Chance in a Million

Chance in a Million

1984 - United Kingdom

One of the very earliest situation comedy successes for the fledgling Channel 4, Chance in a Million chronicled the misadventures of one Tom Chance, a slightly eccentric, but decent ordinary man saddled since birth with the- anything but natural- ability to warp probability to ludicrous proportions. Tom's life is a slave to random synchronicity, an unsteady raft adrift on an ocean of capricious coincidence. 

For Tom Chance, experiencing the oddest of random events is the natural order of day to day life, whether it be innumerable encounters with the forces of law and order for offences never committed, to the ridiculously unlikely chain of events that lead him to his first meeting with the shy, awkward librarian, Alison Little and culminate in the pair being taken - yet again for Tom - into police custody charged with housebreaking while clad only in their underwear. (Eventually, Tom's unwelcome ability for being habitually arrested moved the local, long suffering, police sergeant to order his officers to cease arresting Tom under any circumstances). 

The farcically outrageous scripts for the series were written by creators Andrew Norris and Richard Fegen (who would later go on to create the somewhat similar, if far less likeable character of Gordon Brittas, in the popular BBC series The Brittas Empire for Chris Barrie), and was produced and directed by Michael Mills. 

Chance in a Million's greatest asset however lay in the casting of its central characters. As the amiable, down-a-pint-in-one and always look on the bright side Tom Chance, the highly talented and respected actor and author Simon Callow brought his trademark larger than life warmth and ability to the role, investing in the character of Tom an almost child-like vulnerability and innate good humour which the viewing audience responded to with immediate affection. Complimenting and counter pointing Callow's portrayal of Tom, was the equally talented Brenda Blethyn, as the timidly good natured Allison, who's delightfully developed romance with Tom gave the show an added dimension of warmth and audience empathy. 

Published on December 3rd, 2018. Review: SRH (March 2003).

Read Next...

The Dustbinmen

The Dustbinmen were led by their foreman, the foul-mouthed, beret-wearing Cheese and Egg, and accompanying him on the Corporation Cleansing Department dust cart were an equally obnoxious crew of work-shy, housewife-lusting individuals.

Also tagged Situation Comedy

The Jewel in the Crown

Though their position seems secure, thoughtful English men and women know that "their" time in India is coming to an end.

Also released in 1984

Benidorm

The premise for Benidorm is a simple one as it follows a selection of characters on their holiday at an all-inclusive hotel in sunny Spain, called the Solana. There are sex-mad swingers, dodgy dealers, arguing couples, dysfunctional families and everything in between. Disaster never seems to be far down the road.

Also tagged Situation Comedy

Faces of Jim

Jimmy Edwards series of one-off sitcoms that introduced a minor supporting character actor who would go on to become 'the guv'nor' of British comedy...Ronnie Barker.

Also tagged Situation Comedy

Butterflies TV series

Gently thoughtful, amusing and well observed eighties situation comedy series for the BBC about a seemingly ordinary, contented, middle class suburban housewife who suddenly find herself plunged into the middle of a disorienting, emotionally tumultuous, mid-life crisis.

Also tagged Situation Comedy

All In The Family

British critics have called 'All In The Family' "a reworked, far less provocative version" of the show it was based on, BBC's 'Till Death Us Do Part'...

Also tagged Sitcom

The Fosters

Originally billed as a 'sparkling new comedy series' about life in a typical south London black family, The Fosters was anything but typical, new or original.

Also tagged Situation Comedy

Alf

US sitcom about an Alien Life Form (ALF), who follows an amateur radio signal to Earth only to crash land on the roof of a garage owned by the Tanners, a middle class family living in the suburbs of Los Angeles...

Also tagged Sitcom

Beggar My Neighbour

A 'keeping up with the Joneses sitcom starring Reg Varney and Pat Combs

Also tagged Sitcom