Contents Mad About Alice Introduction . 2 Cast list . 3 The characters . 4 Cast interviews Amanda Holden plays Alice . 6 Jamie Theakston plays Doug . 9 John Gordon Sinclair plays Ted . 12 Episode synopses . 14 Mad About Alice Introduction Mad About Alice A comedy about how opposites attract, separate and then drive each other crazy not just their son they argue about, everything is a potential flash-point. Alice finds herself at the heart of an extended, ever-so-slightly-loopy surrogate family, trying to juggle being a mother to Joe, business partner to the lovable, but somewhat inept Ted,sister to off-with-the-fairies schoolteacher Kate, babysitter to Sancha, the strange child living next door; trying to find some time for her new boyfriend, Scott; and having to contend with an ex-husband who keeps turning up on her doorstep. Co-creator and producer Sue Birbeck says of the series:“I think the essence of the show is that it combines the ups and downs of a romantic comedy with the broader fun of a For most people, divorce generally heralds a family sitcom.” new start; one chapter concludes and another begins. Not so for Alice and Doug – they just Alice and Doug are obviously meant to be can’t seem to write themselves an ending. together – this is something which is clear to Amanda Holden and Jamie Theakston star in everyone except them. But can the two the brand-new BBC One sitcom, Mad About overcome the obstacles and follow their hearts? Alice, which centres on the lives of a divorced Will pride prevent them from admitting they couple and their young son. were wrong? The chapter needs an ending. Despite no longer living together,Alice and Mad About Alice is a Tandem Entertainment Ltd Doug remain in close contact due to their production for BBC One. joint custody of their nine-year-old son, Joe (Billy Hill). Old habits die hard, however, and the two just can’t get together without an argument. Although both parties have their son’s best interests at heart, most of their discussions end in heated confrontation. Neither can agree on anything: from where Joe goes to school, to how he should celebrate his birthday.And it’s Mad About Alice 2 Cast list Cast list Alice Amanda Holden Doug Jamie Theakston Joe Billy Hill Te d John Gordon Sinclair Kate Debra Stephenson Jason Dan Clark Scott Jolyon James Rachel Isabel Brook Sancha Jessica McClunie Mad About Alice 3 The characters The characters Happy families? Back row: Dan Clark plays Jason, John Gordon Sinclair plays Ted,Amanda Holden plays Alice and Jamie Theakson plays Doug.Front: Jessica McClunie plays Sancha and Billy Hill plays Joe Alice (Amanda Holden) out saving lives,Alice was left “holding the baby”.When she suggested getting a job, Doug Alice is a single mother to son Joe, who is helpfully pointed out that, with her nine years old. Her ex-husband, Doug, has qualifications, her earnings would only just moved around the corner to be more of a cover the cost of the home help they would hands-on dad to Joe. So now Alice juggles being need, so what was the point? This didn’t help a mum with having a job, a new boyfriend and Alice’s growing insecurities about being left an ex-husband who keeps popping in and out behind – not as clever, as well educated, as of her (their marital) home. interesting or as exciting as Doug – and very soon their passionate relationship became one Alice didn’t bother to work at school, never of passionate rowing. went to college and was a waitress when she met dashing medical student Doug Brooke. When Doug accepted a promotion, miles away The two fell in love, got married and had baby from their home, Joe’s school and Alice’s new Joe in swift succession and, for a while, it part-time job – without consulting her – they looked as though they would live happily ever had their biggest row and broke up. But they after. However, whilst her young doctor broke up before the relationship was really husband with the winning bedside manner was over, and now that they have to see each other Mad About Alice 4 The characters all the time, they find themselves rowing over Although Ted is extremely intelligent, when he’s things that happened years ago all over again. confronted with a room full of people, this doesn’t necessarily translate into articulacy. It’s a trait that does not help him sell himself in Doug (Jamie Theakston) business – which is exactly were Alice comes in.Their small architectural firm’s contracts are Doug the doctor is Alice’s ex and although mostly for redesigning people’s kitchens and since the split he’s had girlfriends, there’s been conservatories but, thanks to Alice’s energy and no one serious – a case of once bitten, determination, they’re now getting more perhaps? It would be fair to say that Doug has opportunities to work on much larger projects. developed a somewhat suspicious attitude towards women and feels that they are always Still single and likely to remain so,Ted is part trying to change men. So whenever Alice tries of Alice’s surrogate family.Though he does not to have a heartfelt conversation with him, suffer fools gladly, he unfortunately has to Doug claims that she’s still trying to change work with one … Jason. him, despite their separation. But Doug is no innocent and, at any Jason (Dan Clark) opportunity, loves nothing more than to goad Alice, who rises to the bait easily. Despite his Jason works with Alice and Ted,assisting with failings as a husband, however, Doug is the daily administration in the office – except determined to be a good father and now lives that he really is no help at all and generally around the corner so that he can be a hands- makes matters worse.The only reason he on dad. But it’s a situation which is a constant retains his position is that Ted and Alice owe source of irritation to Alice.As pleased as she his parents a big favour.Ted says he is the bane is for Joe that his father is taking an interest, of his life. Jason thinks that this is a good thing. it’s the nature of that interest that worries her; she doesn’t want Joe turning out exactly like his dad – something which provides yet Kate (Debra Stephenson) another battleground for the constantly warring couple. Kate is Alice’s sister, who lives around the corner and is a teacher at Joe’s primary school – something which is extremely helpful to Ted (John Gordon Sinclair) Alice, as Kate often takes Joe to school. More often than not, however, Kate’s attempts to Ted is Alice’s dearest and most reliable old help end in disaster, and it often seems as friend. He’s known her since school and was though she has spent just a little too much there throughout her relationship with Doug. time with young children and not enough in After Doug and Alice split up,Alice started the real world. taking her part-time job with Ted far more seriously and now they’ve become partners in a small business. Mad About Alice 5 Cast interviews Amanda Holden plays Alice We’ve seen her out for revenge in Cutting It, parents who are separated these days playing for laughs in The Grimleys and hunting and there’s no such thing as the ‘2.4 kids’ for a husband on the West End stage, but family anymore – modern families are a lot never before as a mother figure.Yet Amanda more confusing,” says Amanda of the series, Holden’s latest TV role is the one she’d most which also stars Gregory’s Girl favourite John like to tackle off screen – if only she could find Gordon Sinclair. the time. Alice and Doug’s relationship certainly has its When Amanda Holden trills,“Everything today fair share of confusion – not least because, is thoroughly modern!” in tonight’s West End though both are seeing other people, there are performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie, she still times when they’re forced to think and could quite easily be singing the theme tune for behave like a couple again: when organising BBC One’s Mad About Alice. In the new family Joe’s birthday surprises, for example, or sitcom,Amanda and co-star Jamie Theakston answering his awkward questions about why a play Alice and Doug, a couple who split up long woman might be impressed by the size of a before their marriage was over and who, man’s lunchbox... because of their nine-year-old son, Joe, are still very much a part of each other’s lives. “It was a completely different thing for me because I’ve never played a mother before,” “It’s a good reflection of family life as it is now. says the 32-year-old blonde.“To play Something like one in three families have somebody who has a kid and is quite chaotic Mad About Alice 6 Cast interviews and disorganised really appealed to me. I she’s armed with an answer to the inevitable always seem to get either very nice girl-next- lunchbox question (something to do with the door roles or very glamorous, rich girls, so it size of his sarnies, apparently):“I definitely was lovely for me to play that part.” know that children are in my future – definitely,” she smiles.“Though I’ve probably Amanda speaks warmly of her fellow cast got a bit too much on at the moment…” members, in particular Jamie, whom she describes as a gifted performer, but she She’s got a good point; back in October, reserves her highest praise for the show’s Amanda returned to the West End stage for youngest stars.