Chalk is a BBC Television sitcom. The show was produced by Andre Ptaszynski for the independent production company Pola Jones and screened on BBC2. All twelve episodes from the two series were written by Steven Moffat and directed by Juliet May. The first episode of the series was transmitted on 20 February 1997, and the final transmitted on 22 October 1997.[1]
The series focuses upon deputy headteacher Eric Slatt (David Bamber), permanently stressed over the chaos he creates both by himself and some of his eccentric staff. His wife Janet (Geraldine Fitzgerald) and new English teacher Suzy Travis (Nicola Walker) attempt to help him solve the problems.[2]
Due to the positive reaction of the studio audience during recordings, a second series was commissioned before the first had aired.[3] However, the first series attracted criticism, inflamed by the BBC's decision to compare the show to the highly respected Fawlty Towers in its publicity materials.[1] The first series was released on DVD in December 2008.[4]
- ^ a b After the Chalk Dust Settled, featurette on Chalk Series 1 DVD, ReplayDVD.co.uk, prod. & dir. Craig Robins
- ^ Evans, Jeff (2003). The Penguin TV Companion (2nd ed.). Penguin Books Ltd. p. 130. ISBN 0-14-101221-8.
- ^ Lewisohn, Mark. "Chalk". BBC Guide to Comedy. Archived from the original on 3 February 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2008.
- ^ Kibble-White, Graham (17 November 2008). "Chalk dusted off". Off the Telly. Retrieved 13 August 2016.