Big Winners is the second episode of the revived Play For Today, with Sue Johnston and Paul Copley as elderly couple Edith and Arthur Thistle, who’ve clearly been married for a long time and have grown too comfortable with each other.
In fact, the billing states it’s 53 years, and it’s time to check their lottery numbers where… they’ve won! All of life’s problems are solved, right? Erm…
Can money buy happiness? Of course it can. Well, for me, anyway. However, since this happens within the first few minutes of the episode, it’s safe to confirm that Edith’s happiness would lie in a divorce.
Throughout the 45 minutes, there’s regrets about the roads not taken in life, and only having the potential to do this – for some – in your later years, but will those possible it be taken? And there will be some that can never be taken.
There’s also a particular bone of contention, and one we’re not privy to for quite some time, but as for what lies behind Door No.1, it was exactly what I was expecting.
Still, these dramas are to be watched for the journey, not the destination, and it makes for a superb two-hander with Ms Johnston & Mr Copley.
Play For Today continues on Thursday December 4th on Channel 5 at 9pm, taking a break for a week due to a live NFL game.
It’s not yet available to pre-order on Blu-ray or DVD, but when it is, it will be listed on the New DVD, Blu-ray, 3D and 4K releases UK page.
If you miss it when broadcast, you can watch the each episode after broadcast on My5.
Director: Emma Turner
Producer: Michelle Antoniades
Writer: Martha Watson Allpress
Music: Ian Livingstone
Cast:
Edith Thistle: Sue Johnston
Arthur Thistle: Paul Copley
Jade: Alexa Davies
Hayley: Mia Tormey
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.