
Seen it?
Agony
Not streaming in your region — see every region's options
Agony is a British sitcom produced by LWT for ITV, broadcast from 1979 to 1981. It stars Maureen Lipman as successful agony aunt Jane Lucas, whose own personal life and marriage is a disaster. It was written by Len Richmond, Anna Raeburn, Stan Hey and Andrew Nickolds.
Although a comedy, Agony sometimes dealt with taboo issues such as drug use, racism, abortion, interracial relationships, and swinging, and was the first British sitcom to portray a gay couple as non-camp, witty, intelligent and happy people. It also openly mocked the government, the ruling classes, and religion, and occasionally contained dark and dramatic storylines.
Cast
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01HelpMarch 11, 1979—Jane Lucas, overworked advice columnist for Person magazine, tries to cope with her usual hectic schedule as she advises a shy transvestite
- S01E02An Unmarried CoupleMarch 18, 1979—Jane tries to get use to being alone and to deal with the reactions from an avid press and an overwrought mother.
- S01E03Conjugal WrongsMarch 25, 1979—Laurence returns when Jane agrees to try some mechanical assistance for their lovemaking.
- S01E04Wedlock, DeadlockApril 8, 1979—Laurence's interest in another woman at the hospital where he works prompts him to suggest that he and Jane have an open marriage agreement.
- S01E05Forever and NeverApril 15, 1979—Jane tries to balance Laurence's demands for attention with Michael and Rob's need for her to mediate a quarrel.
- S01E06Too Much Agony, Too Little EcstasyApril 29, 1979—Jane celebrates her birthday by taking the advice she's been giving to another woman; she leaves Laurence.
Season02
- S02E01Back to RealityApril 13, 1980—Jane returns from vacation and decides to start dating again, but sees Laurence on a tape at a video-dating service talking about how much h
- S02E02Working GirlsApril 20, 1980—Val threatens to moonlight in one of Vincent Fish's erotic films when Diana refuses to give her a raise.
- S02E03Coming Out... and Going In Again?April 27, 1980—Michael appears anonymously on Jane's radio show to answer questions about the homosexual lifestyle, but Junior's blunder exposes his identi
- S02E04Television Can Damage Your HealthMay 4, 1980—Jane tries another medium when she makes a television pilot that goes completely off course.
- S02E05Problem ParentsMay 11, 1980—Jane helps Rob explain his homosexuality to his parents and advises her mother about a smitten Junior Truscombe.
- S02E06Second Time AroundMay 18, 1980—A religiously reformed Andy Evol returns and both he and Jane return to Happening Radio when Junior falls ill.
- S02E07A Woman AloneMay 25, 1980—Jane is taken hostage during her radio show by a reader unhappy with her advice.
Season03
- S03E01From Here to MaternityJanuary 18, 1981—Jane encounters a broad range of opposition when she decides to stop working and be a full time wife and mother.
- S03E02Arrivals and DeparturesJanuary 25, 1981—Jane and Laurence wait for their baby while attending a baby care class run by a strange woman and trying to help Michael deal with a fight
- S03E03Hospital RomancesFebruary 1, 1981—Jane continues helping people from her hospital bed as a black nurse faces the anger of her superior and Val runs off with Andy Evol.
- S03E04Communications BreakdownFebruary 8, 1981—Jane's investigation into group therapy uncovers a problem in her marriage and in that of Val and Andy.
- S03E05Holy WarsFebruary 15, 1981—Jane and Laurence's quarrel over having young Michael circumcised uncovers hidden prejudices.
- S03E06Lucas v LucasFebruary 22, 1981—Jane and Laurence grow farther apart when their baby is kidnapped by a disturbed man.
- S03E07Rings Off Their FingersMarch 1, 1981—Laurence tries to win Jane back and she throws a New Year's Eve party that promises to change many people's lives.
Shows like Agony all similar shows
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Comedy·CrimeFargo2014·FX
Fargo is a seasonal anthology crime drama with some dark comical elements, inspired by the film Fargo written by the Coen brothers.Compare - 02Drama·Comedy·CrimeThe Rookie2018–present·ABC
The Rookie is inspired by a true story. John Nolan is the oldest rookie in the LAPD.Compare - 03Drama·Comedy·SportsTed Lasso2020–present
Ted Lasso centers on an idealistic — and clueless — all-American football coach hired to manage an English football club — despite having no soccer coaching experience at all.Compare - 04Drama·Comedy·FoodThe Bear2022–present·Hulu
Carmy, a young fine-dining chef, comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop.Compare - 05Drama·Comedy·CrimeTulsa King2022–present·Paramount+
Tulsa King follows New York mafia capo Dwight "The General" Manfredi, just after he is released from prison after 25 years and unceremoniously exiled by his boss to set up shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma.Compare - 06Drama·Comedy·FamilyShameless2011–2021·Paramount+ with Showtime
Shameless is a fiercely engaging and fearlessly twisted series.Compare
Head-to-head pick any opponent
Stack Agony's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.
Keep exploring top shows
ShortcutThe essential episodes
Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.
MatchupCompare with another showTwo shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.
NetworkBest ITV1 showsMore from the same network, ranked by rating.
GenreBest comedy shows & filmsThe top of the comedy pile, across both mediums.
GenreBest drama shows & filmsThe top of the drama pile, across both mediums.








