Heartburn Hotel
| Heartburn Hotel | |
|---|---|
| Created by |
Steve Glover John Sullivan |
| Starring |
Tim Healy Clive Russell Peter Gunn |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Picture format | 720x576 (4:3) |
| Original release | 20 July 1998 – 28 July 2000 |
Heartburn Hotel was a British sitcom which ran for two seasons, with thirteen episodes, on BBC television in 1998 - 2000, each series was 6 episodes long and one special was aired in December 1998. The series was both produced and distributed by the BBC and shown nationwide during its airing.
The programme is set in the Olympic Hotel, pre-named on the hope of the successful bid for the UK to host the 1992 Olympic Games. The series centres on the owner and the regular occupants to the hotel.
The show was written by John Sullivan,Steve Glover and starred Tim Healy.
Transmission
The original transmission dates for the first series were from the 20 July until the 24 August 1998 in the timeslot of 10pm on BBC1. The second series was from the 23 June until the 28 July 2000 in the later time slot of 10:20pm.
Characters
Harry Springer and Duggie Strachan are the main protagonists in the comedy. After both characters were involved in the Falklands conflict they both move back to Birmingham, Harry to own the Olympic Hotel and Duggie to become a teacher. These two characters take opposing viewpoints in almost every matter and although Harry pretends to sympathise with his customers, his views are radically right wing as opposed to Duggie who emphatically empathises due to his own plight brought about by his gambling addiction. The reason Duggie accepts his landlords overbearing boorishness dates back to the Falklands whereupon Harry saved his life, a fact that Harry does not let Duggie forget.
Episode List Series 1
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original air date | Prod. order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Blood" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 20 July 1998 | TBA |
| Life at Birmingham's Olympic Hotel is as grotty as it has ever been - and then the civil servant nephew of proprietor Harry turns up. | |||||
| 2 | "Toenails" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 27 July 1998 | TBA |
| Two models turn up at the hotel looking for a room. After recovering from the shock of having paying customers, Harry decides it's time that he and Duggie got back in the saddle, and arranges a romantic evening for the quartet. | |||||
| 3 | "Frustration" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 3 August 1998 | TBA |
| With Yvonne and Rita on their last day at the Olympic, Harry decides to hold a party in the Torville and Dean Lounge. If only he hadn't sent Debbie home with the key to the bar. | |||||
| 4 | "War" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 10 August 1998 | TBA |
| When a freshly deposed African Prince arrives at the hotel in search of a room, Harry's insatiable instinct for money gets the better of him. | |||||
| 5 | "More War" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 17 August 1998 | TBA |
| Harry's preparations for war are coming along at a good pace. Prince Ekoku is concerned about funding the operations, but may be able to offer something to help. | |||||
| 6 | "Love" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 24 August 1998 | TBA |
| With the Eurovision Song Contest being held in Birmingham, Harry has offered to put up an act in the hotel. But he hadn't bargained on love walking through the door. | |||||
Specials
| No. | Title | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | Director | Original air date | Prod. order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | "BASH" | TBA | TBA | 27 December 1998 | 1 |
| It's Christmas at the Olympic Hotel, and with Duggie set to be away, Harry is desperate to hold a New Year's Eve bash. | |||||
Episode List Series 2
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Director | Original air date | Prod. order |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Guilty" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 23 June 2000 | TBA |
| When the hotel lift plummets four storeys into the basement with Harry inside, the basement's concrete floor is as shattered as Harry's pelvis. But what Duggie and Simon discover beneath it could prove even more problematic | |||||
| 2 | "Vows" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 30 June 2000 | TBA |
| With Susan demanding more than her fair share of Harry's property and what passes for 'wealth', Duggie and Simon are left scratching their heads for a solution. | |||||
| 3 | "Siege" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 7 July 2000 | TBA |
| After receiving a string of death threats and other menacing messages, and with Debbie mugged near the hotel, Harry hires a personal bodyguard in the form of old army buddy O'Hare. | |||||
| 4 | "Hero" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 14 July 2000 | TBA |
| When Harry tries to tell his war story (with a few artistic liberties) to a local newspaper, the hotel is visited by someone rather unexpected with a few revelations for him and Duggie. | |||||
| 5 | "Kin" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 21 July 2000 | TBA |
| Harry's brother pays a visit, and the Scouse git is keen to impress. But Tony has something that's likely to shock even him. | |||||
| 6 | "Therapy" | John Sullivan & Steve Glover | TBA | 28 July 2000 | TBA |
| Following a gas leak at a nearby mental hospital, a group of patients are sent to the hotel, along with their incredibly attractive, young, female doctor, who attracts the attention of Harry, Duggie, and Simon. | |||||