This ITV comedy series from the pen of Men Behaving Badlywriter Simon Nye sprang from a successful one-off pilot called “True Love”, which aired in February 1996, with former Watching and Stay Lucky star Emma Wray as Donna, an acid-tongued nurse and mother of two and Philip Glenister as her charming but feckless taxi-driver husband, Phil.
When the full series debuted in May 1997, Donna had given Phil the push and was now juggling work at St Mark’s Hospital, home life with her lovable but difficult daughters Shirley (Vicky Connett) and Rhiannon (Amanda Riley), and a complicated love life which included motorbike-riding paramedic Lawrie Johnson (Minder star Gary Webster) – who was more interested in snogging in the laundry room than playing happy families – and nice but dithering doctor Roger Graham (Hamish Clark), who treated her like a rare species of butterfly.
Next door, ready with the mint tea, emergency babysitting and annoyingly sensible advice, were Marina (Elizabeth Berrington) and her self-satisfied, politically correct town planner husband Alan (Tony Robinson). Best friend and fellow nurse, Bridget (Clare Perkins), was also always on hand with some earthy advice.
Donna’s problems were wide-ranging: She had no money, and her career was going nowhere because she had a mouth as big as the Mersey Tunnel and couldn’t resist being rude to her bosses.
She didn’t know which bloke she liked best, and her girlfriends got a bit too involved in the vetting process.
One daughter wanted to follow in the footsteps of Mother Theresa, and the other drank her vodka.
Her useless ex-husband – and his attractive new girlfriend, Gail (Nicola Stephenson) – tried to meddle in her life.
And her washing machine was often on the blink.
The Granada TV comedy was variable – and certainly not the funniest thing on the box – but attracted a regular audience that sustained it through three series.
Donna
Emma Wray Shirley
Vicky Connett Rhiannon
Amanda Riley Marina
Elizabeth Berrington Alan
Tony Robinson Roger Graham
Hamish Clark Bridget Groves
Clare Perkins Lawrie Johnson
Gary Webster Joan
Sue Parkinson Phil
Philip Glenister Gail
Nicola Stephenson Wes
Charlie Hunnam
Episodes
Passionate Kisses | Dinner for Two | Convent Girl | Kiss and Tell | Dirty Linen | Portugal || Scary Children | On the Shelf | Flu | Hamburger Heaven | The Ring | Bath Time | Rabies || Making Fun of Roger | Just the Job | Chinese Walls | Gardening Leave | Truth to Tell | Moving On | Climbing Trees | Making Mugs | Concert | A Proper Family
When the full series debuted in May 1997, Donna had given Phil the push and was now juggling work at St Mark’s Hospital, home life with her lovable but difficult daughters Shirley (Vicky Connett) and Rhiannon (Amanda Riley), and a complicated love life which included motorbike-riding paramedic Lawrie Johnson (Minder star Gary Webster) – who was more interested in snogging in the laundry room than playing happy families – and nice but dithering doctor Roger Graham (Hamish Clark), who treated her like a rare species of butterfly.
Donna’s problems were wide-ranging: She had no money, and her career was going nowhere because she had a mouth as big as the Mersey Tunnel and couldn’t resist being rude to her bosses.
