How Not to Live Your Life
Encyclopedia
How Not to Live Your Life is a British sitcom
, written by and starring Dan Clark
, about a neurotic twenty-nine year old man who is trying to navigate his way through life but is not helped by his bad instincts. On 27 May 2011 it was announced by the new BBC Three
controller Zai Bennett that the show has been cancelled. A Christmas Special and finale will go out on Thursday 22nd December, 9pm, on BBC 3.
– Dan Clark's Guide to Dating and Dan Clark's Guide to Working, both of which he co-wrote with Gary Reich. Clark was the main character in both shows, and Isabel Fay
appeared in Dan Clark's Guide to Dating, which was shown as ten one-minute clips on the channel, with lists of ten things people shouldn't do on a date
, such as "Ten things you shouldn't wear on a date". The clips began to appear on the Internet
and the BBC
approached him about doing a 30 minute show in the same format. The result was the pilot for How Not to Live Your Life, using the same style of short clips within a traditional sitcom. The pilot was filmed in a real house in London and first aired on BBC Three
on 27 September 2007.
The pilot featured a number of actors who did not appear as regular characters in the series – Sally Bretton
, Rich Fulcher
, Claire Keelan
and Bruce Mackinnon
. Although, Isabel Fay
who also appeared in the pilot was in the final episode of the first series, "The Break Up", as Fiona. The BBC then commissioned a full series, which was filmed in a studio in Glasgow
. Clark wrote each episode and directed four episodes. The first series started broadcasting on BBC Three
on 12 August 2008 with the first episode, "Home Sweet Home", which introduces the four main characters of Don, Abby, Karl and Eddie. BBC Three showed the first series on Tuesday evenings at 10:30pm.
The series often features the character of Don giving a narrative
and talking to the camera, as well as cut away dream sequence
s where he gives alternative scenarios such as put downs
or physical moves he wished he had thought about at the time. For instance, in episode four of series one, "The Young Ones", these include, "Eight Ways Don Shouldn't Dance", "Alternative ways to deal with annoying teenagers" and "What Don wished he had said to his flatmate, Abby, while she was necking with her annoying and square boyfriend Cockface on the sofa".
who doesn't want to leave. Don soon realises there are advantages to letting him stay. To help pay off the huge back payments on the house, Don decides to get a lodger. He ends up choosing Abby, the girl he was in love with as a teenager and whom he still fancies. However, Abby isn't single. She has a boyfriend Karl, whom Don refers to as 'Kockface'.
as a minor character, Jackson.
On 21 October 2010, Brown Eyed Boy Productions issued a press release on their website stating that series three will begin with a double-bill of Episodes 1 and 2 on 8 November 2010 at 22:30 on BBC Three.
Noel Fielding
played a cameo as Marcus, Tom Daley
makes a cameo in the first episode, Laura Haddock continues to play Samantha and Rupert Vansittart
will be making a cameo appearance playing a "Posh girl's father".
On 27 May 2011 it was revealed by BBC Three's Controller Zai Bennett, that the show had been cancelled along with fellow BBC Three Comedies Coming of Age and Lunch Monkeys
. He explained that "They were good to the channel, but have had their time,". However he also revealed that a Christmas Special of How Not to Live Your Life is being planned, and that it will be the final episode.
However, Deborah Orr in The Independent
newspaper said in a review of the first episode, "It's a dead cert that How Not to Live Your Life will attract no prizes at all. A great deal of humour can be squeezed from observing the lives of stupid men. But Don Danbury is no David Brent
and this new sitcom offers nothing except sound evidence that the BBC has now got more airtime than it can fill. This show is an insult to the intelligence of stupid men everywhere."
Harry Venning in The Stage
said, "Pity poor Sinéad Moynihan. Okay, don't pity her too much, because she's drop dead gorgeous and clearly in demand as an actor. But it must have been galling to get the second lead in sitcom How Not to Live Your Life, only to discover that the full extent of your contribution would be to look pretty and provide a sensible foil to the show's writer/star Dan Clark. Would it have killed Clark to throw the show's only female character the occasional funny line to deliver? This grump notwithstanding, I rather like How Not to Live Your Life. Clark's unorthodox delivery, combined with Don's almost wilful unloveability, takes some getting used to, but this is consistently amusing, frequently hilarious and totally addictive."
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
, written by and starring Dan Clark
Dan Clark
Dan Clark is an English actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and television director.-Television:He is best known for playing the character of Don Danbury in BBC Three series How Not to Live Your Life which he wrote and starred in...
, about a neurotic twenty-nine year old man who is trying to navigate his way through life but is not helped by his bad instincts. On 27 May 2011 it was announced by the new BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
controller Zai Bennett that the show has been cancelled. A Christmas Special and finale will go out on Thursday 22nd December, 9pm, on BBC 3.
Background
In 2006, Clark was commissioned to write two short comedies for Paramount Comedy 1Comedy Central (UK)
Comedy Central in the United Kingdom and Ireland is a localised version of Comedy Central which first began in the United States in the 1990s. The television channel is available through the Sky, Virgin Media, TalkTalk TV in the United Kingdom, Sky Ireland, UPC Ireland and Magnet Networks in the...
– Dan Clark's Guide to Dating and Dan Clark's Guide to Working, both of which he co-wrote with Gary Reich. Clark was the main character in both shows, and Isabel Fay
Isabel Fay
Isabel Fay is a comedy writer and performer.Isabel graduated from Royal Holloway University of London in 2001 with a 2:1 BA Lon....
appeared in Dan Clark's Guide to Dating, which was shown as ten one-minute clips on the channel, with lists of ten things people shouldn't do on a date
Dating (activity)
Dating is a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two persons with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse...
, such as "Ten things you shouldn't wear on a date". The clips began to appear on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
approached him about doing a 30 minute show in the same format. The result was the pilot for How Not to Live Your Life, using the same style of short clips within a traditional sitcom. The pilot was filmed in a real house in London and first aired on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
on 27 September 2007.
The pilot featured a number of actors who did not appear as regular characters in the series – Sally Bretton
Sally Bretton
Sally Bretton is an English actress best known for appearing in television sitcoms including the BBC's Absolute Power, Channel 4's Green Wing, the BBC's The Office, and, most recently, the BBC's Not Going Out....
, Rich Fulcher
Rich Fulcher
Rich Fulcher is an American comedian and author based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for co-starring in the British comedy series The Mighty Boosh, alongside comedy duo Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding.-Early life:...
, Claire Keelan
Claire Keelan
Claire Keelan is an English actress, known for portraying Claire Ashcroft in Nathan Barley and Electroclash in No Heroics.-Background:Keelan is a former member of the Royal Court Young People's Theatre...
and Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon
Bruce Mackinnon is an actor who has appeared in various television programmes.Mackinnon was born in Esher, Surrey and was educated at Eton College, before studying drama at The University of Manchester...
. Although, Isabel Fay
Isabel Fay
Isabel Fay is a comedy writer and performer.Isabel graduated from Royal Holloway University of London in 2001 with a 2:1 BA Lon....
who also appeared in the pilot was in the final episode of the first series, "The Break Up", as Fiona. The BBC then commissioned a full series, which was filmed in a studio in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Clark wrote each episode and directed four episodes. The first series started broadcasting on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
on 12 August 2008 with the first episode, "Home Sweet Home", which introduces the four main characters of Don, Abby, Karl and Eddie. BBC Three showed the first series on Tuesday evenings at 10:30pm.
The series often features the character of Don giving a narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
and talking to the camera, as well as cut away dream sequence
Dream sequence
A dream sequence is a technique used in storytelling, particularly in television and film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. The interlude may consist of a flashback, a flashforward, a fantasy, a vision, a dream, or some other element. Commonly, dream sequences appear in many...
s where he gives alternative scenarios such as put downs
Insult
An insult is an expression, statement which is considered degrading and offensive. Insults may be intentional or accidental...
or physical moves he wished he had thought about at the time. For instance, in episode four of series one, "The Young Ones", these include, "Eight Ways Don Shouldn't Dance", "Alternative ways to deal with annoying teenagers" and "What Don wished he had said to his flatmate, Abby, while she was necking with her annoying and square boyfriend Cockface on the sofa".
Series 1
Don is a neurotic, single twenty-nine year old, failing to navigate his way through the very basics of life. His biggest enemy is his overactive mind, which plays out countless scenes of things he shouldn't do or say. When he moves into a house left to him by his recently deceased grandmother, he meets Eddie, her over-enthusiastic carerCaregiver
Caregiver may refer to:* Caregiver or carer - an unpaid person who cares for someone requiring support due to a disability, frailty, mental health problem, learning disability or old age...
who doesn't want to leave. Don soon realises there are advantages to letting him stay. To help pay off the huge back payments on the house, Don decides to get a lodger. He ends up choosing Abby, the girl he was in love with as a teenager and whom he still fancies. However, Abby isn't single. She has a boyfriend Karl, whom Don refers to as 'Kockface'.
Series 2
In Autumn 2008, BBC Three commissioned a second series of How Not to Live Your Life, which was filmed in the Spring of 2009. It started on 15 September 2009. The plotline is somewhat different from the first series. Abby and Karl did not feature in this series, and Mrs. Treacher (Don's neighbour) has become a main character as well as having more amorous humour towards Don, along with a new character named Samantha. The series featured Julian BarrattJulian Barratt
Julian Barratt is an English comedian, musician, music producer and actor. Barratt is best known for playing the character of Howard Moon in the cult comedy The Mighty Boosh, which he also co-writes with comedy partner, Noel Fielding.-The Mighty Boosh:Barratt stars as the character Howard Moon...
as a minor character, Jackson.
Series 3
On 2 November 2009, BBC Three recomissioned the show for a third series. This was confirmed by Dan Clark on both his Twitter and Facebook page, and on 29 September 2010, Dan Clark posted on his official Twitter page that the third series was scheduled to be aired in the beginning of November.On 21 October 2010, Brown Eyed Boy Productions issued a press release on their website stating that series three will begin with a double-bill of Episodes 1 and 2 on 8 November 2010 at 22:30 on BBC Three.
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding
Noel Fielding is a British artist, comedian and actor. He is known for his roles as Vince Noir in The Mighty Boosh, which he co-writes with comedy partner Julian Barratt, and as team captain on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.-Stand-up comedy:Noel Fielding performed regularly as a...
played a cameo as Marcus, Tom Daley
Tom Daley (diver)
Thomas Robert "Tom" Daley is an English diver who specialises in the 10 metre platform event and was the 2009 FINA World Champion in the individual event at the age of 15. He started diving at the age of seven and is a member of Plymouth Diving Club. He has made an impact in national and...
makes a cameo in the first episode, Laura Haddock continues to play Samantha and Rupert Vansittart
Rupert Vansittart
Rupert Vansittart is an English character actor. He has appeared in a variety of roles in film, television, radio and on stage, often playing comic or serio-comic characters....
will be making a cameo appearance playing a "Posh girl's father".
Cancellation
Dan Clark has been heard saying to fans after his recent live shows that they are unsure as to whether there will be a fourth series. He has however hinted at the possibility of a one off, hour length episode that would wrap up the story.On 27 May 2011 it was revealed by BBC Three's Controller Zai Bennett, that the show had been cancelled along with fellow BBC Three Comedies Coming of Age and Lunch Monkeys
Lunch Monkeys
Lunch Monkeys is a British situation comedy, first shown on BBC Three in 2008.-Overview:Lunch Monkeys by David Isaac is a BBC Three comedy series set in the administration department of fictional personal injury law firm Fox Cranford. The stories focus on the support staffers who work in the...
. He explained that "They were good to the channel, but have had their time,". However he also revealed that a Christmas Special of How Not to Live Your Life is being planned, and that it will be the final episode.
Characters
- Donald "Don" Danbury aka The Double D (Dan ClarkDan ClarkDan Clark is an English actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and television director.-Television:He is best known for playing the character of Don Danbury in BBC Three series How Not to Live Your Life which he wrote and starred in...
) – (2007-2010) – Don is the main character. Often acting in a socially inappropriate and impolite manner. He received the house, in which the story centres, after his grandmother died. Don has been shown to be in love with Abby. - Abby Jones (Sinéad MoynihanSinead MoynihanSinéad Bernadette Moynihan is an English model and actress, best known for her roles as Ashley Webb in Drop Dead Gorgeous, Hollyoaks Beth Clement, and Abby Jones in How Not To Live Your Life....
) – (2008) – Abby used to go to the same secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
as Don, and stayed with Don in his house after applying for a room to rent, but is away travelling during the second and third series. She is a primary school teacher. In the first series, she is dating Karl; Abby and Karl split up and subsequently got back together in the last episode, however what happened to their relationship is left unanswered. She is usually extremely tolerant of Don's inappropriate behaviour. - Karl Menford (Finlay Robertson) – (2008) – Karl was Abby's boyfriend. He earns the nickname "Kockface" (with a K, not a C) from Don, and the two show visible signs of dislike towards each other. However, Abby often attempts to get Karl to be nicer to Don, and tries to ease hostility between the two. He moves in with Don and Abby at the end of series 1.
- Edward "Eddie" Singh (David ArmandDavid ArmandDavid Armand is an English comedian, actor and writer who has performed on stage, film, radio and most notably, television, where the shows he has appeared in include Fast and Loose , How Not To Live Your Life, Pulling, The Armstrong and Miller Show, Swinging, and Peep Show.He is one of the...
) – (2008-2010) – Eddie was Don's grandmother's carer however, even after her death, he inexplicably continues to work for Don, caring for him in much the same way he'd care for an elderly client - doing housework, preparing meals and even offering Don sponge bathsBathingBathing is the washing or cleansing of the body in a fluid, usually water or an aqueous solution. It may be practised for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes or as a recreational activity....
in bed. Throughout many episodes there are continuous gags that joke on the relationship between Eddie and Don mostly making them appear to be a gay couple, such as 'The Odd CoupleThe Odd CoupleThe Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
'. His father is a sixteenth Indian, which Eddie reveals to Don who was confused about his surname. - Mrs. "Dot" Treacher aka Mrs. T, GollumGollumGollum is a fictional character from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium. He was introduced in the author's fantasy novel The Hobbit, and became an important supporting character in its sequel, The Lord of the Rings....
or DobbyDobbyDobby may refer to:* Dobby , a character in Harry Potter* Tag , a children's chase game* Dobby loom* Dobby, a character in the Peep Show TV series- People :* Dobby Dobson , Jamaican reggae singer and record producer...
(Leila HoffmanLeila HoffmanLeila Hoffman is an English comedian, actor and writer.-Personal life:Hoffman is the daughter of Esther and Joseph "Joe" Rothstein, both children of Russian Jews...
) – (2008-2010) – Don's nosey next-door neighbour who refers to him as "dickhead". In series 2, Eddie has become her carer following her husband's death. She often tags along to events like Don's Gig in Episode 3. - Samantha Parker (Laura HaddockLaura HaddockLaura Jane Haddock is an English actress, known for portraying Kacie Carter in Honest, Bethan in The Colour of Magic, Natasha in Monday Monday, Sam in How Not To Live Your Life and Alison in The Inbetweeners Movie.-Background:...
) – (2009-2010) – Don's new house mate in series 2, is regularly unimpressed with Don's odd behaviour. She is a student at university and also has very similar characteristics to Don. She has bad relationships, likes to drink and has had a job she was not happy with in the past. She is much wittier than Don and uses this against him on countless occasions; however she admires him for the excitement his life encurs. - Brian (Silas CarsonSilas CarsonSilas Carson is an English actor, mostly known for playing Jedi Master Ki-Adi-Mundi and Viceroy Nute Gunray in all three of the Star Wars prequels and providing the voice of the Ood in Doctor Who....
) – (2010) – Sam's professor at university and her new boyfriend in series 3. He is a recurring character only. - Jason (Daniel Lawrence Taylor) – (2009-2010) – Don's boss and friend at the art gallery. (recurring series 3)
International broadcasts
| Country | TV Network(s) |
|---|---|
 Australia |
ABC2 ABC2 ABC2 is a national public television channel in Australia. Launched on 7 March 2005, it is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television division, and is available nationally to digital television viewers in Australia... |
 Germany |
ZDFneo ZDFneo ZDFneo is a German digital terrestrial television channel, programmed for an audience aged 18 to 45 to counter the primarily older-skewing main programmes of public broadcasters ZDF and ARD. It replaced ZDF's documentary channel, "ZDFdokukanal", on November 1, 2009.-Name:Although the channel's logo... |
 Iceland |
RÚV RÚV Ríkisútvarpið is Iceland's national public-service broadcasting organization.Operating from studios in the country's capital, Reykjavík, as well as regional centres around the country, the service broadcasts a variety of general programming to a wide audience across the whole country via radio... |
 Israel |
HOT3 |
 Netherlands |
Comedy Central Comedy Central Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated.... |
 Norway |
NRK3 NRK3 NRK3 is a digital TV channel aimed at youth and young adults and produced by the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.Launched on 3 September 2007, and on air from 19.30 each evening, the channel features such British and American shows as Sugar Rush, Heroes, Third Watch, The Daily Show, True Blood,... |
 Portugal |
Sic Radical SIC Radical SIC Radical is a cable television channel in Portugal owned by Sociedade Independente de Comunicação.SIC Radical is an entertainment channel targeted at teens and young adults. Programs are mostly imported, mainly from the United States and the United Kingdom... |
 Russia |
2×2 |
 Republic of China |
CHT's MOD-TV |
 United Kingdom |
BBC Three BBC Three BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent... , BBC Two BBC Two BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio... , BBC HD BBC HD BBC HD is a high-definition television network provided by the BBC. The service was initially run as a trial from 15 May 2006 until becoming a full service on 1 December 2007... |
 United States |
Audience Network |
 Brazil |
Globosat HD |
Reception
The first series received mixed reviews. The British Comedy Guide said of the show, "The 2007 pilot of this sitcom was average at best, lacking both focus and reason. We really enjoyed the full series though - the stronger premise (Don living in his deceased gran's house and plotting to dispense of Karl and win-over attractive Abby) and the new character of Eddie (David Armand in his best role yet) made all the difference."However, Deborah Orr in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper said in a review of the first episode, "It's a dead cert that How Not to Live Your Life will attract no prizes at all. A great deal of humour can be squeezed from observing the lives of stupid men. But Don Danbury is no David Brent
David Brent
David Brent is a fictional character in the BBC television mockumentary The Office, as well as a recurring character in the NBC series of the same name, portrayed by co-writer and director Ricky Gervais. Brent is a white-collar office middle-manager and the principal character of the BBC series...
and this new sitcom offers nothing except sound evidence that the BBC has now got more airtime than it can fill. This show is an insult to the intelligence of stupid men everywhere."
Harry Venning in The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
said, "Pity poor Sinéad Moynihan. Okay, don't pity her too much, because she's drop dead gorgeous and clearly in demand as an actor. But it must have been galling to get the second lead in sitcom How Not to Live Your Life, only to discover that the full extent of your contribution would be to look pretty and provide a sensible foil to the show's writer/star Dan Clark. Would it have killed Clark to throw the show's only female character the occasional funny line to deliver? This grump notwithstanding, I rather like How Not to Live Your Life. Clark's unorthodox delivery, combined with Don's almost wilful unloveability, takes some getting used to, but this is consistently amusing, frequently hilarious and totally addictive."
DVD releases
| DVD Title | # of Disc(s) | Year | # of Episodes | DVD release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
Region 4 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
|||||
| Complete Series One | 2 | 2008 2008 in British television This is a list of events taking place in 2008 related to British television.-Events:-BBC One:-BBC Two:-BBC Three:-BBC Four:-ITV:-Channel 4:-Five:-E4:-Sky1:-Watch:-Dave:-FX:-Changes of network affiliation:... |
6 | - | 20 July 2009 | 7 January 2010 | |
| Complete Series Two | 2 | 2009 2009 in British television This is a list of events taking place in 2009 related to British television.-Events:-BBC:-ITV:-Channel 4:-Five:-Subscription Channels:-New channels:-Defunct channels:-Rebranding channels:-Changes of network affiliation:... |
6 | - | 19 October 2009 | 1 September 2011 | |
| Complete Series Three | 2 | 2010 2010 in British television This is a list of events taking place in 2010 related to British television.-Events:-BBC:-ITV:-Channel 4:-Five:-Subscription Channels:-New Channels:-Defunct Channels:-Changes of network affiliation:... |
7 | - | 18 July 2011 | 1 September 2011 | |
External links
- Time Out feature
- Interview on timesonline.co.uk