"The Book Group" (2002)TV series 2002-2003

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

11 February 2003 (Sweden)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

American Clare Pettengill, newly arrived in Glasgow, starts up a book group in order to make some new friends...

Plot Keywords:

Footballers Wife | Love | Tea | Book Discussion | Books

Awards:

2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Anne Dudek	...	Clare Pettengill (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Bonnie Engstrom	...	Dirka (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Michelle Gomez	...	Janice McCann (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
James Lance	...	Lachlan Glendenning / ... (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Rory McCann	...	Kenny McLeod (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Saskia Mulder	...	Fist de Grooke (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Derek Riddell	...	Rab (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Des Hamilton	...	Jackie McCann (8 episodes, 2002-2003)
Gotti Sigurdarson	...	Lars (7 episodes, 2002-2003)
Henry Ian Cusick	...	Miles Longmuir (6 episodes, 2003)
Jack McElhone	...	Wee Jackie (6 episodes, 2002-2003)
Karen Kilgariff	...	Jean Pettengill (5 episodes, 2003)
Lawrence Ray	...	Bart van Dongen (5 episodes, 2002-2003)

(more)

Series Directed by
Annie Griffin		(12 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Writing credits
Annie Griffin		(12 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Produced by
Anita Overland	....	producer (6 episodes, 2002)
Derrin Schlesinger	....	producer (6 episodes, 2003)

Series Original Music by
Robert Hodgens		(12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Scott Fraser		(6 episodes, 2002)
Marcus Rea		(6 episodes, 2003)

Series Cinematography by
Daniel Cohen		(6 episodes, 2003)
Tim Palmer		(5 episodes, 2002)

Series Film Editing by
Fergus MacKinnon		(11 episodes, 2002-2003)
Patrick Doherty		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Abi Cohen		(unknown episodes)
Des Hamilton		(unknown episodes)
Jennifer Low Sauer		(unknown episodes)
Annie Teague		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Mike Gunn		(6 episodes, 2002)
Mark Leese		(6 episodes, 2003)

Series Art Direction by
Laura Donnelly		(6 episodes, 2002)
Caroline Grebbell		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Ewan Robertson		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Rhona Russell		(11 episodes, 2002-2003)

Series Makeup Department
Cicoly Connelly	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Laura Hill	....	hair stylist / makeup designer (unknown episodes)
Julie MacKay	....	assistant hair stylist / makeup assistant (unknown episodes)
Lesley Matthews	....	trainee makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Alexis McDougal	....	makeup assistant (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jane Harrison	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tim Bain	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Gus Maclean	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Fiona MacMillan	....	second assistant director / third assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jaynie Miller	....	third assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Phil Bowen	....	construction manager (unknown episodes)
Paul Campbell	....	dressing props (unknown episodes)
Liam Collins	....	stand-by props (unknown episodes)
Susan Collin	....	art department trainee (unknown episodes)
Piero Jamieson	....	property master (unknown episodes)
John Knight	....	dressing props (unknown episodes)
Clare McDonald	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Martin McNee	....	stand-by art director (unknown episodes)
Mark McNeil	....	dressing props (unknown episodes)
Rhian Nicholas	....	art department assistant (unknown episodes)
Lee Porter	....	production buyer (unknown episodes)
Alex Robertson	....	stand-by carpenter (unknown episodes)
Marion Sate	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Cy Jack	....	dubbing mixer (unknown episodes)
Louis Kramer	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
Davy Lees	....	sound trainee (unknown episodes)
David MacMillan	....	sound maintenance (unknown episodes)
Alan MacNicol	....	sound maintenance (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Michael Scott-Law	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Julie Bills	....	first assistant camera / second assistant camera (12 episodes, 2002-2003)
Sean Barclay	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Julio Billie	....	focus puller (unknown episodes)
Lewis Buchan	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Stuart Bunting	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Denise Cochrane	....	camera trainee (unknown episodes)
Neil Davidson	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)
Ewan Epton	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Alan Fraser	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Campbell McIntosh	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Scott Napier	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Scott Nepler	....	best boy (unknown episodes)
Paul Shirley	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Mark Sneddon	....	camera loader (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Kahleen Crawford	....	casting associate (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sally Campbell	....	wardrobe trainee (unknown episodes)
Elaine Roberts	....	wardrobe mistress (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Gerry Brogan	....	on-line editor (unknown episodes)
Aidan Farrell	....	colorist (unknown episodes)
Lucy Marr	....	post-production coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Roddy Dolan	....	driver: props (unknown episodes)
Christine Gibson	....	driver: art department (unknown episodes)
Michael O'Neil	....	driver (unknown episodes)
Paul Zieleniee	....	driver (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Abigail Howkins	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2002)
Mark Devlin	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 2003)
Layla Mall	....	runner (6 episodes, 2003)
Derek Ritchie	....	location assistant (6 episodes, 2003)
Michael Campbell	....	location assistant (unknown episodes)
Sarah Carewell	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Sarah Carswell	....	production secretary (unknown episodes)
Lloret Dunn	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Martin Henderson	....	location assistant (unknown episodes)
Emma John	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Gavin Kinnaird	....	runner (unknown episodes)
Mark McGree	....	location assistant (unknown episodes)
John McKain	....	production accountant (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Paulo Coelho	....	thanks (1 episode, 2002)
Watty Piper	....	thanks (1 episode, 2002)

Production Companies

• Pirate Productions

Distributors

• Channel 4 Television Corporation

Runtime:

24 min (12 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

New Zealand:R13 (season 1) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company:

Pirate Productions

Quotes:

Jean Pettengill: Oh, that's my other news. I'm getting married.
Clare Pettengill: Oh, I didn't realize you were seeing anyone.
Jean Pettengill: I'm not. It's just a visa thing.
Clare Pettengill: What? Oh, just ignore those letters.

Slowly downhill

The premise is so simple that it would seem likely to be a snowballing success.

The fact that the first episode was such a well structured, delicately written and well acted piece, meant that it appeared there was every possibility it could be a well thought through character study over a six week, or however long, period.

Perhaps I am missing something as I have not read all the books that have so far been discussed by the group, but in any case the first episode was the only one that even touched upon the book at any level.

Since then the programme has descended into the characters outside of the group. More about how they react in other environments and the experience that the book group may have had on them. The episodes appear to have been cut very harshly. There are great wapping gaps, with no explanation.

The stuff about Kenny and Claire and the kiss has been forgotten. Barney and Claire and their immediate chemistry. The female obsession of Kenny's hands.

It has to be said that the acting is very accomplished and it is a pleasure to see new actors proving their worth. Perhaps at the end of the run all of the loose ends will be tied up and it will make sense as a whole?

Even so though it needs to be judged on each episodes merits, and doing that is so hard as each episode is so vastly different in genre and style.

It feels like it should have been a two part series, just like Men Only which is one of the best things Channel 4 has ever shown.