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Ordinary Lies is a new drama starting on Tuesday which, as the BBC press release says, is full of drama, tragedy, warmth and humour, and each episode focuses on one of the colleagues and friends of JS Motors. From party-loving receptionists, Tracy (Michelle Keegan) and Viv (Cherrelle Skeete), to enigmatic salesman, ‘Paracetemol’ Pete (Mackenzie Crook), each new and individual story questions just how well we know the people with which we work.
The first episode of the six-part series tells the story of family man and salesman, Marty McLean (Jason Manford, who apparently bills himself as a comedian, but he’s never made me laugh. Instead, check out his brother, Colin Manford. He’s fantastic!). Stuck in a rut both at home and at work, when Marty receives his final warning for being late from company boss, Mike, he knows the pressure is on.
However, when another heavy night of drinking leads to him sleeping through his alarm, Marty fears his number is up. Knowing he is on thin ice, Marty calls work and, in a panicked attempt to save his job, tells the drastic lie that his wife, Katrina (Erin Shanagher), has tragically died.
His colleagues are filled with shock and sympathy for Marty, but as they rally round to help the apparently grieving widower, his lie quickly unravels. The situation is complicated further when Marty forms a close bond with colleague, Grace (Rebecca Callard).
Meanwhile, news of Marty’s loss brings back painful memories for Head of Sales, Beth Corben (Jo Joyner), whose husband Dave went missing the year before. After receiving mysterious phone calls, she confides in Mike, but with Mike’s marriage hanging in the balance, the chemistry between him and Beth is difficult to ignore.
Also starring Max Beesley, Sally Lindsay, George Bukhari, Belinda Stewart-Wilson, Manjinder Virk, Shazad Latif and Fisayo Akinade, Ordinary Lies starts on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday.
Check out the trailer below and click on the cast shot above for the full-size image:
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.