View source for Dad (TV series)

{{About|the 1997 UK TV series|the 1986 US TV series|Dads (1986 TV series)|the 2013 US TV series|dads (2013 TV series)|other uses|dad (disambiguation)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{more footnotes needed|date=August 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2020}}
}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

{{Infobox television
| image                = Dad BBC.jpg
| caption              =
| alt_name             = 
| genre                = Comedy
| creator              = 
| developer            = 
| writer               = [[Andrew Marshall (writer)|Andrew Marshall]]
| director             = Angela De Chastelai Smith<br/>Marcus Mortimer<br/>Nick Wood
| creative_director    = 
| presenter            = 
| starring             = [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]]<br/>[[Kevin McNally]]<br/>[[Julia Hills]]<br/>Toby Ross-Bryant
| judges               = 
| voices               = 
| narrated             = 
| theme_music_composer = 
| opentheme            = 
| endtheme             = 
| composer             = 
| country              = United Kingdom
| language             = English
| num_series           = 2
| num_episodes         = 13
| executive_producer   = 
| producer             = Marcus Mortimer<br/>Rosemary McGowan
| editor               = 
| cinematography       = 
| camera               = 
| runtime              = 30 minutes
| company              = 
| channel              = [[BBC One|BBC1]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1997|09|25|df=y}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|1999|12|21|df=y}}
| related              =  
}}

'''''Dad''''' is a [[BBC One|BBC1]] [[sitcom]] that ran for 13 episodes (each 30 minutes long) over two series and a Christmas special. Described by the [[BBC]] as a 'generation-gap comedy', it centered on the trials and tribulations of Alan Hook ([[Kevin McNally]]) and his father Brian ([[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]]). Alan would often find himself getting increasingly frustrated with the endeavours of his father, whilst the world seemed to be forever against him.

Toby Ross-Bryant played Alan's son Vincent, and [[Julia Hills]] played Alan's wife Beryl. It was written by [[Andrew Marshall (writer)|Andrew Marshall]], who was best known for his popular sitcom, ''[[2point4 Children]]''. The title of each episode was a pun on the word "Dad".

The theme tune for the first series was the 1965 hit 'Tijuana Taxi' performed by [[Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass]]. For the second series, this was replaced with the song 'Go Daddy-O' by California [[swing revival]] band, [[Big Bad Voodoo Daddy]].

==Cast==
* [[Kevin McNally]] as Alan Hook
* [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] as Brian Hook
* Toby Ross-Bryant as Vincent Hook
* [[Julia Hills]] as Beryl Hook<br>Initially, due to [[Julia Hills]] being in ''[[2point4 Children]]'', which was still running at the time of the first series of ''Dad'' being broadcast, the BBC didn't want her to be in it. However, after her audition, any fears and doubts were quickly quashed.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

==Plot==
Alan Hook is a highly-strung and often unfortunate individual, constantly getting frustrated with the endeavours of his father Brian, and forever venting his anger at the world around him. His long-suffering wife Beryl tries her best to keep her husband calm, though this proves difficult due to Brian, who, without meaning to, is always getting on his son's nerves with his over engineered ideas, and old fashioned ways.

Then there is Alan's own son Vincent, a typical moody teenager who Alan seems to be forever embarrassing.

==Episodes==

===Series overview===

{{Series overview

| color1     = #fbeb26
| link1      = #Series 1 (1997)
| episodes1  = 6
| start1     = {{Start date|1997|09|25|df=y}}
| end1       = {{End date|1997|10|30|df=y}}

| color2     = #000005
| link2      = #Series 2 (1999)
| episodes2  = 6
| start2     = {{Start date|1999|01|11|df=y}}
| end2       = {{End date|1999|02|15|df=y}}

| color2S    = #350302
| link2S     = #Christmas Special (1999)
| linkT2S    = Special
| episodes2S = 1
| start2S    = {{Start date|1999|12|21|df=y}}
}}

===Series 1 (1997)===
The theme tune for the first series was the 1965 hit "Tijuana Taxi" performed by [[Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass]]. The first episode was shot as part of a handful of pilots for various shows, and was then one of the few chosen to be made into a full series. Alan's house in series one differs to that in series two; the director wanted a bigger set for the kitchen, to fit more cameras in, hence the house move.

{{Episode table |background=#fbeb26 |overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 1
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Dadism
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dadism">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/1/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 1 - Dadism| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|9|25|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Brian gets sick which brings Alan to spend more time with his father
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 2
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Dadmestic
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dadmestic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/2/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 2 - Dadmestic| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|10|2|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Alan goes to stay at Brian's house whilst Vincent has a house party.
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 3
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Dadcipline
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dadcipline">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/3/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 3 - Dadcipline| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|10|9|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Vincent's got a girlfriend. Unfortunately, her father lived next-door to Alan when he was younger – and Brian's actions 30 years ago are coming back to haunt him.
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 4
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Habadadery
| RTitle          = <ref name="Habadadery">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/4/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 4 - Habadadery| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|10|16|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =   Alan takes the family out for an expensive meal.
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 5
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Dadcoholic
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dadcoholic">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/5/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 5 - Dadcoholic| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|10|23|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Alan is concerned his father has been drink driving.
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 6
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Holidad
| RTitle          = <ref name="Holidad">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/1/6/|title = Dad Series 1, Episode 6 - Holidad| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1997|10|30|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Alan plans to take the family on holiday
| LineColor       = fbeb26
}}
}}

===Series 2 (1999)===
For the second series the theme song was 'Go Daddy-O' by Californian [[swing revival]] band [[Big Bad Voodoo Daddy]].
Series Two also comprised six episodes and was first aired from 11 January to 15 February 1999, but this time on Mondays at 8.30&nbsp;pm. The episodes were entitled (in order of their airing):

{{Episode table |background=#000005 |overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 7
| EpisodeNumber2  = 1
| Title           = Transcendadtal
| RTitle          = <ref name="Transcendadtal">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/1/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 1 - Transcendadtal| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|01|11|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Alan and family move house, and since his dad's health problems brought Alan closer to him, Alan's nerves have become particularly bad.
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 8
| EpisodeNumber2  = 2
| Title           = Dadmocracy
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dadmocracy">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/2/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 2 - Dadmocracy| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|01|18|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Alan and Vincent help Brian work at a polling station following a flu epidemic.
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 9
| EpisodeNumber2  = 3
| Title           = Reprodadtion
| RTitle          = <ref name="Reprodadtion">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/3/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 3 - Reprodadtion| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|01|25|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Everyone seems to be enjoying a healthy sex life except for Alan, much to Beryl's annoyance. 
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 10
| EpisodeNumber2  = 4
| Title           = Securidad
| RTitle          = <ref name="Securidad">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/4/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 4 - Securidad| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|02|01|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    =  Alan and Brian become security guards to protect a model village from thugs.
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 11
| EpisodeNumber2  = 5
| Title           = Dad's Arsenal
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dad's Arsenal">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/5/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 5 - Dad's Arsenal| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|02|08|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Alan panics when finding out Brian has a collection of guns.
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 12
| EpisodeNumber2  = 6
| Title           = Dad Calm
| RTitle          = <ref name="Dad Calm">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/6/|title = Dad Series 2, Episode 6 - Dad Calm| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|02|15|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Alan worries when Brian goes to hospital for a heart bypass operation.
| LineColor       = 000005
}}
}}

===Christmas Special (1999)===
The final episode was a Christmas special that aired on 21 December 1999, this time a Tuesday, at 8.30&nbsp;pm. It broke with the tradition of punning on 'Dad' for the title, and was named 'Nemesis', although Andrew Marshall later revealed that the original title "Feliz Navidad" was nixed by the BBC, feeling it too obscure.
{{Episode table |background=#350302 |overall=11 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=

{{Episode list
| EpisodeNumber   = 13
| Title           = Nemesis
| RTitle          = <ref name="Nemesis">{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/dad/episodes/2/7/|title = Dad Series 2 - Nemesis| website=[[British Comedy Guide]] }}</ref>
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|1999|12|21|df=yes}}
| ShortSummary    = Alan's wealthy, good-looking, childhood-friend Barry pays a Christmas visit.
| LineColor       = 350302
}}
}}

==Reception==
{{unreferenced|section|date=August 2024}}
The show received less critical acclaim than the similar [[BBC]] family sitcom ''[[2point4 Children]]'', also written by Andrew Marshall.

==Cancellation==
{{unreferenced|section|date=August 2024}}
During the second series, writer [[Andrew Marshall (screenwriter)|Andrew Marshall]] was convinced the show would go to a third series. [[Kevin McNally]] also believed they'd be doing the show for quite a while. However, after 13 episodes, and despite going from strength to strength, ''Dad'' ended with a 1999 Christmas special. McNally commented that the show got 'somehow lost', and its cancellation was to do with a regime change at the BBC. George Cole believed the show's cancellation was down to focus groups that began to decide what TV shows should be axed.

==Home release==
{{refimprove|section|date=August 2024}}
Both series one and two are available on DVD in Australia; they were released by 'Madman'. Both DVDs come with special features, one of which is an [[audio commentary]] from [[George Cole (actor)|George Cole]] and [[Kevin McNally]] who discuss the show; it hasn't been released in the United States or UK, and it also isn't repeated on TV in these two countries.

The show is streamed via [[tubi]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Dad | url=https://tubitv.com/series/300010991/dad }}</ref>

==Trivia==
The estate agent named on the 'for sale' signs in the first episode of series 2 are called 'Renwick'; a nod to Andrew Marshall's ex-writing partner, [[David Renwick]].{{fact|date=August 2024}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/d/dad_7771970.shtml ''Dad''] at the BBC Comedy Guide
*{{British Comedy Guide|tv|dad}}
*{{IMDb title|id=0118295|title=Dad}}
*{{Epguides|Dad}}
*[http://www.phill.co.uk/comedy/dad/index.html ''Dad''] at Phill.co.uk

[[Category:BBC television sitcoms]]
[[Category:1990s British sitcoms]]
[[Category:1997 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1999 British television series endings]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]