Him & Her

Him & Her is a British television sitcom about a lazy twenty-something couple: Steve and Becky, who live in Walthamstow, London.[1] It was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Three on 6 September 2010. It is written by Stefan Golaszewski and stars Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani. The theme tune is the song "Boom Bang-a-Bang" by Lulu.

Not to be confused with He and She.

Him & Her
GenreSitcom
Created byStefan Golaszewski
Written byStefan Golaszewski
Directed byRichard Laxton
StarringRussell Tovey
Sarah Solemani
Kerry Howard
Joe Wilkinson
Camille Coduri
Ricky Champ
Ending themeLulu – "Boom Bang-a-Bang"
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series4
No. of episodes25 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerKenton Allen and Lyndsay Robinson
Running time28-minute episodes
Production companyBig Talk Productions
DistributorBBC Worldwide
Release
Original networkBBC Three
BBC HD
Picture format1080i (HDTV)
Original release6 September 2010 (2010-09-06) –
19 December 2013 (2013-12-19)

The first series aired from 6 September to 11 October 2010, and comprised six episodes. The second series aired from 1 November to 13 December 2011, and comprised seven episodes. The third series aired from 18 November to 23 December 2012, comprising seven episodes, including a 'special' Christmas episode.

The fourth (and final) series aired from 21 November to 19 December 2013 and comprised five episodes. Series 4 (subtitled "The Wedding") is based around Laura and Paul's wedding ceremony and reception, rather than the flat where Steve and Becky live.

Series overview
Series 1

Becky and Steve are happy to spend their days watching DVDs in Steve's flat, but are constantly interrupted by Dan (the man who lives upstairs), Laura and Paul (Becky's sister and her fiancé), and Becky's parents.

Series 2

Becky moves into Steve's flat permanently. Becky's sister Laura and her friend Shelly have become best friends with Steve's ex-girlfriend. Dan is back with his girlfriend.

Series 3

Steve contemplates proposing to Becky, but struggles to find the right moment. Becky's sister Laura is pregnant, and is letting everyone know about it. Meanwhile, the relationship between Shelly and Dan continues to blossom.

Series 4

The series focuses on Paul and Laura's wedding day. Each episode follows a different stage of the day, with Becky as chief bridesmaid and Steve as best man, from the early morning wake up call, through the ceremony and the speeches, to the late-night disco. Becky finds out she's pregnant with Steve's baby.

Cast

Main cast
  • Becky Williams (Sarah Solemani; 25 episodes), Steve's partner
  • Steve Marshall (Russell Tovey; 25 episodes), Becky's partner
  • Dan Perkins (Joe Wilkinson; 25 episodes), Steve & Becky's neighbour, Shelly's partner
  • Laura Parker (Kerry Howard; 24 episodes), Becky's sister and Paul's wife
  • Paul Parker (Ricky Champ; 23 episodes), Laura's husband and Graham's boyfriend
  • Shelly Mills (Camille Coduri; 18 episodes), Laura's friend and Dan's partner

Guest cast
  • Nigel Williams (Ralph Brown; 8 episodes), Becky and Laura's father
  • Graham (Paul Clayton; 6 episodes), Paul's boyfriend
  • Kieran Mills (Louis Melton; 6 episodes), Shelly's son
  • Janet Marshall (Joanna Bacon; 5 episodes), Steve's mother
  • Jill Williams (Marion Bailey; 5 episodes), Becky and Laura's mother
  • Lee (Nick Blood; 5 episodes), Becky's ex-boyfriend
  • Ian (Jonny Sweet; 5 episodes), Paul's biological half-brother
  • Bianca (Georgia Eracleous; 5 episodes), Laura's cousin and bridesmaid
  • Mike (Ian Burfield; 4 episodes), Barney's father and Janet's partner
  • Luke Parker (Reiss McRaye; 4 episodes), Paul's son
  • Keith (Thomas Coombes; 4 episodes), Paul's friend
  • Dennis (James Doherty; 4 episodes), Becky and Laura's uncle
  • Sue (Victoria Willing; 4 episodes), Becky and Laura's aunt
  • David (Neal Barry; 4 episodes)
  • Darren (Josef Altin; 3 episodes), Paul's friend
  • Gina (Diane Morgan; 3 episodes), Steve and Becky's neighbour
  • Julie Taylor (Katie Lyons; 2 episodes), Steve's ex-girlfriend
  • Anita (Beverly Rudd; 2 episodes), Dan's ex-girlfriend
  • Barney (Blake Harrison; 2 episodes), Steve's friend and Mike's son
  • Bernadette Parker (Elizabeth and Harriet Mayes; 2 episodes), Paul and Laura's baby daughter
  • Jonathan (Neil Edmond; 2 episodes), Steve and Becky's neighbour
  • Pete Marshall (Christopher Fulford; 1 episode), Steve's father
  • Jamie (Martin Delaney; 1 episode), Becky's friend
  • Lorraine (Kerry Godliman; 1 episode), Laura's wedding make-up artist
  • Gay Allen (Nathasha Stokes; 1 episode), Barney's girlfriend
  • Paris (Lizzie Roper; 1 episode), a prostitute Dan hires
  • Mrs Bailey (Eve Pearce; 1 episode); Steve and Becky's neighbour
  • Paul (Lee Long; 1 episode), Paul's friend, known as "Other Paul"
  • Rashid (Seelan Gunaseelan; 1 episode), a waiter at Paul and Laura's wedding

Critical reception

Most critics in the UK responded warmly to the first series; although there was some mild criticism directed towards the more crude and naturalistic aspects of the programme, reviewers reacted positively to the quality of writing and acting found on the show. In the Metro Keith Watson summed it up as "sleazy fun [but] not without a certain soiled charm",[2] while in The Independent Brian Viner compared the set-up to that of the popular British sitcom The Royle Family, describing Him and Her as "beautifully acted... wonderfully written... and intermittently very funny indeed".[3] In one of the more negative reviews, David Crawford of the Radio Times was a little more reserved in his praise of the show; although he admitted that "the chemistry between the two leads... [gives the] filthy comedy a warm-hearted edge" he also expressed distaste for the "lewd and crude" humour frequently on display.[4]

In respect to the writing, The Guardian labelled the series "a witty, touching show" that "has the feel of a series of short plays",[5] while in The Radio Times Claire Webb noted how as the series progressed she found it to be "more Beckett play than the [usual] zany fare you might expect from a BBC3 sitcom.[6]

On reviewing the final episode, Aidan Smith of The Scotsman summarised the show as "a jam and fluff-covered gem featuring charming performances from Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani as Steve and Becky".[7] The series was awarded the BAFTA for British Academy Television Award for Best Situation Comedy in 2014.[8]

Episodes

Series overview
SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
166 September 201011 October 2010
271 November 201113 December 2011
3718 November 201223 December 2012
4521 November 201319 December 2013

Series 1 (2010)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"The Interruptions"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski6 September 2010 (2010-09-06)
22"The Birthday"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski13 September 2010 (2010-09-13)
33"The Fancy Dress Party"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski20 September 2010 (2010-09-20)
44"The Football"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski27 September 2010 (2010-09-27)
55"The Parents"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski4 October 2010 (2010-10-04)
66"The Argument"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski11 October 2010 (2010-10-11)

Series 2 (2011)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
71"The Move"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski1 November 2011 (2011-11-01)
82"The Sleepover"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski8 November 2011 (2011-11-08)
93"The Get Together"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski15 November 2011 (2011-11-15)
104"The Fight"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski22 November 2011 (2011-11-22)
115"The Rollover"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski29 November 2011 (2011-11-29)
126"The Cinema"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski6 December 2011 (2011-12-06)
137"The Split"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski13 December 2011 (2011-12-13)

Series 3 (2012)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
141"The Ring"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski18 November 2012 (2012-11-18)[9]
152"The Sister-in-Law"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski18 November 2012 (2012-11-18)[10]
163"The Happy Couple"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski25 November 2012 (2012-11-25)[11]
174"The Father-in-Law"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski2 December 2012 (2012-12-02)[12]
185"The First Date"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski9 December 2012 (2012-12-09)[13]
196"The Proposal"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski16 December 2012 (2012-12-16)[14]
207"The Christmas Special"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski23 December 2012 (2012-12-23)[15]

Series 4 (2013)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
211"The Morning"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski21 November 2013 (2013-11-21)
222"The Arrival"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski28 November 2013 (2013-11-28)
233"The Ceremony"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski5 December 2013 (2013-12-05)
244"The Speeches"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski12 December 2013 (2013-12-12)
255"The Disco"Richard LaxtonStefan Golaszewski19 December 2013 (2013-12-19)

Home release

The complete first series DVD was released on 18 October 2010[16] and the second series on 12 November 2012. A series 1 & 2 boxset was also released on 12 November 2012. The complete third series DVD was released on 9 December 2013, and the fourth series on 13 October 2014, as well as a complete Series 1-4 collection.

References
  1. Steve gives his postcode during a phone call in s1 e3
  2. "TV review: Him & Her (BBC3)". Metro. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  3. Viner, Brian (14 September 2010). "Last Night's TV – Jamie's American Food Revolution, Channel 4; Him & Her, BBC3; Bouquet of Barbed Wire, ITV1". The Independent. London.
  4. "Him & Her – Reviews and Articles – British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  5. Wright, Jonathan; Raeside, Julia; Nicholson, Rebecca; Dean, Will (6 September 2010). "America: The Story of the US". The Guardian. London.
  6. "Him & Her – Reviews and Articles – British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. 28 November 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  7. "TV review: Modern Family | Him&Her | The Apprentice". The Scotsman. Edinburgh. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  8. Masters, Tim (19 May 2014). "Bafta TV awards: the view backstage". BBC News. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  9. "Radio Times page for The Ring". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  10. "Radio Times page for The Sister-in-Law". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  11. "Radio Times page for The Happy Couple". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  12. "BBC Three - Him & Her, Series 3, The Father-in-Law". Bbc.co.uk. 28 October 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  13. "BBC Three - Him & Her, Series 3, The First Date". Bbc.co.uk. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  14. "BBC Three - Him & Her, Series 3, The Proposal". Bbc.co.uk. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  15. "BBC Three - Him & Her, Series 3, The Christmas Special". Bbc.co.uk. 5 January 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014.
  16. "DVD details for Him & Her". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 23 November 2010.
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