Jake's Progress (1995)

UK
Television Mini-Series
Director: Robin Lefevre
Writer: Alan Bleasdale
Cinematographer: Arthur Smith
Composers: Richard Harvey, Elvis Costello
Cast: Robert Lindsay, Julie Walters, Barclay Wright, David Ryall, Dorothy Tutin, Amanda Mealing, David Ross, Andrew Schofield, Samantha Beckinsale

For once, political commentary takes a back seat to a more focused examination of the human condition. It’s still there, of course, after all this is Alan Bleasdale, but it’s definitely not the main focus. Not that he has ever allowed politics to overshadow the human drama anyway, but still… Jamie Diadoni (Robert Lindsay, excellent as ever) has been unemployed for a number of years, and has become something of a househusband whilst his wife Julie (the foul-mouthedly excellent Julie Walters) works as a care nurse. Everything changes when Julie falls pregnant again, much to the chagrin of everyone and in particular seven year-old Jake (the incredible Barclay Wright), who doesn’t fancy sharing his beloved daddy with anyone. Sacrifice and compromise follow, and, what with this being an Alan Bleasdale drama, a number of wickedly funny and outlandish plot developments unfold. Highly entertaining.