Free Agents

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British television series

title: "Free Agents" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2000s-british-sitcoms", "2009-british-television-series-debuts", "2009-british-television-series-endings", "television-series-by-big-talk-productions", "channel-4-sitcoms", "comedy-showcase", "british-english-language-television-shows", "television-series-by-itv-studios", "television-series-by-banijay"] description: "British television series" topic_path: "geography/united-kingdom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Agents" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary British television series ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox television"]

FieldValue
imageFreeAgentsLogo.png
captionOpening credits title
genreComedy
creatorChris Niel
writerChris Niel
directorJames Griffiths
starring{{Plainlist
composerDavid Arnold
countryUnited Kingdom
languageEnglish
num_series1
num_episodes6
producer{{Plainlist
editorChris Dickens
cinematographyBen Seresin
runtime22 minutes
company{{Plainlist
channelChannel 4
first_aired
last_aired
relatedFree Agents (American remake)
::

| image = FreeAgentsLogo.png | caption = Opening credits title | genre = Comedy | creator = Chris Niel | writer = Chris Niel | director = James Griffiths | starring = {{Plainlist|

Free Agents is a romantic black comedy starring Stephen Mangan, Sharon Horgan and Anthony Head. Originally a pilot for Channel 4 in November 2007, the series began on 13 February 2009. It spawned a short lived American remake, which was cancelled after just 4 episodes aired, although 4 more were later released on Hulu.

Plot

Alex Taylor (Mangan) works for CMA, a successful talent agency. Whilst he is grateful for his job, he is currently going through a messy divorce, causing him to become depressed. His boss however, Stephen Cauldwell (Head), is sex-obsessed, cocksure and roguish. Alex later meets Helen Ryan (Horgan), a co-worker who is more successful and herself recovering from a messy relationship, after her boyfriend died months before her wedding.

Production

The series is produced by Big Talk Productions and Bwark Productions and is written by Chris Niel. It was formed as part of Channel 4's 2007 Comedy Showcase along with Plus One and The Kevin Bishop Show, both of which were given their own series. The show was originally entitled Bitter and Twisted. The series started on 13 February and ended on 20 March. Shortly before the final episode aired, Mangan told a reporter that he and the rest of the cast were hoping to make a second series.

Episodes

::data[format=table] | # | Title | Original airdate | Viewers (millions) | |---|---|---|---| | Title=Episode 1 | 2009|2|13|df=y}} | EpisodeNumber=1 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/feb/16/tv-ratings-free-agents | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Leigh | last=Holmwood | title=TV ratings - Friday 13 February: Free Agents debut watched by 1.3 million on Channel 4 | date=2009-02-16}} (Overnights) | ::

Reception

The pilot attracted positive reviews. David Chater in The Times said, "There is a good deal of snappy banter between the two (Mangan and Horgan), but Anthony Head as their boss steals the show as a pervy old goat out of whose mouth pours an unending stream of uncensored filth. It’s like being confronted by an erection on screen – more amazing than shocking."

Gareth McLean in The Guardian said, "There's little funnier than other people's emotional damage and the consequent mess they make of things, so Chris Niel's tale of two colleagues - he an estranged dad, she lately availed of a dead fiance - who have casual sex and have to deal with the aftermath is very funny indeed."

When the series was first broadcast, the Sunday Express attacked the show because of bad language, claiming that the word "cunt" was used three times and "fuck" 22 times. John Beyer from Mediawatch said, "The obscene language in this programme is appalling by any standard. It shows a disregard of public concern that is completely unacceptable from a public service broadcaster."

International broadcasts

::data[format=table]

CountryTV Network(s)Date of Premiere
ZDFneo7 January 2010
Comedy Central25 July 2010
BBC America8 October 2011
TVNZ Ondemand29 November 2015
ABC Comedy2 April 2018
::

References

References

  1. Hemley, Matthew. (2008-01-04). "Mangan to star in theatre agent comedy for C4". The Stage.
  2. "Free Agents". British Sitcom Guide.
  3. Wolf, Ian. (2008-01-04). "News - Free Agents looks set for a full series". British Sitcom Guide.
  4. Dessau, Bruce. (2007-10-01). "Here, are you having a laugh?". The Times.
  5. "Free Agents hope for second series". TV.com.
  6. Holmwood, Leigh. (2009-02-16). "TV ratings - Friday 13 February: Free Agents debut watched by 1.3 million on Channel 4". The Guardian.
  7. Holmwood, Leigh. (2009-02-23). "TV ratings - 20 February: UK debut of 30 Rock second series watched by just 63,000". The Guardian.
  8. Dowell, Ben. (2009-03-23). "TV ratings - February 20: Dave Gorman show's TV debut draws 1.7m". The Guardian.
  9. Chater, David. (2007-11-09). "Tonight's TV". The Times.
  10. McLean, Gareth. (2007-11-09). "Watch this". The Guardian.
  11. Stephenson, David. (2009-02-15). "Is this the foulest "comedy" ever?". [[Daily Express.

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2000s-british-sitcoms2009-british-television-series-debuts2009-british-television-series-endingstelevision-series-by-big-talk-productionschannel-4-sitcomscomedy-showcasebritish-english-language-television-showstelevision-series-by-itv-studiostelevision-series-by-banijay