"Split Ends" (1989) TV series

Director:

Alan J.W. Bell

Writer:

Len Richmond (writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 June 1989 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Hairdressing

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 1 of 8)

Prunella Gee

...

Jo (1 episode, 1989)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Company:

Granada Television

Quotes:

Cath: I often think that if i move the phone away from Clint's ear it would leave an operation scar

Well Overdue A D.V.D Release

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

After shooting to fame as the alcoholic landlady 'Angie Watts' in the B.B.C-1 soap 'EastEnders', the lovely Anita Dobson was cast as 'Cath Gordon' in this forgotten 'Granada Television' sitcom, 'Split Ends'. Cath is the owner of the trendy hair salon,'Teasers'. She seems to be fairly happy with her life but her overbearing mother 'Ruth' (Barbara New) wants her to settle down and get married.

In the first episode, Cath becomes engaged to American business man 'Clint' (Harry Ditson), but she also has feelings for her senior stylist, the smooth-talking (and noticeably better looking) 'David' (Peter Blake). Cath also has trouble with the rest of the staff, most noticeably with Y.T.S trainee 'Lee' (Lee Whitlock), but also has to put up with the lovelorn 'Aretha' (Nimmy March) and effeminate 'Herbie' (Robin Davies) moaning about their love lives. A battle between Clint and David takes place, to which point the engagement is called off. Anita Dobson (wife of 'Queen' rock guitarist Brian May) was indeed, the stand out of the cast, delivering her lines with impeccable comic timing. Harry Ditson irritated me as the smarmy Clint, but the rest of the cast were excellent, particularly Peter Blake as the handsome David and Robin Davies as Herbie.

'Spilt' boasted some wonderful one-liners, such as Ruth asking Cath why she didn't come to her mother when she had questions about reproduction, Cath responds: ''Because if you had your own way, the birds and the bees would be wearing underwear!''. Another memorable quote was when an old woman barked orders at Aretha to make her look like Margaret Thatcher to which Aretha replied: ''I'm a hair stylist, not a stone mason!''

'Split' sadly never found an audience. Anita focused more closely on straight acting when the show ended. I recently viewed five of the six episodes of 'Split' and, while it has dated slightly, it hasn't lost the ability to make me laugh.