Ian Nathan starts this episode by telling us there are nine stories woven together to show a cross section of life. Although it all seems pretty much middle class except, maybe for Martine McCutcheon's Natalie. Her relationship with Hugh Grant's Prime Minister is typical of how we cannot take this film seriously. Christina tells us that the plot hinges around Christmas being a deadline. There are all different kinds of love as Ian Nathan takes us through all the couples. He calls them a "symphony of embarrassments". Neil Norman takes us through the plot and interestingly, all the links between some of the characters that I shall look out for in the next few days.
We hear a lot about the background of writer (and first time director) Richard Curtis. All his previous films which lead up to this. He has always been a great writer. Casting the same actors again and again. Especially Hugh Grant. Neil Norman calls them "a loose repertory company". Ian Nathan mentions some of the younger stars. Steven looks at how there are a series of sketches, each alternating story a different facet of love. All in different London locations. Neil Norman thinks it's about Britishness, British people and their character, especially embarrassment.
When Curtis had finished the film, we hear how he then completely restructured the scenes. Two stories were dropped entirely. The release was delayed by three months to rework and re-edit. Christina said on release it had mixed reviews but gradually gained momentum. Neil Norman says it's now a cult Christmas favourite and that each of us can identify with at least one character. Stephen Armstrong says it's kind of nuts, parts are completely preposterous, but that is it's charm. Ian Nathan concludes that this is not a children's Christmas movie.
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