No Commitments is a radio drama written by Simon Brett, originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and now on BBC Radio 4 Extra. It ran for 13 series, from 1992 to 2007. The sitcom portrays the day-to-day lives of three very different sisters. All 13 series are now available as audiobooks.
Main characters Anna is the eldest and most level-headed of the three sisters. Having cared for her father for some years, on his death she inherited the family home. Generally happy and contented with life, she suddenly finds herself free to put herself first for once, now she genuinely has No Commitments, despite her sisters' belief that she requires their assistance in managing her personal life. She works as receptionist to Eddie, a misogynistic dentist. Victoria lives out her rôle as the middle class housewife in Beckenham, a London suburb. With her dull long-suffering financial director husband Roger, and their three children, Emily, Harriet and Benjy, she tries to maintain the family's social reputation, at all costs. Emily (who over time grows from a child to a new mother) finds her aunt Anna a more sympathetic confidante than her mother. Of the other children, Harriet features once and Benjy is not heard from at all in the series. Charlotte is the youngest sister, and longs to be a famous actress. Lacking somewhat in both talent and self-awareness, she stumbles from one small acting rôle to the next, finally finding a small amount of success in a little-known television soap opera. She seems to progress through serial lovers at about the same rate, often with the expectation that the casting couch will lead to the bed, or vice versa. She has one daughter, Gisele, the result of a brief marriage to an Australian actor, who has more success in her parents' profession after a period working for charities in Africa. Like Benjy, Gisele is never heard from directly.
Cast and crew
Regular cast Anna – Rosemary Leach Victoria Nicola Pagett (series 1–5) Angela Thorne (series 6–13) Charlotte Celia Imrie (series 1, 3–8, 10, 12) Josie Lawrence (series 2) Felicity Montagu (series 9, 11, 13) Roger Stephen Moore (series 1) Roger Lloyd-Pack (series 2) Jonathan Coy (series 3, 4, 12, 13) Bill Nighy (series 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) Eddie – James Greene Delia (series 1) – Maxine Audley Emily Lisa Coleman (series 2–4, 6–13) Natalie Walter (series 5) Nick – Kieran Hill (series 10–13)
Production Music – Elizabeth Parker of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Producer Paul Schlesinger (series 1, 2) Anne Jobson (series 3, 4) Maria Esposito (series 5, 6) Simon Brett (series 10–13)
Episode list SeriesEpisodeTitleFirst broadcastAdditional cast11Sisters Of Mercy9 January 19922Empty Vessels16 January 1992Patrick – Andrew Wincott3A Nice Civilized Evening23 January 1992Dr Fenton – Benjamin Whitrow, Melvyn – Ronald Herdman, The Two Hilarys – Mark Straker, Theresa Streatfeild4Cracks In The Varnish30 January 1992Malcolm – Robert Bathurst, Dr Radford – Peter Penry-Jones, Georgio – Nicholas Murchie5Old Embers6 February 1992Guy – David Swift, Wilson – Neil Roberts6A Complete Break13 February 1992Patrick – Nicholas Murchie, Mrs Motson – Alison Reid21Frail Memorials29 July 1993Judy – Theresa Gallagher, John Lassiter – Dominic Letts, Jeremy – Ronald Herdman2Bright Lights5 August 1993Jeremy – Ronald Herdman, Georgio – Dominic Letts3The Big Break12 August 1993Dan – Andrew Wincott, Terry – Theresa Gallagher4Bed And Breakfast19 August 1993Lady Dunn – Jilly Mears, Gareth – William Osborne, Sir James – Philip Anthony5Affair Exchange26 August 1993Tim – Simon Treves, Georgio – David Thorpe6Twice Bitten2 September 1993Gordon – John Baddeley31Time Shift24 November 1994Will – David Antrobus, Georgio – Michael Tudor-Barnes2Material Values1 December 19943Talking Shop8 December 1994Lallie – Rachel Atkins4An Ill Wind15 December 19945Seasonal Adjustment22 December 1994Tibor – Jonathan Keeble6A Man Who Cares29 December 1994Pete – Derek Waring, Derek – Ian Masters41A Nip In The Air24 July 1996Burton – Kim Wall2Educated Guesswork31 July 19963Faith, Hope And Very Little Charity7 August 19964One Gets Better14 August 1996Harriet – Kelda Holmes5Not A Leg To Stand On21 August 19966Two At A Time28 August 1996Martin – Geoffrey Whitehead, Jason – Joshua Towb51Family Business9 July 19982Who You Know16 July 19983Charity Begins At Home23 July 1998Imelda – Buffy Davis, Des Kitchin – Dave Lamb4Surprise Surprise30 July 19985Running In The Family6 August 1998Nigel – Jon Glover6Rallying Round13 August 1998Stuart – Edward de Souza61Make My Day14 July 1999Stuart – Edward de Souza, Rupert – Christian Rodska2Excess Baggage21 July 1999Stuart – Edward de Souza, Claudia – Joanna Monro3Making It Better28 July 1999Mark – Will Ing4Retiring Types4 August 19995Spreading Wings11 August 1999the secretary – Jane Gibson, the waiter – Alan Cowan6Growing Away18 August 199971Supporting Parts31 January 20012A Family Lunch7 February 20013Soft Soap14 February 20014Reflected Glory21 February 20015The Wedding Party28 February 20016Soap Bubbles7 March 200181Fresh Starts2 January 20022New Age Differences9 January 20023My Turn Now16 January 20024Wanderlust23 January 20025Impossibly High Standards30 January 20026All Roads Lead To Rome6 February 200291Ill Of The Dead1 January 2003Vincent - Bruce Alexander2Changing Lives8 January 2003Peter - Colin Starkey3Imaginary Friends15 January 2003Richard - Jason Done, Paula - Natalie Casey4Meeting The Family22 January 2003Paula - Natalie Casey, Jonathan - Michael Jayston5Houseroom29 January 2003Jonathan - Michael Jayston, Eddie - James Greene6Coming Clean5 February 2003101The Real World28 January 20042Rules Of Engagement4 February 2004Mrs Pinchbeck – Sheila Mitchell, the vicar – Richard Syms3Time With The Family11 February 2004Brian – James Vaughan, Kathryn – Bridget McConnel4A Bride Too Far18 February 20045A Marriage Of Inconvenience25 February 20046The Ring Cycle3 March 2004111Accentuate The Positive19 January 20052Foreign Affairs26 January 20053A Life More Ordinary2 February 2005Derek – Roland Davies4Hard Times9 February 2005Lydia Grucock – Richenda Carey, George – Bruce Alexander5Taking Chances16 February 2005Melissa – Judy Flynn6Ill Winds23 February 2005Melissa – Judy Flynn121Settling Down26 April 2006French voice – Marianne Borgo2Darling Daughters3 May 2006Jeff – Stephen Thorne3Misalliances10 May 2006Paddy – Bill Wallace4Upstaging17 May 2006Brian – James Vaughan, Kathryn – Bridget McConnel5Soft Soap24 May 2006Jeff – Stephen Thorne, Mr Darnley – Colin Starkey, George – Bruce Alexander, Felicity Titterill – Susan Jameson6Game, Set And Match31 May 2006French voice – Marianne Borgo131Age Differences11 April 2007Max – Jon Glover2Old School18 April 2007George – Bruce Alexander, Stranks, PW – Chris Emmett3Model Behaviour25 April 2007George – Bruce Alexander, Felicity – Susan Jameson, Moira – Joanna Monro4A Voice from the Past2 May 2007Brian – James Vaughan, Kathryn – Bridget McConnell, Patrick – Michael Simkins5Blue Rabbits9 May 2007Patrick – Michael Simkins6New Beginnings16 May 2007George – Bruce Alexander
External links BBC Radio 4 website britishcomedy.org.uk radiolistings.co.uk epguides.com