Bob & Rose (2001– )

A witty, touching comedy-drama about a thirtysomething gay man who is surprised to find himself falling in love with a woman.

Stars:

Alan Davies, Lesley Sharp, Jessica Hynes

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Alan Davies	...	Robert Gossage (6 episodes, 2001)
Lesley Sharp	...	Rose Cooper (6 episodes, 2001)
Jessica Hynes	...	Holly Vance (6 episodes, 2001)
Katy Cavanagh	...	Anita Kendrick (6 episodes, 2001)
Siobhan Finneran	...	Marina Marquess (3 episodes, 2001)
Daniel Ryan	...	Andy Lewis (3 episodes, 2001)
Penelope Wilton	...	Monica Gossage (3 episodes, 2001)

Storyline

A witty, touching comedy-drama about a thirtysomething gay man who is surprised to find himself falling in love with a woman.

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Plot Keywords:

love | gay | falling in love | mother daughter relationship | gay kiss | 

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 September 2001 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Production Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

47 min 47 min (6 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Drama Trails: 'Cold Feet' to 'A Touch of Frost' (2008)

User Reviews

Would Jerry Falwell Approve?

I saw this program at a screening at the NY Gay/Lesbian Film Festival. While Bob maintains that he's still gay even though he's fallen in love and lust with a woman, I seriously doubt that's a concept most people would grasp, let alone believe. Even the British press who covered this program generally called it a "gay man goes straight" show, which I gather is not what Davies had in mind.

I didn't really buy what "Bob and Rose" is selling, but it was better written and acted than expected. What the show depicts may indeed occur once in a blue moon, but I was surprised that "Bob and Rose" painted a rather dreary picture of gay relationships (breakups, shagging in the alleyway) while turning the gay/straight relationship in to a complex, but finally positive and romantic experience. Double-standard, eh? And from a gay man like Davies, you'd expect better.

Back in 1978, there was an American film called "A Different Story," about a gay man and a lesbian who wound up falling in love, getting married, and having a kid. "Bob & Rose" has been called "mold-breaking" in the U.K., but it's not that far from the older film in many ways.

If someone really wanted to break a mold, they'd make a film about a straight male who finds himself attracted to a gay man, and finally falls in love with him. I wonder if audiences would embrace that scenario as readily as they do "Bob & Rose," or simply refuse to believe such things could happen, while more than willing to believe a gay man can "change?"