Is It Legal

''Is It Legal?'' is a British television sitcom set in a solicitors office in Hounslow, west London, which ran from 12 September 1995 to 9 December 1998. It was produced by Hartswood Films and was shown on ITV for Series 1–2 and Channel 4 for Series 3. It was written by Simon Nye, who also wrote other ITV sitcoms such as ''Men Behaving Badly'' and '' Hardware''. It is based in the ramshakle and chaotic solicitors office of Lotus, Spackman and Phelps; it chronicles the trials, misadventures and miscarriages of justice, as the staff strive through one problem after another. When questioned about the accuracy of the series, Nye responded "don't expect an accurate portrayal of legal work. It's basically about working in an office in a less than exciting part of the world." The premise behind the series was to portray the monotomous atmosphere of office life and the constant workplace tension between the colleagues. Nye later noted "a solicitors' office seemed to be an ideal setting because they have people constantly passing through who are upset or in a state of tension or personal disaster and that's a rich vein of comedy."

Cast

* Patrick Barlow – Bob Birch
* Richard Lumsden – Colin Lotus
*Imelda Staunton – Stella Phelps
* Jeremy Clyde – Dick Spackman (Series 1–2)
* Kate Isitt – Alison
* Matthew Ashforde – Darren
* Nicole Arumugam – Sarah Chivers

Guest stars

* John Thomson – Paramedic in "Death In Hounslow"
* Jono Coleman – Radio DJ in "Hounslow FM"
*Ben Miles – Tom in "Alison Gets Laid"
*Chris Langham – Mr Etherington in "Darren's Revenge"
*Alexander Armstrong – Nick in "New Bloke"
*Kate Lonergan – Mrs Beath in "Office Party"

Characters

Colin Lotus

Lotus is the junior partner of the firm and succeeded his father once he had retired. Colin is very proud to be a solicitor and is enthusiastic about his work, but unfortunately he is naive, accident-prone and often makes stupid mistakes. Usually Bob resolves Colin's messes.

Colin is very helpful to the rest of the firm despite the fact that they all think he is annoying and that he is very strange. He is a bachelor but has a dog, Tucker. He remained a bachelor despite having a one-night stand in "Office Party" with the wife of an imprisoned client. In "Glad To Be Colin" and "New Bloke" he started a relationship with Sarah who had appeared in the previous two series as the delivery girl from Mr. Bappy, the sandwich shop that was below the office. As a result, there was tension between Colin and Bob, as Bob previously had a crush on Sarah and contemplated pursuing a romantic relationship with her.

Dick Spackman

Spackman is one of the senior partners of the firm, but his knowledge of law is limited. Dick is very arrogant and often disregards others to make his life more convenient. Most of his time is spent in his office drinking glasses of sherry, watching golf on the television and not doing any work. He sees his position in the firm as bringing the work in which is completed by Stella, Bob or Colin. Dick's last appearance in the series was in the episode "Indecision." In the series 3 episode "A Question of Pants" it was revealed that Dick had taken early retirement, resulting in Stella being the firm's sole senior partner.

Stella Phelps

Stella Phelps is a senior partner of the firm. She had an ambition of being a solicitor since childhood, and she always tried to succeed in being the most professional solicitor. However, the rest of the firm, especially partners Colin and Dick, hold her back because of their inept attitude towards law and the legal profession. She is forceful and frequently hot-tempered, which causes friction with her colleagues.

Bob Birch

Bob is the office manager of Lotus, Spackman & Phelps, and is, aside from Stella, probably the most competent employee of the firm. A very dedicated worker, Bob is endearing yet dithering, whom tends toward bossiness and is a bit of a prude, which tends to grate on many of his co-workers.

He fell in love with Sarah, a worker at the sandwich shop Mr. Bappy which is located in the same building as the firm. Bob pursued her—despite her apparent lack of interest and his allergy to bread products. This eventually led to the dissolution of his marriage and a drawer full of odd-flavoured baps. During the third series, he and Stella became a couple.

Alison

Alison is the stroppy secretary who has a job at the firm only because her estate agent boyfriend sends them many clients who need conveyancing services. She is constantly bored and likes to annoy the other members of the firm, particularly Bob, because of his crush on Sarah.

Darren

Darren is the firm's office assistant and general jack-of-all-trades. Generally seen as incompetent at his job, but he remains on good terms with Bob and Colin despite Stella's obvious dislike of him. His object of affection is Alison.

Episodes

Series 1 (1995)

Series 2 (1996)

Series 3 (1998)

Filming locations

Interior shots were filmed at Teddington Studios in south-west London

Exterior shots were filmed in and around Staines and Walton-on-Thames.

Awards

It won the British Comedy Award for "Best ITV Sitcom" in 1995.

DVD releases

All three series of ''Is It Legal?'' were released on DVD by Network between September 2010 - March 2011. The complete series boxset was released by Network on 9 July 2018.

References

External links

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''Is It Legal?'' on the Hartswood Films website

{{Simon Nye

1995 British television series debuts
1998 British television series endings
1990s British legal television series
1990s British sitcoms
1990s British workplace comedy television series
Carlton Television
Channel 4 sitcoms
British English-language television shows
ITV sitcoms
London Borough of Hounslow
Television series by Hartswood Films
Television series by ITV Studios
Television shows set in London
Television shows shot at Teddington Studios