''Demob'' was a short-lived British comedy-drama television series, which screened for one six-episode series in 1993; It was produced by

Talkback Productions Talkback is a British television production company established in 1981 by comedy duo Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones. History Talkback was sold to Pearson Television in 2000. The company merged with Thames Television in 2003 and the combined en ...

in association with

Yorkshire Television ITV Yorkshire, previously known as Yorkshire Television and commonly referred to as just YTV, is the British television service provided by ITV Broadcasting Limited for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV (TV network), ITV network. Until 19 ...

for

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...

. The series was set in the late 1940s and early 1950s, and starred

Martin Clunes Alexander Martin Clunes Order of the British Empire, OBE Deputy Lieutenant, DL (born 28 November 1961) is an English actor, comedian, director and television presenter. He is best known for portraying Martin Ellingham in the ITV (TV network), IT ...

and

Griff Rhys Jones Griffith Rhys Jones (born 16 November 1953) is a Welsh comedian, writer, actor, and television presenter. He starred in a number of television series with his comedy partner, Mel Smith. Rhys Jones came to national attention in the 1980s for h ...

as two ex-army friends who decide to try to form an entertainment act, with the aim of getting work on

BBC radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering ...

. The series also starred

Samantha Janus Samantha Zoe Womack (''née'' Janus; born 2 November 1972) is an English actress, singer, model and director who has worked in film, television and stage. Womack initially planned a career in singing and she represented the United Kingdom in ...

Amanda Redman Amanda Jacqueline Redman, (born 12 August 1957) is an English actress, known for her roles as Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman in the BBC One series '' New Tricks'' (2003–2013) and as Dr. Lydia Fonseca in ''The Good Karma Hospital'' ...

and

Les Dawson Leslie Dawson Jr. (2 February 1931 – 10 June 1993) was an English comedian, actor, writer, and presenter, who is best remembered for his deadpan style, curmudgeonly persona and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife. Early life Les Dawson w ...

, Dawson posthumously.

Plot

The series follows the ups and downs of two World War II veterans who decide to form a comedy duo after returning home to England. They experience various personal and professional problems as they strive for success.

Characters

Lead characters

*Ian Deasey (

): A cheerful ex-soldier who struggles to adjust to his dull pre-war life and decides to become a comedy team with his army pal, Dick Dobson. Ian is known for singing humorous songs. *Dick Dobson (

): An irresponsible ex-soldier who always gets into scrapes and has to be rescued by Ian. He is an excellent piano player and forms one half of the comedy duo Dobson and Deasey. *Janet Deasey (

): Ian's beautiful wife who grows dissatisfied with her husband's desire to become a comedian and begins an affair to stave off boredom. *Hedda Kennedy (

): A beautiful dancer, who is desperately searching for her American husband, believed to be missing in action. She works in various establishments of Rudy Lorimer's as a singer and dancer. She later becomes a film actress. She is good friends with Ian and Dick and lives next door to their London rooms. *Moreton Stanley (

): A corpulent short-tempered comic who makes improper advances to Hedda. *Rudy Lorimer ( James Faulkner): A disreputable businessman who continually ensnares Dick in his shady business ventures. Lorimer is an alias; his real name is not known.

Supporting characters

*Alan Deasey (Luke Marcel): Ian and Janet's only child, he is a perceptive, sensitive boy vulnerable to teasing. When his father returns from the war he hardly recognises him. *Annabel (Tilly Blackwood): Janet's best friend, Annabel is engaged to be married to Dr. Pollock. *Edith (

Liz Fraser Elizabeth Joan Winch (14 August 1930 – 6 September 2018), known professionally as Liz Fraser, was a British film actress, best known for being cast in provocative comedy roles. Early life Fraser was born in Southwark, London. Her year of bi ...

): Janet's mother who dispenses advice freely. *Dr. Jeremy Pollock (Harry Burton): Annabel's fiancé who develops an interest in Janet. He has a fondness for Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. *Oliver Lee (

Don Gilet Don Gilét (born 17 January 1967) is an English actor, best known for his roles in BBC productions ''Babyfather'', ''EastEnders'' and ''55 Degrees North''. Personal life He was brought up in Caldmore, Walsall, with two older sisters. He att ...

): Hedda's American GI friend who assists her in her search for her missing husband. Oliver plays the saxophone at a London jazz club. *Frank Parsons: (

Tony Melody Tony may refer to: People and fictional characters * Tony (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters * Gregory Tony (born 1978), American law enforcement officer * Motu Tony (born 1981), New Zealand international rugby leag ...

) Ian's boss at the council. *Ottie Pond (

Roberta Taylor Roberta Alexandra Mary Taylor (''née'' Roberts; born 26 February 1948) is an English actress and author. She is known for her roles of Irene Raymond in ''EastEnders'' (1997–2000), and Inspector Gina Gold in ''The Bill'' (2002–2008). Career ...

): The producer of "Radio Playtime", a BBC Radio children's programme. *Keith Koster (

Jeremy Child Sir Coles John Jeremy Child, 3rd Baronet (20 September 1944 – 7 March 2022) was a British actor. Early life Coles John Jeremy Child was born on 20 September 1944 in Woking, Surrey, son of Foreign Office diplomat Sir Coles John Child, 2nd ...

): The notoriously difficult ventriloquist star of "Radio Playtime", Koster seems to believe that his dummy is actually sentient. *Claudette (Colleen Passard): Dick's wife who he marries only to help her gain entry into the UK. Originally from France, she is a prostitute who works for Rudy Lorimer. *Moira Stanley (

Pat Keen Patricia Margaret "Pat" Keen (21 October 1933 – 1 March 2013) was an English actress whose career on stage, television and film ran from the 1950s to the 2000s. Born in Willesden, Brent, London, Keen trained at the Central School of Spee ...

): Moreton Stanley's wife who also serves as his manager. *Mrs. O'Callagan (Barbara Ashcroft): The duo's Liverpool landlady who takes a shine to Dick much to his horror. *Morton Stanley (

) *June (Cinnamon Bone) *Inspector Wareham (

Richard Cubison Richard Cubison is a British actor who has been active on television and in films since 1980. Captain of The Stage Golf Society 2020 His first television role came in 1980 when he played a "heavy" in an episode of ''Minder''. He has also appeared ...

) *Camera ( John Clegg) *Ralph (

Richard Lintern Richard Charles Lintern (born 8 October 1962) is an English stage, voice and screen actor. Early life Lintern was born in Taunton, Somerset. He studied English Literature at Durham University. He subsequently won a scholarship to the Royal ...

) *Roy (Timothy Knightley) *Walter (Peter J. Morton)

Episode list

Home media

''Demob'' was first released on DVD by BFS Entertainment on 10 September 2002. It was re-released by

Acorn Media RLJE International Ltd, d/b/a Acorn DVD, a British company that publishes and distributes DVDs, as well as selling home-video products and streaming videos with a particular focus on British television. History Launched in 1997, Acorn Media U. ...

on Region 1 and Region 4 DVD on 26 April 2011.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Demob (Tv Series) Television series by Yorkshire Television British comedy-drama television shows 1993 British television series debuts 1993 British television series endings 1990s British comedy-drama television series Television series set in the 1950s Television series set in the 1940s ITV television dramas Television series by ITV Studios Television series by Fremantle (company) Television shows set in London 1990s British television miniseries English-language television shows