The Book Group.

Channel 4 love a minority. Whether you're gay, or a Muslim, or a gypsy, they pride themselves on giving us all ample airtime. But somehow, their entire Scottish output seems to be a lone episode of Location, Location, Location set in Giffnock, and a curious and quiet comedy from 2002 called The Book Group

A promo shot of the main cast of the show's first series.

The Book Group follows the grand old tradition of setting a show in one location, and then employing virtually no actors from that place to star in it. We have Dirka, from Sweden. And English Barney. And Fist (yes, Fist) from Holland. And most importantly, the frosty heart of the show, Clare from Cincinnati. 

Clare was new to Glasgow, expected so much from the city, and was consistently disappointed by what she received. She set up a book group to meet like-minded people, but accidentally stumbled upon 3 WAGs, a pretentious student with a cocaine addiction and a gay ned. None of whom were particularly interested in reading the book. In this sense, Clare was an amazing plot device. We got to look, and laugh at ourselves through Clare's eyes, as she struggled to get to grips with Glaswegian culture, and understand Rab's often incomprehensible English.

Clare and Kenny. Eventually.

It's funny though, because the insults that Clare levelled at Glasgow were things I had often thought, and sometimes said myself. But hearing them from a foreigner was jarring, and I immediately felt defensive of our fine city. Clare's suggestion that we were lacking culture was ridiculous! We absolutely do have culture, ya dobber. The Europeans said so in 1990.

The story had a happy ending, as Clare found love with hunky Kenny, proving that even the frostiest of foreigners can find their groove in the city when they accept it for what it is. She fell in love with the city too. Schmaltzy or what?

Sometimes shows make it big, and sometimes shows don't. Luckily, The Book Group is available to watch, in full, here, thanks to 4OD.


BROADCAST:- 2002-2003
STARRING:- Anne Dudek, Michelle Gomez, Derek Riddell.
WEEGIE RATING:- That's no right!