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Agony

TV·1979–1981·3 seasons, 20 episodes·ITV1·Comedy, Drama·30m·Created by Anna Raeburn, Len Richmond

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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

Season016Episodes1979AiredSeason avg
  1. S01E01HelpMarch 11, 1979Jane Lucas, overworked advice columnist for Person magazine, tries to cope with her usual hectic schedule as she advises a shy transvestite
  2. S01E02An Unmarried CoupleMarch 18, 1979Jane tries to get use to being alone and to deal with the reactions from an avid press and an overwrought mother.
  3. S01E03Conjugal WrongsMarch 25, 1979Laurence returns when Jane agrees to try some mechanical assistance for their lovemaking.
  4. S01E04Wedlock, DeadlockApril 8, 1979Laurence's interest in another woman at the hospital where he works prompts him to suggest that he and Jane have an open marriage agreement.
  5. S01E05Forever and NeverApril 15, 1979Jane tries to balance Laurence's demands for attention with Michael and Rob's need for her to mediate a quarrel.
  6. S01E06Too Much Agony, Too Little EcstasyApril 29, 1979Jane celebrates her birthday by taking the advice she's been giving to another woman; she leaves Laurence.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season027Episodes1980AiredSeason avg
  1. S02E01Back to RealityApril 13, 1980Jane 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
  2. S02E02Working GirlsApril 20, 1980Val threatens to moonlight in one of Vincent Fish's erotic films when Diana refuses to give her a raise.
  3. S02E03Coming Out... and Going In Again?April 27, 1980Michael appears anonymously on Jane's radio show to answer questions about the homosexual lifestyle, but Junior's blunder exposes his identi
  4. S02E04Television Can Damage Your HealthMay 4, 1980Jane tries another medium when she makes a television pilot that goes completely off course.
  5. S02E05Problem ParentsMay 11, 1980Jane helps Rob explain his homosexuality to his parents and advises her mother about a smitten Junior Truscombe.
  6. S02E06Second Time AroundMay 18, 1980A religiously reformed Andy Evol returns and both he and Jane return to Happening Radio when Junior falls ill.
  7. S02E07A Woman AloneMay 25, 1980Jane is taken hostage during her radio show by a reader unhappy with her advice.

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season037Episodes1981AiredSeason avg
  1. S03E01From Here to MaternityJanuary 18, 1981Jane encounters a broad range of opposition when she decides to stop working and be a full time wife and mother.
  2. S03E02Arrivals and DeparturesJanuary 25, 1981Jane 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
  3. S03E03Hospital RomancesFebruary 1, 1981Jane continues helping people from her hospital bed as a black nurse faces the anger of her superior and Val runs off with Andy Evol.
  4. S03E04Communications BreakdownFebruary 8, 1981Jane's investigation into group therapy uncovers a problem in her marriage and in that of Val and Andy.
  5. S03E05Holy WarsFebruary 15, 1981Jane and Laurence's quarrel over having young Michael circumcised uncovers hidden prejudices.
  6. S03E06Lucas v LucasFebruary 22, 1981Jane and Laurence grow farther apart when their baby is kidnapped by a disturbed man.
  7. S03E07Rings Off Their FingersMarch 1, 1981Laurence tries to win Jane back and she throws a New Year's Eve party that promises to change many people's lives.

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

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