Time Gentlemen Please. Image shows from L to R: Old Man (Roy Heather), Janet (Julia Sawalha), Vicky Jackson (Rebecca Front), Guv (Al Murray), Terry (Phil Daniels), Steve (Jason Freeman), Prof (Andrew Mackay). Copyright: Avalon Television
Time Gentlemen Please

Time Gentlemen Please

  • TV sitcom
  • Sky One
  • 2000 - 2002
  • 37 episodes (2 series)

Patriotic landlord Guv runs a pub so successful it has no name, and is frequented only by a group of life's greatest losers. Stars Al Murray, Phil Daniels, Jason Freeman, Rebecca Front, Roy Heather and more.

Character guide

Time Gentlemen Please. Guv (Al Murray). Copyright: Avalon Television

Guv

Landlord.   Played by: Al Murray

Although posessing clear latent homosexual tendencies, the Guv constantly protests that he was "never confused". A misguided patriot to the core, he hates the French, the Germans, garlic, Brussels, and any challenge or change to the order that he is comfortable with.

The Guv is constantly crippled by the trauma of his wife having left him, taking his beloved son, Carl, and running away to France.

Time Gentlemen Please. Terry (Phil Daniels). Copyright: Avalon Television

Terry

AKA: Terry Brooks.  Played by: Phil Daniels

A grubby, low-life, dimwitted sexual deviant with an alarming flatulence problem, Terry Brooks is the resident barprop.

Despite having no appreciable form of income of financial support, he happily - or perhaps ignorantly - drinks hundreds of pounds worth of alcohol every week, and often finds himself barred for dressing up or in some way experimenting with the pub dog, Gary.

Although he has personal hygiene that would disgust a homeless man, constantly farting loudly, scratching himself, and generally appearing as if soap is an entirely alien substance, Terry seems to believe that he is irresistible to females, often proclaiming that "that is the woman I am going to marry" - but equally regularly effectively conceding his sexual failings with the ominous line "A mouth's a mouth".

Time Gentlemen Please. Steve (Jason Freeman). Copyright: Avalon Television

Steve

AKA: Steven Crosby.  Barman.   Played by: Jason Freeman

Obsessed with TV quiz show Fact Hunt and adverts for a fried chicken take-away chain purportedly owned by 'Ken Tucky', Steve is the Guv's resident idiot barman.

He often claims that the "bar work's only temporary", but fails to show more than a dull glimmer of intellect or common sense, and certainly no capacity to fulfill even the job he has, let alone any other.

Time Gentlemen Please. Vicky Jackson (Rebecca Front). Copyright: Avalon Television

Vicky Jackson

AKA: BloodyMsJacksoncow.  Brewery Rep.   Played by: Rebecca Front

Despite having never pulled a pint in her life, Vicky Jackson has found herself regional brewery rep, heading 'up to 8 pubs' in area - not that much of a surprise, as said brewery is owned by her father.

Both emotionally and sexually naïve and repressed, Vicky ends up becoming pregnant by the Guv's Uncle Barrie, another local publican, and reluctantly taking up home with him.

Along with her repressed emotional state comes a certain amount of bottled anger, but for the most part Vicky is irrepressibly cheerful - she can often be found singing the jingle from an advert, a TV theme tune, or a popular song. If only someone else could ever remember what she's going on about...

Time Gentlemen Please. Old Man (Roy Heather). Copyright: Avalon Television

Old Man

AKA: Pops.  Played by: Roy Heather

The Old Man is indiscriminate of age, but never fails to lament on his lack of death. Whilst little clue is ever given as to his background, it is nevertheless always clear that he longs to receive a visit from the reaper.

Time Gentlemen Please. Prof (Andrew Mackay). Copyright: Avalon Television

Prof

AKA: Algernon McCoy.  Played by: Andrew Mackay

The Prof (it's actually "more of a nicky-name") is the pub's resident repressed nerd. Although somewhere in his mid-40s, he still lives at home with his domineering, God-fearing mother.

Rejection and maternal smothering have warped Algernon: a closeted homosexual, his time outside the pub appears to consist largely of flashing lone women and perhaps the odd spot of murder.

Time Gentlemen Please. Janet (Julia Sawalha). Copyright: Avalon Television

Janet (Series 1)

AKA: Janet Wilson.  Barmaid.   Played by: Julia Sawalha

Janet is the Guv'nor's saviour: an Australian backpacker looking for enough cash to buy a ticket back home, she can perform any task around the pub at the drop of a hat. After all, as the Guv says, Aussies are "bred for bar work - it's instinct: iiiiiiiiiiiiinstinct!"

Janet often offends the Guv's conservative and repressed sensibilities, never failing to lament how long it is since she last had sex, and making frequent reference to her previous boyfriend's unwashed genitals. She's desperate to be taken by Steve, but he is just not interested.

Time Gentlemen Please. Connie (Emma Pierson). Copyright: Avalon Television

Connie (Series 2)

Barmaid.   Played by: Emma Pierson

A stressed student looking to help her finances along with a bit of bar work, Connie is often to be found worrying about her latest exam or essay.

Her pretty, petite young frame proves particularly alluring to the Guv ("so young, so pure"), who soon falls under her spell; Terry, however, finds her perfect appearance repulsive.

Unlike Janet, Connie has no connection with the bar or her work, begrudging or otherwise. However, at certain points she does highlight a certain soft spot for the regulars, and even for the Guv.

Time Gentlemen Please. Greg Thompson (Marc Bannerman). Copyright: Avalon Television

Greg Thompson

Landlord.   Played by: Marc Bannerman

Greg Thompson is the oafish, sexist, loathesome landlord of nearby rival pub the Queen of Hearts. Running a successful establishment with Tex-Mex, carvery, car park and a beer garden, he's been the envy of the Guv - whom he refers to as 'Slops' - since they were students at Landlord Academy together.

Greg keps snakes as pets, and can often be found with at least one beautiful young barmaid on each arm. After all, as he constantly reminds anyone who'll listen, "I'm implying I've got a massive cock."

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