Barbara Parker heads to London to take on the male-dominated world of comedy by storm.
It’s the height of the swinging 60s and Barbara Parker has just been crowned Miss Blackpool – but she’s certain there has to be more to life than being a beauty queen in a seaside town. With the bright lights of London calling, Barbara packs her bags and heads off to the city where she looks to take on the male-dominated world of comedy by storm.
Barbara Parker heads to London to take on the male-dominated world of comedy by storm.
It’s the height of the swinging 60s and Barbara Parker has just been crowned Miss Blackpool – but she’s certain there has to be more to life than being a beauty queen in a seaside town. With the bright lights of London calling, Barbara packs her bags and heads off to the city where she looks to take on the male-dominated world of comedy by storm.
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Photo Gallery
1/5
Barbara Parker (Gemma Arterton) and Dennis Mahindra (Arsher Ali).
© Potboiler Productions; © Sky UK Limited
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Left to right: Dennis (Arsher Ali), Barbara (Gemma Arterton), Tony (Leo Bill), Bill (Matthew Beard), and Clive (Tom Bateman).
© Potboiler Productions; © Sky UK Limited
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Barbara Parker (Gemma Arterton).
Potboiler Productions; © Sky UK Limited
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Barbara Parker (Gemma Arterton) and Brian Debenham (Rupert Everett).
Potboiler Productions; © Sky UK Limited
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Diana (Clare-Hope Ashitey) and Barbara (Gemma Arterton).
Potboiler Productions; © Sky UK Limited
About the Show
It’s the height of the swinging 60s and Barbara Parker has just been crowned Miss Blackpool – but she’s certain there has to be more to life than being a beauty queen in a seaside town. With the bright lights of London calling, Barbara packs her bags and heads off to the city where she looks to take on the male-dominated world of comedy by storm.
The London Barbara Parker encounters is not as quite as swinging as the one she’d read about and seen on TV. However, after a series of setbacks Barbara finds herself in unfamiliar territory - an audition for a TV comedy show. Barbara’s uncompromising northern wit proves to be the X factor that the show has been missing. She gets the part and becomes part of a ground-breaking new sitcom.
Being a woman in a largely male environment has its own challenges, but as Barbara "finds her funny" she re-defines the prevailing attitude to funny women and in the process, reinvents herself.
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