The Creatives is a British sitcom created by Jack Docherty and Moray Hunter which ran for two series between 2 October 1998 and 16 February 2000 on BBC Two. The series starred Roger Allam, Jack Docherty, Moray Hunter, Pippa Guard, Aislín McGuckin, Arabella Weir and Ricky Callan as the titular people.

The Creatives
GenreSitcom
Created byJack Docherty
Moray Hunter
Directed byAndy De Emmony (Series 1)
John Birkin (Series 2)
StarringRoger Allam
Jack Docherty
Moray Hunter
Pippa Guard
Aislín McGuckin
Arabella Weir
Ricky Callan
Theme music composerPeter Baikie
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producersMike Bolland
Miles Bullough
ProducersJamie Rix (1998)
Philip Clarke (2000)
Production locationsLondon, England, UK
Running time30 minutes
Production companyAbsolutely Productions
Original release
NetworkBBC Two
Release2 October 1998 (1998-10-02) –
16 February 2000 (2000-02-16)

The Creatives is an advertising agency that has faded from its 1980s heyday. Charlie Baxter is the boss - a one-time whizkid hot shot, now world-weary and seeking solace in liquor and casual sex. The agency's principal creative brains are Ben and Robbie. Robbie is going out with the firm's advertising producer Lauren, and Ben is married to the emotional and insanely jealous Tanya, an Italian who is a secretary at the firm. Max is their film director and Rhona is the new assistant - she's a sparky lass who has no qualms about telling her colleagues they're a bunch of has-beens.

The first series followed the ups and downs of the crew as they pitched for and lost various campaigns. The second was considerably different, though, being edgier, darker and more challenging. The agency is thriving once again but Ben is having serious marital problems (we do not see Tanya), Robbie and Lauren seem to have parted, and Rhona has left for newer pastures. The episodes revolved more around the private relationships and the concerns of Ben and Robbie than their professional lives, which the writers felt was closer to their original vision. Co-writer and co-star Moray Hunter looked very different, too, having shed four stones since the first series.[1]

Cast edit

Episodes edit

Series overview edit

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
162 October 1998 (1998-10-02)6 November 1998 (1998-11-06)
2612 January 2000 (2000-01-12)16 February 2000 (2000-02-16)

Series 1 (1998) edit

# Title Director Writer Original air date
1"Soup Family Robinson"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter2 October 1998 (1998-10-02)
2"Jump Cut"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter9 October 1998 (1998-10-09)
3"Pocy Pola"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter16 October 1998 (1998-10-16)
4"Backwards Scottish Nutcase"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter23 October 1998 (1998-10-23)
5"Come to Cummerton"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter30 October 1998 (1998-10-30)
6"Black"Andy De EmmonyJack Docherty & Moray Hunter6 November 1998 (1998-11-06)

Series 2 (2000) edit

# Title Director Writer Original air date
7"She Was the One"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter12 January 2000 (2000-01-12)
8"By the Way"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter19 January 2000 (2000-01-19)
9"Over a Week"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter26 January 2000 (2000-01-26)
10"Doss Radge Bams"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter2 February 2000 (2000-02-02)
11"Et Tu Stumpy"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter9 February 2000 (2000-02-09)
12"Lenny the Bruce"John BirkinJack Docherty & Moray Hunter16 February 2000 (2000-02-16)

References edit

  1. ^ "BBC – Comedy – Guide – The Creatives". Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 24 October 2021.

External links edit