"Jam & Jerusalem" (2006) TV series 2006-????

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

24 November 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

The comical misadventures of friends involved with a women's club. Based on the BBC series "Jam and Jerusalem".

Plot Keywords:

Womens Club | Westcountry | Rural Setting | English Countryside | English

Cast

Sue Johnston	...	Sal Vine (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Maggie Steed	...	Eileen Pike (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Pauline McLynn	...	Tippi Haddem (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Caroline Martin (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Suzy Aitchison	...	Susie (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Dawn French	...	Rosie Bales / ... (13 episodes, 2006-2008)
Sally Phillips	...	Tash Vine (12 episodes, 2006-2008)
Doreen Mantle	...	Queenie (12 episodes, 2006-2008)
Salima Saxton	...	Yasmeen Vine (11 episodes, 2006-2008)
Patrick Barlow	...	Vicar (11 episodes, 2006-2008)
Rosie Cavaliero	...	Kate Bales (9 episodes, 2006-2008)
Robbie Richardson	...	Colin Pennow (9 episodes, 2006-2008)
Elanor Grimes	...	Spar Girl (8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Simon Farnaby		(8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Nigel Lindsay	...	Marcus (8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Hazel John		(8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Menna Trussler		(7 episodes, 2006-2008)
David Mitchell	...	Dr. James Vine (7 episodes, 2006-2008)
Freya Edmondson	...	Freya Martin (7 episodes, 2006-2008)
Thomas Assafuah		(6 episodes, 2006-2008)
Joanna Lumley	...	Delilah Stagg (6 episodes, 2006-2008)

Also Known As:

"Catterfield" (USA) (working title)
"Clatterford" (USA)
"Untitled Jennifer Saunders/Joanna Lumley Project" (USA) (working title)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Filming Locations:

North Tawton, Devon, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The title, "Jam and Jerusalem," specifically refers to the hymn "Jerusalem", which is a hallmark of women's clubs in the UK and is traditionally sung during each meeting. The title also refers to the idea that these women's groups have discussions about domestic topics, such jam-making. As these references are largely unknown in the U.S., the title was changed to "Clatterford" to make the series more relevant to American audiences.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Loose Women: (2009-07-13)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Village Green Preservation Society

It's not Absolutely Fabulous

.... and thank God for that!! I have heard nothing but bad things about Jam and Jerusalem but I think that it is excellent. It seems that anything that Jennifer Saunders does is compared against Absolutely Fabulous (which should have given up after the second series and was only kept alive for the lucrative BBC America audience) and I think it is a shame that many people do not seem to have given it a chance.

This is not a laugh a minute and I do not think that was the intention. The characters are excellently written and are subtle. Unlike Absolutely Fabulous where the viewer learned that (s)he was dealing with an old tart and an aging hippy and their 'hilarious antics' after 10 minutes of the first episode (or indeed after the two minutes of the sketch from French and Saunders from which Ab Fab sprang) the characters in Jam and Jerusalem are more complex and will need at least one more series to come into their own, in much the same way that the characters of 'dinnerladies' took time to develop.

People who want slap-stick, American, literal comedy should steer well clear of Jam and Jerusalem. Fans of French and Saunders and comedy that requires some thought on the part of the viewer will love it.