As If (British TV series)
Six young adults, one point of view per episode.
As If is a British comedy-drama programme that aired on E4 and later on Channel 4 from 22 January 2001 to 31 July 2004, spanning 76 episodes across four series. It was one of the flagship launch programmes for the pay entertainment channel E4 and gained a cult following.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Comedy drama
- Starring
- Paul Chequer
- Emily Corrie
- Jemima Rooper
- Orlando Wells
- Caroline Chikezie
- Ben Waters
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- Series
- 4
- Episodes
- 76
- Company
- Carnival Films
- Columbia TriStar International Television
- Sony Pictures Television International
- Runtime
- 22 minutes
Facts from the source article.
Premise
The series centred on six young adults living in London, with each episode presented from a different character's point of view, a technique previously unused in a comedy-drama television programme. The programme's style included surreal fly-on-the-wall camera work, fast camera transitions, wacky sound effects, and the theme tune "Would you...?" by Touch and Go. Episode four of the first series won an RTS Television Award for Best Tape or Film Editing - Drama. Several episodes parodied other films or TV shows, including The Blair Witch Project, Moulin Rouge!, The Italian Job, and 24. Initially, the group was divided: Sooz, Jamie, and Alex were friends; Jamie had a crush on Nikki, who was friends with Sasha; Sasha was in a relationship with Rob.
Characters
Jamie Collier, played by Paul Chequer, is the group's joker, a well-meaning but naive man who often gets into trouble. In the first series, he dates an older married woman, pursues Nikki unsuccessfully, and kisses Sooz. The second series covers his relationship with Sooz, which ends when she breaks up with him; he later has a one-night stand with Nikki. The third series involves his love for Sooz during her coma and after her suicide attempt. In the fourth series, he fakes leaving for Inverness, retakes qualifying tests, and is accepted to study psychology; he and Sooz break up after her infidelity. Suzanne 'Sooz' Lee, played by Emily Corrie, is a sarcastic punk loner who is rebellious and blunt. She has a brief crush on Rob during his breakup with Sasha. Sooz deals with mental health problems, wears punk rock clothing, has tattoos and facial piercings, and is known for multicoloured dreadlocks; she is a talented artist. Her dreadlocks inspired the 2004 McFly hit "Five Colours In Her Hair". Nikki Sutton, played by Jemima Rooper, initially appears as a man-eater who sleeps around and steals boyfriends, but is a good friend inside. She suffers after her father's imprisonment and her mother's neglect. The final episode is from Nikki's point of view, where she chooses between staying with Rob or taking an around-the-world trip given by her mother. Alexander 'Alex' Stanton is played by Orlando Wells.
Soundtrack
Across its 76 episodes, the show leaned heavily on trip hop, with tracks from Massive Attack—especially those off Mezzanine—and Archive appearing frequently. The soundtrack also featured a wide array of popular songs. These included Melanie B's "Feels So Good," Robbie Williams' "No Regrets," Billie Piper's "Honey to the Bee," Kylie Minogue's "Koocachoo," Atomic Kitten's "Right Now," Melanie C's "I Turn to You," Fragma's "Toca's Miracle," Shah's "Do U Wanna Get," George Michael's "Fastlove," Louise's "Beautiful Inside," Beverley Knight's "A.W.O.L.," Madasun's "Don't You Worry," Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5," Touch & Go's "Would You...?," Shanks & Bigfoot's "Sweet Like Chocolate," En-Core feat. Stephen Emmanuel & Eska's "Coochy Coo," Ramsey & Fen feat. Linsey Moore's "Love Bug," Moloko's "Sing It Back" (Boris Musical Mix), Ruff Driverz presents Arrola's "Dreaming," ATB's "Killer" (2000), Blur's "Tender," Coldplay's "Trouble," Tin Tin Out's "Anybody's Guess," Toploader's "Dancing in the Moonlight," The Supernaturals' "Smile," Tom Jones & Stereophonics' "Mama Told Me Not to Come," Supergrass' "Pumping On Your Stereo," Embrace's "Save Me," Doves' "Catch the Sun," Space's "Female of the Species," Republica's "Ready to Go," Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha" (The Norman Cook Mix), Fatboy Slim's "Praise You," Groove Armada's "I See You Baby," Underworld's "Push Upstairs," Leftfield's "Phat Planet," Fluke's "Absurd," Amira's "My Desire" (Dreemhouse Remix), Nightmares on Wax's "Jorge," and Beth Orton's "Central Reservation."
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