Colin's Sandwich. Colin Watkins (Mel Smith). Copyright: BBC
Colin's Sandwich

Colin's Sandwich

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 1988 - 1990
  • 12 episodes (2 series)

The story follows the life of an amateur writer and his attempts to get his work published. Stars Mel Smith, Louisa Rix, Mike Grady, Tony Haase, Lee Cornes and more.

Episode menu

Series 2, Episode 4 - Night Thoughts

Colin has to re-work his script but can't think of anything. He returns it to Hunter re-written but he throws it in the bin and asks him to do it again.
Two more visits to Hunter with no joy and Colin has no sleep due to working on the script.
Colin shows Des his new computer but ends up erasing his whole script which he then re-writes over night.
At work Colin tells Travers that he's thinking of giving up his job to concentrate on writing. Travers then offers Colin a promotion. He doesn't respond however because he's over tired from all night re-writes. In fact he's asleep.

Preview clips

Further details

Colin is in Hunter's office reading his story. Hunter asks him to re-work the start because it's boring.

Colin returns to the flat but cannot find the inspiration to write. He phones Jen and under protest she allows him to come to her place.
Colin is restless in bed and can't settle. Jen thinks she has heard someone in the garden. Terrified Colin heads for the living room. A man's face appears at the window and he faints.

Colin presents the re-written script to Hunter who says he likes it but throws it in the bin. He says he has to show him what happens not tell him and does he know what a screenplay is? Colin says yes. Back at home Colin ponders on what a screenplay is.

Two more visits to Hunter leads to inevitably more re-writes. Colin through lack of sleep and unable to meet Hunter's demands is despairing.

Back at work Travers sends Colin off to represent him at a radio phone-in but he only ends up getting angry at a caller on air. Travers threatens to caution Colin but decides not to. He tells Colin to get some sleep. He stays up all night working on the re-write.

Colin goes to work the following day but it turns out it's a Sunday. He considers that perhaps he needs to give up his job and Jen agrees. Des comes around and asks him to show him the features on the new computer Jen has bought him. However Colin succeeds in erasing his whole screenplay. He digs out an old copy from the bin and spends all night re-writing the re-write. He goes to bed but has nightmares about Hunter and Jen dumping him.

Colin delivers his script to Hunter but he is on his way to Miami and will read it when he gets back. Colin is way passed his deadline which Hunter says is unacceptable. He does eventually take the script to read on the plane.

Colin tells Travers that he is going to quit but Travers responds by telling Colin that they were thinking of promoting him and the new post comes with a company car. However Travers soon realises that Colin is fast asleep.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 2nd February 1990
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Mel Smith Colin Watkins
Louisa Rix Jenny Anderson
Mike Grady Des
Andrew Robertson Travers
Nicholas Ball Alan Hunter
Guest cast
Roy North Radio Presenter
Writing team
Terry Kyan Writer
Paul Smith Writer
Production team
Jamie Rix Director
John Kilby Producer
Jamie Rix Producer
Phil Southby Editor
Andrée Welstead Hornby Production Designer
Andrew Mackenzie Costume Designer
Fran Needham (as Frances Needham) Make-up Designer
John Green Lighting Designer
Christine Büttner Graphics
Jim Cadman Sound Designer
Alec Curtis Camera
Roger Goss Camera
Peter Laskie Production Manager
Colin March Sound Designer
Georgina Overell Properties
Susan Silburn Production Assistant
Francis Smith Properties
Adam Tandy Floor Manager
Hilary West Vision Mixer
Richard Wilson Technical Co-ordinator

Video

Radio Interview

Colin is asked to do a radio phone-in by his boss Travers to get some positive publicity for British Rail. But it turns out nobody wants to listen to Colin's answers to their query's, they just want to have a good old grumble. Not unexpectedly, Colin lets one caller have it with both barrels.

Featuring: Andrew Robertson (Travers), Mel Smith (Colin Watkins), Raymond Mason (Angry Caller) & Roy North (Radio Presenter).

Share this page