Funland
Genre	comedy/thriller
Created by	Jeremy Dyson Simon Ashdown
Starring	Daniel Mays Kris Marshall Burn Gorman Sarah Smart Ian Puleston-Davies Judy Parfitt Frances Barber
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	11
Production
Running time	1x60 minutes 10x30 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC Three
Original run	Sunday 23 October 2005 – Monday 7 November 2005

Funland is a comedy / thriller serial, produced by the BBC that was first screened from Sunday 23 October 2005 to Monday 7 November 2005 , on the digital channel BBC Three. Created by Jeremy Dyson (of The League of Gentlemen) and Simon Ashdown, the series consists of a sixty-minute opening episode followed by ten half-hour installments.

Contents 1 Plot summary 2 Filming and Production Notes 3 Cast 4 DVD releases 5 External links

[edit] Plot summary

The series followed the dark and seedy tale of a group of people, all interlinked through family, work or debt. It started with Shirley Woolf and his wife Connie's feud to separate them from Shirley's mother Mercy. And the arrival of a southern stranger and a prudish couple from Stoke-on-Trent. As the series developed more sinister plotlines and characters were introduced, the corrupt Mayor of Blackpool, the mysterious figure of power Bridewell and a strange hooded figure. Other mysteries arrive such as the disappearance of the last vicar of Ambrose Chapel, what lies behind the door opened by the mysterious key and what are Mercy's plans for Blackpool.

All was revealed in the final episode, as the screeching figure in the parka arrives with a package for Mercy, as she, Shirley and Carter are situated at the very top of Blackpool Tower in a raging gale on the night of the Cross Ball. The package is opened, and the deeds to the entire Fylde Coast, "Wax's way"; stretching from knott end on sea all the way to Lytham St Annes are revealed and Mercy reveals her plan as her iron grip over the bustling seaside towns tighten following her purchase of the tower. But the paperwork flies out of her hands and Shirley climbs up the tower framework to reach it but is shot by Mercy and plummets to his death.

The last scene as Carter and Lola walk along the beach, they find the deeds and know, now that Mercy has been imprisoned for her crimes; that they, and the town of Blackpool are safe.

[edit] Filming and Production Notes

• Produced by Sanne Wohlenberg, the series is directed by Dearbhla Walsh, Susan Tully and Brian Kirk, and filmed on location in Blackpool, the town in which the programme is also set.
• Funland was nominated for a BAFTA (2006) in the "Best Drama Serial" category, but was beaten by Bleak House.
• A scene involving Mercy and the Mayor is filmed on the now defunct Big Dipper ride at Pleasure Beach Blackpool.

[edit] Cast

• Daniel Mays – Carter Krantz
• Kris Marshall – Dudley Sutton
• Sarah Smart – Lola Sutton
• Ian Puleston-Davies – Shirley Woolf
• Judy Parfitt – Mercy Woolf
• Frances Barber – Connie Woolf
• Roy Barraclough – The Mayor
• Mark Gatiss – Ambrose Chapfel
• Cheryl Campbell – Lola's Mum
• Ewan Bailey – The Finn
• Burn Gorman - Tim Timothy
• Emily Aston - Ruby Woolf
• Kenny Doughty - Liam Woolf
• Ryan Pope - Chris Church
• Philip Jackson - Leo Finch
• Beth Cordingly - Vienna Keen
• Kevin Eldon - Shadowman
• Simon Greenall - Ken Cryer
• Paul Courtenay Hyu - Bryan Luke
• Katrina Rafferty - The Teddy Picker Girl

[edit] DVD releases

The complete boxset was released in 2006.

DVD	Release date
The Complete First Series (2 discs)	26 June 2006

[edit] External links

• "[1]" Official Press Pack
• "Episode one" script at BBC Writers Room
• "Filming begins on BBC THREE's Funland" at BBC Press Office
• Funland at the Internet Movie Database