Have Your Cake and Eat It is a British romantic drama mini-series which was broadcast every Saturday and Sunday on BBC1 from 15 to 23 March 1997. The four-episode series was directed by Paul Seed and co-produced by Dave Edwards and Eileen Quinn. The show starred Miles Anderson as Sam Dawson, a middle-aged executive in the roller coaster industry. The plot follows Sam Dawson's affair with a younger woman, Allie Grey (Holly Aird), and the impact on his marriage with Charlotte Dawson (Sinéad Cusack). The series simultaneously followed the affair and Sam’s professional pursuit of building a roller coaster called "Dragon Khan."[1] The series co-starred Paul Brooke, David de Keyser, Ian McNeice, and James Purefoy.[2] It was conceived by actor and television writer Rob Heyland, writer of Between the Lines and Wycliffe.[3]
Have Your Cake and Eat It | |
---|---|
Genre | Romantic drama |
Created by | Rob Heyland |
Written by | Rob Heyland |
Directed by | Paul Seed |
Starring | Sinéad Cusack Miles Anderson Holly Aird Paul Brooke David de Keyser Ian McNeice James Purefoy Guy Faulkner Honeysuckle Weeks Max Dawson Jay Barrymore Holly Oppe Imogen Oppe Sally Dexter James Bolam Rebecca Front Kate Blackham |
Composer | Jeremy Sams |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 4 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer | Michael Wearing |
Producers | Dave Edwards Eileen Quinn |
Production locations | Chertsey, Surrey, England, UK Vila-seca, Catalonia, Spain |
Cinematography | Graham Frake |
Running time | 50 minutes |
Production companies | Initial Film and Television |
Original release | |
Network | BBC1 |
Release | 15 March 23 March 1997 | –
Cast
edit- Sinéad Cusack – Charlotte Dawson
- Miles Anderson – Sam Dawson
- Holly Aird – Allie Gray
- Paul Brooke – Stimpson
- David de Keyser – Michael
- Ian McNeice – Zief
- James Purefoy – Ben
- Guy Faulkner – Stephen Dawson
- Honeysuckle Weeks – Sophie Dawson
- Jay Barrymore – Max Dawson
- Holly Oppe – Polly Dawson
- Imogen Oppe – Molly Dawson
- Sally Dexter – Diane
- James Bolam – Nat Oliver
- Rebecca Front – Claire Gray
- Kate Blackham – Doreen
- Philip Glenister – Joe Martin
- Paul Mateu – Carlos
- Wolf Kahler – Gunther
- Toby Harper – Jose Maria
Episodes
editNo. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | "Episode 1" | Rob Heyland | Paul Seed | 15 March 1997 | |
Sam Dawson has an affair while on a business trip, but his wife is closer than he realises.[4] | |||||
2 | "Episode 2" | Rob Heyland | Paul Seed | 16 March 1997 | |
As construction begins in Spain on Sam's dream rollercoaster, Allie decides she cannot continue their affair. At home, Sam's wife Charlotte cannot understand his black mood but soon learns the truth.[5] | |||||
3 | "Episode 3" | Rob Heyland | Paul Seed | 22 March 1997 | |
Charlotte and Sam struggle to save their marriage, but when they eventually separate, Sam returns to Allie.[6] | |||||
4 | "Episode 4" | Rob Heyland | Paul Seed | 23 March 1997 | |
The Dragon Khan roller coaster nears completion just as Allie's baby makes an early appearance. Sam is now "having his cake", shared by Charlotte and Allie, but can this situation last?[7] |
Awards
editSinead Cusack won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Actress in 1998, while Miranda Richardson also received a nomination in the same category.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat it (Serial TV 1997- )". Filmweb. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat It Part One (1997)". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 November 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "The Week on Television: Making a drama out of male crisis". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat It: Part 1". 15 March 1997. p. 66 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat It: Part 2". 16 March 1997. p. 74 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat It: Part 3". 22 March 1997. p. 70 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ "Have Your Cake and Eat It: Part 4". 23 March 1997. p. 76 – via BBC Genome.
- ^ RTS Awards Archive[permanent dead link ] (March), p. 19 (accessed 3 November 2018).