Miniseries (2002)
Release date: 2002-09-17
Episodes (4):
1. The Peculiar Second Marriage of Archie Jones
It's 1974. Archie Jones is one of life's great losers. Even his attempt to kill himself is foiled by a passing butcher. The return of his old war comrade, Samad Iqbal, brings back a secret Archie has been trying to forget, and Samad's wedding to a feisty girl half his age makes lonely Archie feel even worse. Convinced that he 'picked up the wrong life in the cloakroom of existence', Archie is not expecting a sudden diversion to a funkier place. But on New Year's Eve, a chance encounter at a wild party changes everything.
Release date: 2002-09-17
2. The Temptation of Samad Iqbal
Samad Iqbal is in self-described 'chicken tikka purgatory', working as a waiter in his cousin's curry house and forced to sleep in the loft by his wife, Alsana, who is on sex-strike. Fate presents frustrated Samad with the ultimate test of his faith, in the shapely form of Poppy Burt-Jones, his twin sons' teacher. A passionate adulterous affair throws Samad into turmoil. He decides to try and make amends by saving his sons from the corruption of the West, although he can afford to send only one of them back to Bangladesh for a proper education in the old ways. Millat needs it most, but Magid saw his dad kissing Poppy.
Release date: 2002-09-24
3. The Trouble with Millat
It's 1992, and sexy Millat is 17, streetwise and idolised by Archie's daughter Irie, who is in turn adored by nerdy Josh Malfen. When all three get caught with a joint at school, their punishment is study classes with Josh's eccentric parents, controversial geneticists Marcus and Joyce. Millat charms Joyce, and soon moves in with them after Samad kicks him out. But before long, Joyce and Irie are heartbroken when Millat leaves to join an Islamic sect. Meanwhile, to Samad's horror, grown-up Magid is more 'British' than ever. He has a place at Oxford - and a secret benefactor who is flying him home.
Release date: 2002-10-01
4. The Return of Magid Iqbal
In a finale of love, death and revelation, Archie's secret comes out once and for all.
Release date: 2002-10-08
Cast
Om Puri
as Samad
Phil Davis
as Archie
Naomie Harris
as Clara
Archie Panjabi
as Alsana
Deepak Verma
as Shiva
Mona Hammond
as Hortense
Jeff Mirza
as Mo
Geraldine James
as Joyce Malfen
Robert Bathurst
as Marcus Malfen
Charlie Creed-Miles
as Ryan Topps
Nina Wadia
as Neena
Christopher Simpson
as Magid/Millat
San Shella
as Young Samad
Bryan Dick
as Young Archie
David Langham
as Young Devil of Dachau
James McAvoy
as Josh Malfen
Sophie Winkleman
as Joely
Rufus Jones
as Crispin
Daniel Tuite
as Paddy
Chu Omambala
as Brother Ibrahim
Maggie O'Neill
as Poppy
Russell Brand
as Merlin
Paul Bhattacharjee
as Bahadur Khan
Julian Barratt
as Aide de Camp
Annie Cooper
as Karina
Joy McBrinn
as Racist Neighbour
John Simm
as Mr. Hero
Ian Thompson
as Headmaster
Nasser Memarzia
as Alim
Shahnequa Duprey
as Irie
Ruth Lass
as Ms. Miniver
Richard Butler
as Mr. Hamilton
Vernon Dobtcheff
as Devil of Dachau
Alastair Parker
as Policeman
Steve Sweeney
as Lager Lad/Neighbour
Rest of the cast - click here to expand
Kammy Darweish - Ardashir, Rhys Bond - Reporter, Sarah Ozeke - Irie, Lucy Jules - Ambrosia, Charles Collingwood - Sir Edmund, Sonnell Dadral - Hifan, Sam Smart - Car Salesman, Medina Aijikawo - Denise, Ruth Sheen - Maureen, Joe Starrs - Josh, Charlie Lemmer - Maxine, Damian Brooke - Drunk in doorway, Nikki Tovell - Press, Jeanie Gold - Homeless Woman, Anne Devlin - Hairdresser, Andy Skinner - PC Phillips (uncredited), Andrew Hasley - Hippy at the end of the world 1974 party (uncredited), James Witt - Curry House Drunk (uncredited)
Crew - click here to expand
Nicolas Brown - Producer, Suzan Harrison - Executive Producer, Rebecca Eaton - Executive Producer, George Faber - Executive Producer, Charles Pattinson - Executive Producer, David Odd - Director of Photography, Adrian Johnston - Original Music Composer, Andrew Hulme - Editor, Maureen Duff - Casting, Gail Stevens - Casting, Alice Normington - Production Design, Catrin Meredydd - Art Direction, Barbara Herman-Skelding - Set Decoration, Rosie Hackett - Costume Design, Chris Lyons - Special Effects Makeup Artist, Sharon Martin - Makeup Designer, Rudi Buckle - Sound Recordist, Gianluca Buttari - Foley Editor