Making Out is a British comedy drama series, shown on BBC1 between 6 January 1989 and 12 November 1991. The series was created by Franc Roddam, written by Debbie Horsfield, and stars Margi Clarke, Melanie Kilburn and Shirley Stelfox.

The music for the series was composed by New Order and The Other Two. The main theme for the show is an adaptation of the song "Vanishing Point".

The series was well-received, and writer Debbie Horsfield was praised for the female characters and their gritty humour. Television critic Nancy Banks-Smith described it as "Coronation Street on speed". BFI Screenonline described it as the "most obvious predecessor" to Clocking Off, a similar drama series set in Manchester.

On 14 September 2023, the entire series was made available on BBC iPlayer.

Premise The series is set on the factory floor of New Lyne Electronics in Manchester, focusing on the chaotic personal lives of the women who work there. Whilst the show is driven by sharp, northern humour, it frequently tackles serious social themes relevant to the late 1980s and early 1990s, including recession, redundancy, and industrial disputes.

Unlike many workplace comedies of the era, Making Out was serialised, with ongoing plotlines concerning the factory's precarious financial state. The women constantly face the threat of the factory closing or being taken over, which forces them to fight, often unconventionally, to keep their jobs.

Episodes Series 1 Broadcast Friday evenings on BBC1 at 9:30pm.

Series 2 Broadcast Tuesday evenings on BBC1 at 9:30pm

Series 3 Broadcast Tuesday evenings on BBC1 at 9:30pm

Cast

The girls Queenie (Margi Clarke), the fiery Scouse ring-leader of the women. Pauline (Rachel Davies), the union shop steward for the women. Jill (Melanie Kilburn), a new girl at the factory who starts work in the first episode. Donna (Heather Tobias), a middle-class woman who is desperate for a baby with her husband. Ariadne, known as "Klepto" (Moya Brady), a young woman bullied by her Greek Orthodox family. Carol May (Shirley Stelfox)

The factory Rex (Keith Allen), a randy boss at the factory who is having an affair with Carol May. Norma (Tracie Bennett), an ambitious, efficient company secretary. Bernie (Alan David), a supervisor of the women on the shop floor. Simon (Gary Beadle), the only man on the floor, romantically attached to "Klepto".

The blokes Chunky (Brian Hibbard), Queenie's no-good petty criminal husband. Ray (Tim Dantay), Jill's husband who eventually leaves her and their kids for another woman, a dimwitted hairdresser called Rosie (Jane Hazlegrove). Frankie (John Forgeham), Pauline's husband. Colin (David Hargreaves), Carol May's husband. Gavin (John Lynch), a footballer with whom Jill starts a relationship after her husband walks out on her. Gordon (Jonathan Barlow), Donna's Building Society manager husband.

See also

Clocking Off (2000–2003)

References

External links