Colin's Sandwich - BBC2 Sitcom - British Comedy Guide (original) (raw)

Colin's Sandwich revolves around Colin Watkins, by day a customer relations officer working in the complaints department of British Rail; by night a writer of pulp horror books.

Colin's ambition is to earn enough money from his writing to give up his day job but is held back by his lack of confidence in his own work. His girlfriend Jenny, however, believes that he has the ability to make it as a writer and is his rock through all his self doubting.

Jenny constantly encourages him to write and through well connected friends is able to introduce Colin to John Langley a publisher. However Colin's fatalistic attitude and lack of social skills inevitably get in the way of him succeeding as he stumbles from one cringing mishap to another.

Colin's inability to speak his mind is the cause of much of the comedic content of the series. He hates his job but can't bring himself to tell his boss and finds his work colleagues frustratingly boring. Colin particularly hates his and Jen's mutual friends but won't tell them so because he doesn't want to hurt their feelings. The exception to this is Des, Colin's only real mate.

The core themes to both series are Colin's writing ambitions and from these the other stories branch. In Series 1 Colin attempts to get a story published and his relationship with publisher John Langley is constant throughout. This series ends with Colin getting a story in the Langley Book of Horror.

The second series concerns itself more with his relationship with TV producer Alan Hunter, and the sitcom ends when Colin finally manages to secure the filming of one of his stories.

The central character of Colin Watkins is written as a metaphor for all our attempts to better ourselves and along with it our self-doubting which can prevent us from attaining our goals in life. The irony being that despite himself, Colin's writing ability wins through and he achieves his ambition.

Additional details

Production

Studio

Camera set-up

Multi-camera

Picture

Colour

Soundtrack

Mozart's Horn Concerto.

Website links

Memorable TV
Memobale TV is a large website which deals with most kinds of TV genres and also includes an archives section.
Flange Log
Flange Log is the personal website of Tanya Jones and covers her personal comedy favourites. The main site also contains a personal blog which contains Tanya's personal and family experiences which includes family bereavement. You have been warned.
IMDb

Broadcast details

First broadcast

Tuesday 18th October 1988 at 9pm on BBC Two

Recording details

BBC Television Centre