British Comedy Guide
Free Agents. Image shows from L to R: Helen Ryan (Sharon Horgan), Alex Taylor (Stephen Mangan)
Free Agents

Free Agents

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 2007 - 2009
  • 7 episodes (1 series)

A dark and poignant romantic sitcom following a 'will they, won't they' couple. Stars Stephen Mangan, Sharon Horgan and Anthony Head. Stars Stephen Mangan, Sharon Horgan, Anthony Head, Matthew Holness, Sara Pascoe and more.

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 3

Stephen makes Alex and Helen attend an agent's funeral in order to steal his old friend / late colleague's clients.

Further details

Alex is still homeless. Helen finds him sleeping in his car one morning. And at work Alex's day gets even worse: Stephen tells them his old friend and rival agent Charlie Renfrew has died. He wants all CMA Agents to attend the funeral as a mark of respect. And to steal Renfrew's clients.

Alex is deeply depressed that he's about to become a professional grave-robber. Helen, however, enjoys buying a new hat for the funeral - on expenses - until Alex reminds her that this will be the first funeral she's been to since Pete, her fiancé, died. Helen heads for the nearest off-licence.

Helen is still drunk that evening, having supper with Sophie - Pete's sister - and her husband Malcolm. Sophie is a chippy control-freak and competitive-griever who has never liked Helen, but in an attempt to force a connection with her dead brother's fiancé, she asks Helen to be godmother to her baby daughter. Who she's named 'Peta'. Or 'Pete' for short...

At the funeral, Alex accidentally finds himself chatting up a successful young actor, then immediately antagonises him, while Helen drunkenly confronts the vicar about the ethics of being a godmother if you don't actually believe in God. They both make a run for it...

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 27th February 2009
Time
10pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Stephen Mangan Alex Taylor
Sharon Horgan Helen Ryan
Anthony Head Stephen Caudwell
Matthew Holness Dan Mackey
Sara Pascoe Emma Phillips
Tom Goodman-Hill Malcolm
Anna Maxwell Martin Sophie
Guest cast
Michael Gould Vicar
Amer Rainbird Widow
Joseph Mawle Self
Writing team
Chris Niel Writer
Production team
James Griffiths Director
Nira Park Producer
Matthew Justice Executive Producer
Iain Morris Executive Producer
Mark Everson Editor
Dick Lunn Production Designer
David Arnold Composer

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