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

Seasons:

1 | 2

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:

English Country Village | English Village | England | Community | Rural Life

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 (8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Elanor Grimes	...	Spar Girl (8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Nigel Lindsay	...	Marcus (8 episodes, 2006-2008)
Freya Edmondson	...	Freya Martin (7 episodes, 2006-2008)
Simon Farnaby		(6 episodes, 2006-2008)
David Mitchell	...	Dr. James Vine / ... (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. As this reference is largely unknown in the U.S., and jam is called jelly there, the title was changed to "Clatterford" to make the series more relevant to American audiences.

Soundtrack:

Village Green Preservation Society

A slow start but worth watching

I thought the first episode was quite poor.

However, it improved and from week 3 I was very happy with it. Although, I watched them in a block over four nights, having taped them with Sky plus. The acting is consistently good and the scripts have little gems all the way through - e.g. Rosie's holy potato and the vicars blessing of the stones.

There is a refreshing lack of typical sitcom situations and characters. Whilst to some it may be quaint, there is a subtle edge to the whole thing which gives moments of sadness and joy.

I know this is at odds with prior posts, but, having sat through the whole series I feel that it does not deserve to suffer for the couple of episodes that it took to establish the characters and the situation.

So to sum up, it is well worth watching in my opinion and I am really looking forward to the second series.