Gates. Image shows from L to R: Helen (Joanna Page), Mark (Tom Ellis). Copyright: Feelgood Fiction
Gates

Gates

  • TV sitcom
  • Sky Living
  • 2012
  • 5 episodes (1 series)

Sitcom about parental rivalries on the school run. Sue Johnston, Joanna Page and Tom Ellis star. Also features Catherine Shepherd, Tony Gardner, Nick Mohammed, Toby Wharton, Nadine Marshall and more.

Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 1

Having recently moved to south-east England, Mark and Helen Pearson's daughter Chloe is about to start at a new primary school, but it's the parents with first-day nerves!

Preview clips

Further details

The daily drop-off and pick-up is a minefield of social politics. Having recently moved to south-east England, Mark and Helen Pearson's daughter Chloe is about to start at a new primary school, but it's the parents with first-day nerves in this premiere episode.

Helen warns the family that the critical minutes at the entrance must be executed with military precision. If they can't resist being sucked into the world of after-school coffee clubs and 'volunteering' for events now, there'll be no escape.

However, the protocol is all new to Mark and it doesn't quite go to plan. He knocks over a pupil's father, gets roped into giving a presentation to the students and Ofsted, and is followed home by a horde of parents and children expecting a drinks do. And it gets worse.

Given the motley crew greeting them, it's no surprise the Pearsons want to keep their distance. Mia patrols the gates with various schemes designed to get the parents together, but she's got competition from Sarah, a
fellow mum who always has a proposal of sorts, particularly for Mark. Her husband Aiden uses school participation to feed his ego, which aids the young headmaster Mr Gould's futile experiments to hike the school up the league tables. He doesn't get much help from co-worker Miss Hunter though. She might be the sort of teacher whose sheer presence makes children sit up straight, but given that her hangover is the subject of her lesson, it seems she's not too concerned about shaping the minds of the future.

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 14th August 2012
Time
8:30pm
Channel
Sky Living
Length
30 minutes

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 15th August 2012 12:30am Sky Living
Saturday 18th August 2012 10:00pm Sky Living
Monday 20th August 2012 11:00pm Sky Living
Monday 1st July 2013 12:00am Sky Living
Wednesday 25th September 2013 10:00pm Sky Living

Cast & crew

Cast
Joanna Page Helen
Tom Ellis Mark
Catherine Shepherd Sarah
Sue Johnston Miss Hunter
Tony Gardner Aiden
Nick Mohammed Ciaran
Nadine Marshall Melissa
Ella Kenion Mia
William Andrews Mr Gould
Mari Ann Bull Chloe
Louis Labrosse Zack
Louie Sacarello Sam
Lorraine Bruce Scary Mum
Ruby Bridle Daisy
Dani Moseley Candy
Samuel Dagunduro Troy
Aleksandar Mikic Darek
Serge Soric Josef
Guest cast
Paul Bown Mr Fielding
Charlotte Palmer People Carrier Mum
Writing team
Andrew Collins Writer
Richard Preddy Writer
Dan Sefton Writer
Abigail Wilson Writer
Ava Vidal Writer
Jennifer Saunders Script Editor
Production team
Gordon Anderson Director
Sam Cadman Director
Izzy Mant Producer
Lucy Lumsden Executive Producer
Saskia Schuster Executive Producer
Laurence Bowen Executive Producer
Phil Clarke (as Philip Clarke) Executive Producer
Anthony Boys (as Ant 'Pants' Boys) Editor
Liana Del Giudice Editor
Jonathan Paul Green Production Designer
Jonathan Whitehead Composer

Video

Episode 1 First Look

A peek at the playground politics in the first episode of Sky Living's comedy series.

Featuring: Tom Ellis (Mark), Ella Kenion (Mia) & Joanna Page (Helen).

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