adrian Edmondson Computer voice
Ed Devereaux Gavin’s Dad
Phil McCall Gavin’s mum
June Watson TV reporter
Elaine Collins Mr Haverty
Christopher Godwin Donald
Tony Meyer Mr Lambie
Roger Sloman Serena
Lynsey Baxter Mr Pym
Ron Donachie Ronald
David Meyer Robbie
Steven O’Donnell Miss Ainscow
Elizabeth Bennett Butler
Anthony Benson Yana Haverty
Andrée Bernard Emma
Kate McKenzie Mr Gershwin
Peter Cellier DI Ure
Jake D’Arcy DC Cieslik
Tony Osoba
When Australian baron Lord Tewkesbury, the wealthy owner of International Entirety PLC (the biggest private company in Britain), decides his hapless and snobbish son and heir Giles (Adrian Edmondson) needs more life experience, he arranges for Giles to work under the assumed name Alexander G St Clair.
Serena
