Jam and Jerusalem
New comedy starts Friday 24 November 2006, 9.30pm, 大象传媒 ONE
Set in the small west country town of Clatterford, new 大象传媒 ONE comedy Jam and Jerusalem stars Sue Johnston as Sal Vine, the local practice nurse who lives at the centre of the community.
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With her husband being the grumpy doctor of the town, Sal is always the voice of common sense and font of all knowledge when it comes to the townspeople and their needs.
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She never has a moment to herself - but that is just the way she likes it, as long as she has her best friend Tip to keep her sane and go for a quick half with in the pub.
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Despite her knowledge and love of her fellow townsfolk, she cannot bring herself to join the local church's Women's Guild - she thinks the knitting and cake-baking is not really her scene - and avoids being recruited by the Guild's leader, Eileen, at every step.
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When her husband dies suddenly of a heart attack, Sal finds herself surrounded by the community - all offering tea and sympathy. But when her son James announces at the funeral that, as he is taking over the practice, his wife will be the village nurse, Sal finds herself not only widowed but out of a job!
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As the community sympathy falls off, Sal feels neglected and alone and in a bid to stop rattling around her empty house and avoid the local Grieving Group counsellor, she decides it's time to take her own advice - stop sleeping in the dog basket, get a hair cut and a new top, take stock of her new life - and the Women's Guild is a good place to start.
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Written by Jennifer Saunders and starring some of the best-loved names in comedy, Jam and Jerusalem is a comedy that takes an affectionate look at village life and the empathy and togetherness found in a local community where everyone knows everyone's business.
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Tip is played by Pauline McLynn; Eileen by Maggie Steed; Delilah by Joanna Lumley; Caroline by Jennifer Saunders; Rosie by Dawn French; James by David Mitchell; Tash by Sally Phillips; the vicar by Patrick Barlow; and Queenie by Doreen Mantle.
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Character Synopses
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Sal Vine - played by Sue Johnston
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Sal is feisty and determined and loves being the centre of the busy town community.
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She is used to not having a minute to herself and is happy to help in anyone's hour of need, whether it is dishing out prescriptions or straightforward common sense.
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She usually knows what people really need, whether they want to hear it or not.
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She is often exasperated by her daughter but loves her family dearly and when her husband, Mike, dies she finds it is other people who don't know how to deal with the grief, although she is coping fine - after all, Mike was thinking of retiring anyway!
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Tip Haddam - played by Pauline McLynn
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Tip is Sal's best friend, her partner in crime and, as the surgery's bossy receptionist with a unique filing system, she knows everyone's ailments and intimate details.
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Tip is always up for a laugh and ever ready to nip down the pub for some alcoholic relief from the day's work/gossip.
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Eileen Pike - played by Maggie Steed
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Eileen is the leader of the Women's Guild and proud to wear her chains of office at every meeting. She likes to keep things very constitutional but she is adamant it's not all 'jam and Jerusalem'.
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She is ever trying to recruit new members - when not organising craft mornings or new and interesting Guild outings - and she takes her role very seriously indeed.
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Tash Vine - played by Sally Phillips
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Tash is Sal's hippy daughter, always concerned with the lack of recycling in the town and never able to hold a job down.
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With her young son Raph always in tow, Tash is always trying out some new way to save the planet, or trying to get on a course to study circus skills - anything not to join the rat race.
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Dr James Vine - played by David Mitchell
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James is the exact opposite of his sister - he is a doctor and the sensible one of the family - and finds his sister irritating and childish.
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When his dad dies and he becomes the new GP, he is looking forward to his new place in the community.
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Yasmeen Vine - played by Salima Saxton
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Yasmeen is James' equally as sensible wife, but taking on the role of practice nurse isn't really her cup of tea - being quite sensitive to bodily functions, she isn't exactly the right type of person for the job.
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Rosie - played by Dawn French
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Rosie is someone that everyone in the Guild looks out for. She is sweet and well-meaning and works in the local cheese factory.
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She sometimes suffers from a mental health disorder which can mean her alter ego Margaret coming to the forefront - and Margaret is quite an unwelcome force to be reckoned with.
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Delilah Stagg - played by Joanna Lumley
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Delilah is an outspoken and slightly eccentric old lady, and when not off to town to buy a tomato can be found playing the organ (very badly indeed) in the church or getting into a pickle with the local fire brigade.
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Caroline - played by Jennifer Saunders
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Caroline is a very busy lady of the country and when not horse riding or going to Madonna's for the evening she's always on the lookout for someone to do the school run.
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She sometimes brings her children to Guild meetings because quite frankly she can't do everything.
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Vicar - played by Patrick Barlow
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The vicar is a grumpy but very traditional man of the church who is always at his wits' end with his parishioners.
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He detests the fact that his church has been upholstered by the Guild and their 'craft', from hymn book covers to wall hangings, and often needs reminding what 'community spirit' is all about.
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Queenie - played by Doreen Mantle
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Queenie is the local and quite ineffective lollipop lady, but is always on hand to help out the Guild and offer a kind word.
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Kate Bales - played by Rosie Cavaliero
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Kate is the local Grievance Group visitor and, although very chirpy and well-meaning, is still wallowing in widowhood - after all, it has only been five years - so she joins the Guild to find some company.
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EP
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