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Chance in a Million
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
| Chance in a Million | |
|---|---|
 UK DVD Sleeve Chance in a Million | |
| Written by | Andrew Norriss, Richard Fegen |
| Starring | Simon Callow Brenda Blethyn |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Michael Mills |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Thames Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 10 September 1984 – 1 December 1986 |
Chance in a Million is a British sitcom broadcast between 10 September 1984 and 1 December 1986, produced by Thames Television for the fledgling Channel 4 as part of its early homegrown programming. The series was co-written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen and starred Simon Callow and Brenda Blethyn. The producer and director of the series was Michael Mills.
Plot
[edit]The premise of the show is the growing relationship between Tom Chance and Alison Little, which progresses throughout the series from initial meeting through to marriage. The show is structured like a traditional sitcom, although at the time of broadcast was considered by viewers and critics to be more in line with alternative comedy in the UK.
The titular character, Tom Chance, is frequently the victim of unlikely coincidences, nearly always to his detriment (with his last name indicating Nominative Determinism). Tom is aware of the coincidences that dog him, and describes it as a "disability". However, he is generally stoical, and often declares the best course of action when they occur is to "go with the flow".
Tom meets his girlfriend, Alison Little, by chance when the two go to the same hotel. Tom is on a blind date to meet a girl, who is also called Alison. Meanwhile, Alison Little has arranged to meet her cousin Tom for the first time since they were young children.
Alison appears meek and passive, working as an archetypical librarian, although her even meeker parents consider her to be a tearaway.
Tom is shy towards Alison and oblivious to her romantic and sexual approaches, which are mostly implied and discreet. However, Alison has fallen in love with Tom at first sight and she is keen for their friendship to develop into something more intimate as the show progresses. Crucially, as Tom soon comes to realise, Alison is immune from suffering too badly from the consequences of his coincidences, although is always involved as each situation plays out.
Alison is in her twenties, while Tom is probably in his early 30s. When the show started filming, Blethyn was 38 and Callow was 35.
Tom's character is somewhat bombastic and old-fashioned, a deliberate callback to similar middle/upper-class characters in UK fiction of the Victorian/Edwardian periods. His style of speaking is a key component of his comic nature. He speaks only in short staccato sentences similar to a telegram, devoid of personal pronouns and conjunctions: "Can’t talk Alison. Car being towed. Problem with lawn furniture." However, in other ways his character is surprisingly modern: He has an amusing ability to drink an entire pint of lager in one gulp whilst in the middle of speaking a sentence, for example. (According to Callow in a DVD commentary, a trick glass containing a fraction of a pint was actually used.)
Because of Tom's tendency to get into trouble as a result of unlikely coincidences, his back story features him being arrested for crimes he did not commit – which happens so often that police Sergeant Gough gives orders for Tom not to be arrested, no matter how suspicious the circumstances.
Unlike Alison, Tom does not work. Instead, he is of independent means, his income provided by six Premium Bonds that frequently win, which he ascribes to the same coincidences that otherwise plague him.
Tom's interest is cricket, and he has a fascination with Surrey and England cricketer Alec Bedser, and a cricket bat, which has been autographed by the cricketer, is one of Tom's most treasured possessions. (Or at least was, before it was chewed up by next door's alsatian.) And in the penultimate episode, Alison presents her husband-to-be with a book containing a signed dedication by Bedser, to Tom's great delight.
The show frequently and somewhat gratuitously features women in nothing but their underwear (including Blethyn, who at various times appears in underwear, a negligee, and a basque). As such, it's reminiscent of the concurrent Benny Hill TV shows, or even the Carry On series.
Theme
[edit]The title tune for the show is a version of Taking a Chance on Love.
Cast
[edit]- Simon Callow as Tom Chance
- Brenda Blethyn as Alison Little
- Ronnie Stevens (series 1), Hugh Walters (series 2 and 3) as Mr. Little
- Deddie Davies as Mrs. Little
- Bill Pertwee as Sergeant Gough
- Angus MacKay as Terrence Wingent
- Geraldine Gardner aka Trudi Van Doorn as Barbara Wingent – (series 2 & 3)
- Peter Corey as Cousin Thomas
- Rosemary Smith as "Janet" – (series 3)
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Series | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 6 | 10 September 1984 | 15 October 1984 | |
| 2 | 6 | 6 January 1986 | 10 February 1986 | |
| 3 | 6 | 27 October 1986 | 1 December 1986 | |
Series 1 (1984)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Plumstones" | 10 September 1984 | |
|
One afternoon, a shy librarian Alison Little arrives a hotel to meet her long lost cousin Tom. Shortly after, Tom Chance turns up who happens to be on blind date with a woman also named Alison. Due to a misunderstanding Tom and Alison mistake each other for their respective guests. On the way back Tom gets himself arrested for helping a woman get her keys out of a car, he explains to Alison that he often gets arrested when caught for things he hasn’t done. Later at a restaurant, they get involved in a food fight with a disgruntled waiter and have difficulty trying to access Tom’s house when he mislays his key in the coat he left back at the restaurant. (A version of the pilot, with a timecode, also exists and is included on the DVD as an extra. This version has a differently-scripted and acted second half, although the ending is similar.) | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Honour Thy Father and Mother" | 17 September 1984 | |
|
Following the events of the previous episode, Alison returns home late at night minus her dress, and her parents are none too pleased by her antics. The following day, Tom goes to the library to return her dress, but finds himself in an altercation with an irate Scotswoman who confuses him for a dodgy car salesman who sold her son a useless car. Alison’s parents later turn up at Tom’s house to confront him, but her mother gets caught up with a group of girls hoping to break the world record for the most people in a phone box, whilst her father is mistaken for Tom by the Scotswoman’s vengeful husband. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Flowing with the Tide" | 24 September 1984 | |
|
Tom gets into trouble when he finds that his amenities are due to be cut off due to a spate of unpaid bills. He believes that he’s received no post for the past six weeks, but in reality all his mail has been dropped behind the heater. After his phone is disconnected, Tom calls his bank manager from a public phone box and accidentally kills a pet hamster. When he arrives at the bank, he finds his bank manager has been replaced, but his successor promises to help Tom with his financial problems. When Tom returns home later that evening, he receives a shocking surprise. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Birthday Party" | 1 October 1984 | |
|
It’s Alison’s birthday shortly, and Tom is busy planning a surprise party for her. His plans go typically awry when his singing telegram arrives several hours early, the caterer puts fake insects in the food and the fur coat he gives to Alison turns out to belong to another man who intended to give to his mistress, which Tom picked by mistake. To add to their woes, they find that all their guests are strangers, after Tom mistakenly contacts them when he confuses the library’s lost property journal for Alison's address book. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Man of Iron" | 8 October 1984 | |
|
Alison has bought a flat, and soon her nervous cousin Thomas from Hartlepool stays over in order to attend a Cliff Richard concert. Unfortunately, before he arrives he finds himself chased by a dog and lands in wet cement, all due to Tom. Later that evening, Tom and Alison take him to the pub, where a man named Malcolm picks a fight with him, but gets knocked over by a cricket ball. In the car park, Tom is challenged by another man, Terry, who suddenly tears his own clothes and daubs himself in fake blood. After Tom, Alison and her cousin leave the pub, it turns out that Malcolm arranged a fake fight in order to impress his girlfriend. Back at the flat, Tom and Alison have difficulty with the front door which leads to unfortunate consequences for Thomas. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Stuff of Dreams" | 15 October 1984 | |
|
After getting involved in altercation with her landlord, Alison moves in with Tom. At breakfast, Tom finds that his boat which he won in a competition many years before, has finally been returned after it was stolen shortly after he won it. Soon, Corporal Browning literally drops in on the pair when his parachute gets caught on their tree. After helping him get down, he informs them that he’s on a treasure hunt and inadvertently Tom manages to locate all the items that the corporal has been looking for within the vicinity of his house. Later that evening Alison takes Tom to visit her friends Roger and Susan, but soon tensions boil over when they accidentally expose that Roger has been cheating on his partner. | ||||
Series 2 (1986)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | "The Taxman Cometh" | 6 January 1986 | |
|
Tom and Alison find a Portuguese couple on their doorstep, they have come along looking for work at a hotel, only for them to turn up at the wrong place and in the wrong town. Although they are unable to speak English, luckily Alison can speak Portuguese and learns more about their predicament. At the tax office, Tom is confronted by his tax inspector who is alarmed to find why he hasn’t any income despite being relatively well off. Tom confesses he’s been constantly winning premium bonds since 1969. He later forces Tom to marry his daughter Barbara, as he mistakenly believes that he's the father of her unborn child. Alison strives to resolve Tom’s problem and seek out the real father. | ||||
| 8 | 2 | "For Whom the Bells Toll" | 13 January 1986 | |
|
It is the day of Barbara and Terrence’s wedding; Alison and Tom are preparing to set off for the church. Penny, another bride turns up when she asks to use their telephone after the horse pulling her carriage suddenly collapses. The vet turns out to be an old flame of hers, and she calls off the wedding. Tom is instructed to drive to the church and inform the groom of the news, only he turns up at the wrong wedding and causes a commotion. At the hotel reception, whilst chaos ensues in the lobby as the respective wedding parties scrap it out, Tom decides to propose to Alison. | ||||
| 9 | 3 | "The Lost Weekend" | 20 January 1986 | |
|
After a buzzard damages his windscreen, Tom takes his car to the garage. Yet his comments are mistaken for a code word notifying of a consignment of heroin. Tom is given the package which he confuses for wallpaper paste and offers it to Alison’s father who is decorating. Later they find a brick thrown through a window by an irate drug dealer, and further chaos ensues when Alison’s parents are confused as a pair of trophy thieves at the golf club, and a sniffer dog works out the source of the attacks when it inspects the wallpaper. | ||||
| 10 | 4 | "And What Shall We Do For a Ring?" | 27 January 1986 | |
|
Tom is looking for an engagement ring for Alison, upon leaving the jewelers Tom notices a malfunctioning headlight on his car, he unknowingly opens the boot and a robber places the spoils from a recent robbery in his car, since it’s identical to the getaway car. When he meets Alison for tea, she hands him her father’s security briefcase to look after. Only she has picked up the wrong case after the ringleader behind the robbery makes off with her father’s briefcase. Meanwhile Alison’s parents are mistaken for the getaway drivers, whilst at home Tom and Alison discover a large amount of money in the briefcase, and soon the pair are arrested for suspected theft. They face celebrating their engagement in a police cell. Sergeant Gough learns of this misunderstanding and organizes an engagement meal in their cell. As he goes off to get some Champagne, it is discovered that Alison’s parents are being held up in another cell nearby after being caught in Tilbury. | ||||
| 11 | 5 | "Winning Streak" | 3 February 1986 | |
|
One morning, Tom finds a huge pair of bricks outside his door. He bribes two boy scouts passing by to help put the bricks away. Later on, in the space of one afternoon Tom manages to win a supermarket trolley dash, place an elderly woman’s groceries in the wrong car and win all the prizes at a charity raffle. Later that evening, they are hosting an American couple Mr and Mrs Burrows for dinner, when they find to their horror that the scouts have placed all the bricks inside the house, and a man digging for treasure in their garden has cut the electricity cable. Tom and Alison have no choice but to improvise, which leads to disastrous consequences. | ||||
| 12 | 6 | "Naming the Day" | 10 February 1986 | |
|
Tom has posted an announcement of his engagement to a local newspaper; during Breakfast as he looks in vain through the paper for the announcement, he finds that he’s ended up on the obituary page instead. At the library, he bumps into Joanna, the widow of the deceased man who mistakenly believes he’s survived and kisses him. In retaliation, Alison throws a yoghurt carton at her when she directs Joanna to the noticeboard. Later, Alison sees Reverend Dodge when she has concerns about marrying Tom, in response he asks her about some advice about plumbing. Meanwhile, Tom is painting the front door, just as he goes off for a cup of tea, Joanna wanders into the house thinking it’s her aunt’s. Soon, Tom finds her only clad in a bath towel; as she tries to explain about her predicament, the local press arrive along with Joanna’s irate husband and a soaking wet Vicar. | ||||
Series 3 (1986)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 1 | "Goodbye Mr Henstridge" | 27 October 1986 | |
|
Mr. Henstridge, an elderly regular at the library has passed away. Alison persuades Tom to attend his funeral. They get lost on the way to the funeral, and they get caught up with a pair of bird watchers when they ask them for directions. Later outside the church, a wedding party confuses Tom's car for the bride and groom's and decorate it with balloons and crazy string. To their shock they discover that have decorated the wrong car, as the funeral congregation exit the church. At the wake, guests from the wedding reception next door confuse the house for the former, and later Tom and Alison drive to Henstridge’s cottage to clear the contents his wardrobe as instructed on his will, but they soon discover from inspecting the contents of his house to their shock that he wasn’t the kind hearted genial old gentleman she believed him to be. | ||||
| 14 | 2 | "Guess Who’s Not Coming to Dinner" | 3 November 1986 | |
|
Tom takes Alison to visit his uncle and cousins for the weekend at their country estate. Alison feels very uneasy about the prospect of being looked down upon due to their upper-class status. However they are equally uneasy about Tom being around the place and his tendency to land himself in coincidental situations, inevitably a spate of misfortune incidents befall his relatives and one by one they find themselves disposed of and ultimately end up in hospital. Later that evening, Tom and Alison find themselves at the family celebratory dinner, dining alone. | ||||
| 15 | 3 | "The Blessing" | 10 November 1986 | |
|
Whilst Tom is on a cricketing tour of Norway, Alison’s father try to persuade his daughter not to marry him. Meanwhile Tom's former nanny Mrs Mungo arrives on the scene and begins eating things around the house. Meanwhile Tom rings Alison to tell her that he's at the police station, and she goes off to collects him. At the police station, an animal rights protest is taking place outside, whilst Tom informs Sergeant Gough about being locked in a flight simulator for the entire weekend with a group of trainee Bulgarian pilots. After exiting the airport, in the park he rescued an attendant from a mink attack by whacking it with a cricket bat, whereupon they were chased by 4000 protestors. Tom chats to a snake handler whose 12 foot python sneaks into his luggage when he's not looking. Alison arrives, and she convinces Gough to dress Tom up in disguise as a Policewoman in order to avoid suspicion from the protestors. Later that evening, Tom and Alison host a dinner party, and chaos ensues when the escaped python is let loose. | ||||
| 16 | 4 | "The One and Future Chance" | 17 November 1986 | |
|
Tom and Alison are planning the Wedding and discuss about the guest arrangements. Barbara and Terrence arrive and ask them to look after their baby son Maximillian whilst they take his prospective godmother Lady Stocksbridge to lunch. Tom and Alison visit Reverend Dodge to arrange the wedding plans. When they walk back from the church with the pram, Tom goes into a shop to collect a Christening mug and mistakenly walks off with an identical pram and dog, that a woman has just left. At the shopping centre, Tom finds Alison with the correct dog and pram, whilst they discover a pair of toddler aged twins alone a lift. They take the unaccompanied children back to the vicariage, and the police soon arrive and they are arrested on the charge of child abduction. Sergeant Gough discovers about the mix up and drops the charges, inadvertently due to all the confusion they end up ruining the Christening and manage to get Lady Stocksbridge arrested. | ||||
| 17 | 5 | "Pre-Matrimonial Tensions" | 24 November 1986 | |
|
It is the day before Tom and Alison’s wedding. She is very enthusiastic about the prospect, whilst Tom conversely is far from hopeful due to his concerns that everything will go wrong. Tom discovers in his car, a large cache of photographs featuring a scantily clad woman in a wedding dress. Later at the photography studio he tries to report it to the police when he finds out that the wedding photographer Mr Benson left the catchment in his car. At the travel office, they appeal to the travel operator Mr. Mitchell when they discover that their plane tickets for their Honeymoon have been diverted to the wrong location. Tom blurts out about the photographs and Mitchell discovers that his daughter has been modelling for them. He decides to get his revenge on the photographer and heads down to the studio. | ||||
| 18 | 6 | "The Wedding" | 1 December 1986 | |
|
Tom and Alison are hosting a vicars and tarts party for the Wedding Eve celebrations, however they are unaware that their guests are stuck down a sewer following the commotion at the photography studio. Alison gets arrested at an off-licence when she is accused of soliciting, whilst Tom gets himself caught up with a group of genuine clergymen and also gets arrested along with the rest of the group when the police suspect there's a thief among them who is known to disguise himself as a Vicar. At the police station, Sergeant Gough finally realizes what has gone on and releases them, and sends out a Vicar to accompany them in order to make sure they get married. | ||||
Home releases
[edit]| DVD | Release date |
|---|---|
| The Complete Series 1 | 1 March 2010 |
| The Complete Series 2 | 5 July 2010 |
| The Complete Series 3 | 4 October 2010 |
| The Complete Series 1 to 3 Box Set | 4 October 2010 |
Notes
[edit]Speaking about the series following its release on DVD Simon Callow said: "I loved doing it and it's one of the most popular things I ever did. The central character, Tom Chance, was a guy who was plagued by coincidence that was the basic formula of the series. The charming thing about him was that he seemed to belong to another world completely. He spoke in the most extraordinary way, which I think was derived from Mr. Jingle in The Pickwick Papers – he never used the personal pronouns ... He'd say, "... went to bank ... had problem ... sat down ... couldn't get out ... killed a woman ... very sad...". Brenda Blethyn, she's absolutely superb in it. Brenda and I and the writers are desperately keen to do a series, 25 years later on ... same couple ... I think it would be wonderful."[1]
Brenda Blethyn, in her 2006 autobiography Mixed Fancies, speaks of the series at length with clear affection and happy memories of the project.
References
[edit]- ^ Simon Callow speaking on The Danny Baker Show, Radio 5 Live, 22 May 2010.
- The Penguin TV Companion (2nd Edition) – Jeff Evans, Penguin Books Ltd., London, 2003
External links
[edit]- Chance in a Million at IMDb
- Chance in a Million at British Comedy Guide
- Chance in a Million Archived 17 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine – BBC Comedy Guide
- Chance in a Million — Summary and Cast – British TV Comedy
- Chance in a Million — Episode List – British TV Comedy
Chance in a Million
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Premise and themes
Premise
Chance in a Million is a British sitcom centered on Tom Chance, an eccentric and accident-prone man whose life is continually disrupted by improbable coincidences, often leading to chaotic situations, misunderstandings, and wrongful arrests by the police.[5] The series follows Tom's good-natured but oblivious navigation of these mishaps, which highlight his perpetual bad luck while he remains cheerfully unaware of the patterns in his misfortunes.[2] His character serves as the primary driver of the narrative's comedic tension, with events escalating from minor mix-ups to absurd escalations involving authority figures and everyday encounters.[6] The core storyline introduces Tom's relationship with Alison Little, a shy and level-headed librarian who enters his life through a blind date mix-up at a hotel bar, where coincidences lead them to meet instead of their intended matches.[7] Alison acts as the practical counterpart to Tom's chaos, methodically managing the fallout from his predicaments without experiencing similar afflictions herself, which underscores their contrasting personalities and provides a grounding element to the plot.[8] Over the three series, their bond evolves from this chance initial encounter to cohabitation, culminating in marriage by the finale, with Tom's ongoing disasters repeatedly testing but ultimately strengthening their partnership.[6] This progression emphasizes the romantic core of the show, where Alison's patience and support enable them to weather the improbabilities together.[9] Set primarily in suburban England during the 1980s, the series reflects the mundane aspects of British middle-class life, using familiar locales like homes, pubs, and local communities to amplify the humor derived from Tom's extraordinary bad luck intruding on ordinary routines.[5] The musical theme tune, a rendition of "Taking a Chance on Love" performed by The Ladybirds, reinforces the romantic and serendipitous premise throughout the episodes.Themes
The central motif of coincidence in Chance in a Million serves to satirize fate, luck, and the absurdity of everyday life, as the protagonist Tom Chance repeatedly encounters improbable events that disrupt his routine and lead to misunderstandings. This recurring element underscores the writers' fascination with unlikely occurrences, transforming mundane situations into chaotic farces that highlight the randomness of existence.[10][11] The series blends traditional sitcom tropes, such as romantic mishaps and situational comedy, with elements of 1980s alternative comedy, incorporating subtle surrealism and character-driven humor over reliance on punchlines. This mix creates a distinctive tone where physical gags and absurd scenarios are balanced by emotional depth, reflecting the era's shift toward more nuanced comedic storytelling.[10][11] Romantic optimism permeates the narrative through the portrayal of enduring love between Tom and Alison, who navigate chaos with resilience, emphasizing the strength of their bond amid constant disruptions. This theme celebrates serendipity in relationships, showing how improbable connections can foster lasting partnership.[10][12] Subtle social commentary emerges in critiques of bureaucracy through repeated police misunderstandings that expose institutional rigidity. These elements add layers to the humor, gently probing societal norms without overt preachiness.[10][12] The title Chance in a Million cleverly plays on the rarity of the coincidences driving the plot while evoking the serendipitous nature of Tom and Alison's romance, encapsulating the show's exploration of improbable fortune in both life and love.[10][11]Cast and characters
Main cast
Simon Callow portrayed Tom Chance, the bumbling and largely oblivious protagonist whose life is perpetually disrupted by improbable coincidences, rendering him an eccentric yet optimistic everyman who remains unfazed by the chaos around him.[6] Callow, fresh from his theater successes including West End appearances and the role in the 1984 film Amadeus, brought a stoic, measured delivery to the character, often infusing scenes with quirky physicality such as downing a pint mid-sentence, marking this as one of his early prominent television roles following his stage fame.[13][14] As a bank clerk, Tom's everyday professional life enables a carefree navigation of his mishaps with detached amusement.[2] Brenda Blethyn played Alison Little, Tom's long-suffering girlfriend and the series' grounding force, depicted as a shy librarian whose outward timidity masks a rambunctious spirit and deep affection for her partner amid his endless predicaments.[6] This role served as a breakthrough leading television appearance for Blethyn, who had debuted on screen in 1980's Grown-Ups and would later transition to acclaimed film work, including an Academy Award nomination for Secrets & Lies (1996). Alison's profession as a librarian underscores her practical, supportive nature, providing contrast to Tom's whimsical existence and anchoring their relationship through her earnest patience.[4] The on-screen chemistry between Callow and Blethyn drives the central dynamic, with Callow's flamboyant, stoic eccentricity complementing Blethyn's understated warmth and lively undercurrents, creating a sense of innocent delight and mutual affection that infuses the series with heartfelt humor.[6] Their performances highlight the leads' contrasting styles, turning potential frustration into endearing partnership, occasionally intersecting with recurring characters who amplify the comedic misunderstandings.[6]Recurring and guest cast
Other recurring characters include Deddie Davies as Mrs. Little, Alison's mother, whose familial interactions often draw Tom into awkward family dynamics, and Hugh Walters as Mr. Little, Alison's father (series 2 and 3), contributing to subplots that underscore the series' theme of improbable coincidences.[15] Bill Pertwee portrayed Sgt. Gough, the bumbling police sergeant repeatedly involved in Tom's arrests and official troubles, appearing across multiple episodes to heighten the comedic mishaps related to law enforcement misunderstandings.[15] Notable guest appearances added variety to the ensemble, such as Frankie Howerd in Series 1, where his distinctive comedic style amplified Tom's predicaments in a single episode; Bill Maynard in Series 2, bringing his trademark gruff humor to a supporting role; and Stratford Johns in another appearance, leveraging his authoritative presence for ironic contrasts without altering the core dynamics. These guests appeared in specific episodes, enhancing the supporting cast's role in building layered comedy through their interactions with the leads.[3] The recurring and guest actors played crucial roles in the ensemble by providing reactions and subplots that magnified Tom's everyday misfortunes, creating a richer comedic world where coincidences ripple outward to affect friends, neighbors, and authorities alike.Production
Development
Chance in a Million was created and written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen, marking their debut as writers for a television sitcom.[6] The duo, who would later co-create the BBC sitcom The Brittas Empire, drew the series' concept from an interest in humor centered on extraordinary coincidences, structuring scripts by beginning with absurd gags and reverse-engineering plots to integrate them seamlessly, akin to Chekhov's gun principle.[6] This approach allowed for eccentric, farce-like storytelling while maintaining character-driven narratives focused on the protagonists' mishaps. The series was commissioned by Channel 4 during its early years following the channel's 1982 launch, with Thames Television handling production to provide innovative content for early evening slots.[1] Michael Mills served as both producer and director, bringing his experience from previous comedy successes to oversee the low-budget studio format.[16] Intended for adult audiences, the show emphasized warmth and optimism amid its coincidental chaos, distinguishing it from conventional sitcom tropes.[6] Thames opted for a format of three six-episode series, totaling 18 episodes across 1984 to 1986, with subsequent seasons greenlit based on the positive reception to the initial run.[6] This structure supported self-contained, character-focused stories without prolonged romantic tension, allowing the writers to explore escalating coincidences in each installment.[6]Filming and crew
Chance in a Million was produced by Thames Television for Channel 4, with filming conducted primarily at the company's studios in Teddington, London, where many 1980s British sitcoms were recorded.[1] The series employed a traditional multi-camera studio setup, allowing for live audience reactions that contributed to its comedic energy, though specific exterior shots were minimal to maintain focus on interior scenarios.[17] Director and producer Michael Mills oversaw the production, drawing on his extensive experience in comedy to prioritize authentic, naturalistic performances from the cast, which he believed enhanced the charm and realism of the characters amid the script's improbable coincidences.[18] Mills was known for his hands-on approach, often intervening directly with crew during rehearsals—such as adopting a naval-themed leadership style, calling out "Ahoy" and wearing a duffel coat—to ensure tight comedic timing and polished gag delivery, while addressing logistical hurdles like actor lateness.[18] Key technical crew included production designer Peter Elliott, who handled set design across all 18 episodes to create relatable South London domestic environments.[19] Lighting was managed by Allen Harradine for 17 episodes, contributing to the warm, intimate studio atmosphere essential for the show's humor.[19] Editing duties were shared among several professionals, including Terence E. Badham (5 episodes) and Tom Kavanagh (4 episodes), who focused on rhythmic cuts to amplify the pacing of coincidental mishaps.[19] The incidental music was arranged by Ronnie Aldrich for 8 episodes, with the theme based on the standard "Taking a Chance on Love" by Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, and John Latouche, providing an upbeat, whimsical underscore that complemented the narrative's serendipitous tone.[3] Production faced typical 1980s constraints for the newly launched Channel 4, including limited budgets that necessitated efficient workflows and resource sharing at Thames facilities, yet Mills' methodical oversight ensured consistent quality.[18]Episodes
Series overview
Chance in a Million is a British sitcom that aired for three series, comprising a total of 18 episodes, with each installment running approximately 25 minutes.[1][2] The series premiered on Channel 4 on 10 September 1984, with the first series broadcast weekly until 15 October 1984; the second series followed in January 1986 from 6 January to 10 February; and the third series aired from 27 October to 1 December 1986.[20] The narrative arc traces the evolving relationship between the protagonists, Tom Chance and Alison Little. The first series establishes their initial meeting and budding romance amid Tom's penchant for extraordinary coincidences.[2] The second series advances their story into cohabitation, exploring the challenges and humor arising from their shared life.[1] The third series builds to a climax with their engagement, marriage, and ultimate resolution, tying together the ongoing themes of fate and partnership.[21] Episodes are structured as standalone comedic vignettes, each driven by a new improbable coincidence in Tom's life that intersects with his relationship with Alison, while progressively escalating the scale and impact of these events across the series to heighten the romantic and situational stakes.[1]Series 1 (1984)
The first series of Chance in a Million, comprising six half-hour episodes, aired on Channel 4 from 10 September to 15 October 1984, introducing the central characters Tom Chance and Alison Little through a series of improbable coincidences and mishaps that highlight Tom's accident-prone nature.[20][22]Episode 1: "Plumstones"
In the premiere episode, shy librarian Alison Little arrives at a restaurant for a blind date but encounters eccentric houseboat dweller Tom Chance due to a mix-up in arrangements, leading to immediate chaos as Tom's clumsiness results in him accidentally knocking out patrons with a rowing oar and getting arrested following a brawl.[7] The episode establishes their unlikely connection amid escalating absurdities, setting the tone for Tom's obliviousness to the bizarre events surrounding him.[7]Episode 2: "Honour Thy Father and Mother"
Alison returns home late from her evening with Tom, sans her dress, prompting disapproval from her parents who demand its return; Tom obliges but sparks a confrontation with a belligerent Scotswoman en route, further complicating interactions when he arrives at Alison's family home.[23] This installment explores familial tensions and Tom's well-intentioned but disastrous interventions, deepening the portrayal of his perpetual bad luck.[23]Episode 3: "Flowing with the Tide"
Tom realizes his mail has been jammed in his houseboat's pipe for months, resulting in unpaid bills, a cut-off phone line, and the accidental death of a neighbor's hamster; as bailiffs arrive to repossess his belongings, Alison steps in to help navigate the fallout from his neglected responsibilities.[24] The episode underscores Tom's disorganized lifestyle and how it draws Alison into his world of mounting crises.[24]Episode 4: "The Birthday Party"
Determined to celebrate Alison's birthday, Tom organizes a surprise gathering but errs by gifting her a fur coat intended for someone else, igniting jealousy and disorder at the event; the pair flees to the countryside to escape the ensuing pandemonium.[25] It illustrates Tom's earnest but flawed romantic gestures and their strengthening bond amid recurring blunders.[25]Episode 5: "Man of Iron"
Alison's timid cousin Thomas visits and stays with her, but Tom's attempts to toughen him up via a pub outing devolve into a staged brawl with fake blood, culminating in Thomas accidentally knocking himself unconscious and enraging the pub landlord.[26] This story highlights Tom's misguided protective instincts and the ripple effects of his chaotic influence on those around him.[26]Episode 6: "Stuff of Dreams"
While house-hunting with Alison, Tom and she inspect a flat owned by a quarrelsome couple, but a series of mix-ups leads to his houseboat being mistakenly fumigated; displaced, they spend the night aboard a returned rowing boat in a moment of unexpected romance.[27] The finale cements their commitment without resolving underlying tensions, leaving their relationship poised for future developments.[27] Throughout the series, the episodes build the core dynamic between Tom and Alison by layering introductory mishaps that reveal Tom's character as both endearing and exasperating, culminating in a tentative romantic affirmation that propels their story forward.[22]Series 2 (1986)
The second series of Chance in a Million aired on Channel 4 from January to February 1986, comprising six episodes that advance Tom Chance and Alison Little's relationship from casual cohabitation to engagement, highlighting domestic mishaps driven by Tom's perpetual bad luck. Building on the initial romance from the first series, this installment introduces more intimate conflicts, such as financial pressures and family interferences, while amplifying the comedic tension in their shared living situation. The series arc focuses on their progression toward commitment, with episodes exploring themes of proposal, announcement, and wedding preparations amid escalating coincidences.[28]Episode list
- "The Taxman Cometh" (6 January 1986): A Portuguese couple arrives at Tom's door seeking hotel employment in the wrong town; Alison's fluency in Portuguese leads them to stay temporarily. Meanwhile, a tax inspector, suspecting Tom's unexplained wealth, demands payment or marriage to his daughter, mistaking Alison for her.[29][30]
- "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (13 January 1986): Preparations for Alison's sister Barbara's wedding descend into chaos when another bride's horse collapses, revealing the vet as her ex-lover and prompting her to flee; Tom accidentally alerts the wrong groom, while he and Alison share their first dance, culminating in Tom's proposal.[31]
- "The Lost Weekend" (20 January 1986): Tom's visit to a garage unwittingly uses a drug courier's code phrase about a buzzard shattering his windscreen, leading him to handle what he believes is wallpaper paste but is actually heroin; further mix-ups at a golf club with Alison's father result in a robbery accusation, resolved by police, after which they announce their engagement to her disapproving parents.[32]
- "And What Shall We Do for a Ring?" (27 January 1986): Tom's coincidental acquisition of a criminal's identical suitcase and car yields robbery spoils and jewelry, allowing he and Alison a brief luxurious escape; Special Branch intervenes, leading to their arrest and a police cell engagement celebration, where Tom presents her with a ring, while her parents face a separate misunderstanding.[33]
- "Winning Streak" (3 February 1986): Tom's luck temporarily turns positive as he wins a supermarket dash, a raffle, and a charity prize; however, a treasure hunter disrupts their home by cutting power, forcing improvisation while hosting an American couple, and Tom shields Alison from embarrassment at a library auction by buying all bids.[34]
- "Naming the Day" (10 February 1986): A newspaper error lists Tom's obituary instead of an engagement notice, drawing the attention of a widow who mistakes him for her survived lover and kisses him at the library; escalating confusions involve a home invasion by her, journalists, and a drenched vicar as wedding plans advance.[35][36]
Series 3 (1986)
The third series of Chance in a Million, airing on Channel 4 from 27 October to 1 December 1986, served as the finale, building on the couple's engagement from the previous season to deliver a conclusive arc centered on their wedding preparations and ceremony. Amid escalating coincidences that test their relationship, the episodes emphasize themes of resilience and serendipity, culminating in Tom and Alison's marriage as an optimistic resolution to the show's exploration of improbable events shaping everyday life.[2][20] The six episodes are as follows:- Goodbye Mr Henstridge (27 October 1986): An elderly library patron admired by Alison passes away, prompting her and Tom to attend his funeral; however, Tom's involvement in a civil defense exercise diverts them, leading to attendance at the wrong service in Eastbourne where Alison learns of the deceased's unexpected fondness for strippergrams.
- Guess Who's Not Coming to Dinner (3 November 1986): Tom invites Alison to spend the weekend with his affluent uncle and cousins at their country estate, where the family frets over his propensity for mishaps, which manifest dramatically including a fire caused by one of Tom's coincidences.
- The Blessing (10 November 1986): Believing Tom is away on a cricket tour in Norway, Alison's parents attempt to convince her to call off the wedding; unbeknownst to them, Tom remains nearby, entangled in local coincidences involving a vicar and a voracious eater.[37]
- The Once and Future Chance (17 November 1986): As wedding plans advance, Tom and Alison inadvertently take charge of six children and several dogs during a mix-up, resulting in an accusation of abduction and further chaotic entanglements.
- Pre-Matrimonial Tensions (24 November 1986): On the eve of the wedding, mounting disasters strike, including the disappearance of the best man, bridesmaids, key guests, and even their honeymoon tickets, heightening the couple's pre-wedding anxiety.
- The Wedding (1 December 1986): Wedding day pandemonium unfolds with guests trapped in a sewer, Alison mistakenly arrested for soliciting, and Tom costumed as a vicar due to crossed wires, yet the coincidences ultimately ensure the ceremony proceeds with heartfelt success.[38]
Broadcast and reception
Original broadcast
Chance in a Million was originally broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, with production handled by Thames Television as part of the channel's early 1980s programming slate designed to carve out a distinct identity in British television.[39] The series aired exclusively on Monday evenings at 8:30 PM across all three seasons, beginning with the premiere episode "Plumstones" on 10 September 1984 and concluding with the final episode on 1 December 1986, spanning a total of 18 half-hour installments.[1][20] As one of Channel 4's early sitcoms following its 1982 launch, it played a key role in the network's comedy lineup, showcasing character-driven humor amid the channel's broader push for original content.[39] The program achieved notable success as an early hit for the fledgling broadcaster, contributing to its growing viewership in the mid-1980s UK market.[10] While primarily targeted at domestic audiences, the series saw limited international distribution beyond the UK.[40]Critical reception and legacy
Upon its debut in 1984, Chance in a Million received positive reviews for its innovative blend of sitcom and farce, with Channel 4's annual report highlighting the series' "logic and faultless mechanics of farce," crediting it with producing a new genre dubbed "sitfarce."[41] Critics praised the chemistry between leads Simon Callow and Brenda Blethyn, noting the "tremendous amount of warmth" generated by their performances and the "easy chemistry that sells the romance" between their characters.[6] The show's inspired casting was seen as elevating its surreal comedic elements, contributing to its status as an early success for the fledgling Channel 4.[10] The series ran for three seasons and was described by Callow in a 2010 interview as having been "brilliantly reviewed" upon launch, leading to an immediate repeat on ITV and solidifying its commercial viability.[42] Callow later reflected on its impact in 2017, calling it a "big success" during its original run from 1984 to 1986.[43] As one of Channel 4's earliest sitcom triumphs, Chance in a Million has been fondly remembered for its unique mix of coincidence-driven humor and romantic warmth, leaving a lasting impression on 1980s British television.[10] It holds cult classic status among viewers, evidenced by positive retrospective discussions and its availability on DVD, which has sustained interest decades later.[10] In modern assessments, the series maintains a strong user rating of 7.9 out of 10 on IMDb, based on over 300 votes, with reviewers highlighting its clever writing and enduring hilarity despite its dated elements.[2]Home media
DVD releases
The DVD releases of Chance in a Million began in the United Kingdom with individual series sets issued by Network Distributing in 2010, followed by a complete collection. These original releases feature all 18 episodes across three series in standard definition (4:3 aspect ratio), encoded for Region 2 playback, with English subtitles for the hearing impaired and interactive episode menus. No Blu-ray editions have been produced. In 2024, the complete series was re-released by Old Gold Media in the UK, containing the same content.[44][45]| Release | Date | Contents | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 | 1 March 2010 | 6 episodes (approximately 180 minutes) | Alternative pilot episode |
| Series 2 | 5 July 2010 | 6 episodes (approximately 152 minutes) | None specified |
| Series 3 | 4 October 2010 | 6 episodes (approximately 150 minutes) | None specified |
| Complete Series (Box Set) | 4 October 2010 | All 18 episodes (450 minutes across 3 discs) | Audio commentaries on select episodes by Simon Callow and writers Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen; photo gallery |
| Complete Series (Re-release) | 1 July 2024 | All 18 episodes (450 minutes across 3 discs) | Audio commentaries on select episodes by Simon Callow and writers Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen |