Paul O’Grady starred in his first and only lead role in a scripted sitcom as Ray Temple, the misanthropic and acerbic manager and bingo caller at The Rio – a run-down Liverpool bingo hall (though the series was actually filmed in Rayners Lane, London).
Ray openly despised his job, the “useless” staff, and the obsessive punters who frequented the hall.
The staff included the perpetually pregnant Sandy (Sheridan Smith); Christine (Rosie Cavaliero), the manager of the diner in the hall, who doted on her dog, Penny; shy bingo caller Martin (Tony Maudsley), who was hopelessly in love with Christine and trying to pluck up the courage to tell her; handyman Bobby (Neil Fitzmaurice) who fancied himself a ladies man, and Mary (Edna Doré) the deadpan cleaning lady who constantly shared her various medical ailments with Ray.
While it received moderate ratings, the series was cancelled after 15 episodes and has since been included in some lists of the worst British sitcoms.
Ray Temple
Paul O’Grady Christine McMurray
Rosie Cavaliero Sandy Beech
Sheridan Smith Martin Munroe
Tony Maudsley Bobby Rutt
Neil Fitzmaurice Mary Hardcastle
Edna Doré Kay
Margaret John Kitty
Beatrice Kelley Kathline
Hazel Douglas
Episodes
Holiday Rota | Indecency | Stars in Their Eyes | First Aid | Face Peel | The Clairvoyant | Christine’s Birthday | Charity || Next Big Thing | Baby | Thief | Ambition | Adopted | Wedding | Christmas
Ray openly despised his job, the “useless” staff, and the obsessive punters who frequented the hall.
