Parents of the Band


Parents of the Band is a 2008 British comedy television series, created by Jimmy Nail and Tarquin Gotch and shown on BBC One. The show stars Jimmy Nail, and is set around a teenage musical band, of which each band member's parents are trying to manage.

Airing

The first episode aired on 28 November 2008 at 8:30pm on BBC One. On BBC One Scotland, and BBC One Northern Ireland however, the show aired at various times on Fridays. Each episode of Parents of the Band also aired in High-definition on BBC HD a week after its BBC One showing. The first episode received 2.61 million viewers. Episode 2 gained an additional 250,000 viewers, with 2.86m. The final episode of series one aired on 9 January 2009.

Development

The six episode series was commissioned by Lucy Lumsden, BBC Controller, Comedy Commissioning. The show was a co-venture between BBC Vision Productions and Serious Entertainment Productions. The latter company is owned by the series co-creators, Jimmy Nail and Tarquin Gotch. The series was written by David Cummings, and the script was edited by the writing partners, Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. The producer is Charlie Hanson and executive producer is Kenton Allen, BBC Creative Head of Comedy Talent and Comedy North.
Jimmy Nail composed the theme music with Gary Kemp, of the eighties synth-pop band Spandau Ballet. A music video for the song "I Cry" was also posted on the show's BBC website.

Plot

Phil Parker is the father of Jack, who is a drummer in a teen band with a number of his friends. Phil is recently separated from his wife Marketa and was in a 'one-hit wonder' band in the 1980s, with the song "I Cry". Jack and his band simply want to jam and have fun, but their parents are standing in the way, not because they disapprove, but because they also want to be a part of the rock-star lifestyle. Ultimately the band enter into a talent contest.

Cast

The first series which aired from 28 November 2008 to 9 January 2009 featured 6 episodes.