Two Doors Down (TV series)

Two Doors Down is a Scottish television sitcom, produced by BBC Studios.^[1] It was created by Simon Carlyle and Gregor Sharp, and stars Arabella Weir, Alex Norton, Doon Mackichan, Jonathan Watson and Elaine C. Smith as neighbours in a suburban street in Scotland.

Two Doors Down
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Simon Carlyle Gregor Sharp
Directed by	Simon Hynd
Starring	Current Arabella Weir Alex Norton Jonathan Watson Doon Mackichan Elaine C. Smith Jamie Quinn Kieran Hodgson Graeme Stevely Joy McAvoy
Opening theme	"S.O.B." by Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats
Country of origin	Scotland
Original language	English
No. of series	6
No. of episodes	40 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Steven Canny Ewan Angus Myfanwy Moore
Production locations	Glasgow, Scotland
Camera setup	Single camera
Running time	28 minutes
Production companies	BBC Studios Comedy Productions BBC Scotland
Release
Original network	BBC One Scotland (2013 pilot) BBC Two (2016–2022) BBC One (2022 special–present)
Picture format	16:9 1080i
Audio format	Stereo
Original release	31 December 2013 (2013-12-31) – present

Following a one-off Hogmanay special broadcast nationwide on BBC One in late 2013, a full series was commissioned,^[2] and began airing on BBC Two in April 2016,^[1] with a second that November.^[3] A third series in 2018 (and a 2017 Christmas special)^[4] and a fourth in 2019 followed. A fifth series announced in mid-2020 was delayed until the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic,^[5][6][7] and broadcast in two halves in December 2021 and July/August 2022,^[8] with a sixth series shown that November and December,^{[9][10][11][12]} its Christmas special airing on BBC One.^[13] A seventh series will film in summer 2023 for broadcast in the autumn, alongside a move to BBC One.^[14][15]

Two Doors Down won the Best Comedy award at the 2017 Royal Television Society Scotland Awards, with separate BAFTA Scotland wins for cast and crew over the course of its run.^[16]

Premise

The series creator, Simon Carlyle, stated: "Two Doors Down is about crazy neighbours. We've all got them. They seem ok, but when you scratch the surface they're a bit nuts."^[17] Two Doors Down focuses on neighbours living side by side in a middle-class Glasgow suburb (differentiating it from many previous Glasgow-based sitcoms such as Rab C Nesbitt and Still Game which were set in gritty, run down areas of the city). BBC Scotland describes the characters as "not so happily living together" – the neighbours are constantly visiting uninvited, and overstaying their welcome, at Beth and Eric Baird's house.^[17] Beth is often taken advantage of by her neighbours, frequently having to make tea, pour drinks and prepare food, while the remaining characters chat in the living room. Eric and Beth therefore try and avoid their neighbours as much as possible so they can enjoy some peace and quiet in their own home.^[17]

Cast and characters

Timeline

Cast Members	Series
	Pilot	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Alex Norton as Eric Baird	Main
Arabella Weir as Beth Baird	Main
Jonathan Watson as Colin Whyte	Main
Doon Mackichan as Cathy Whyte	Main							Main
Sharon Rooney as Sophie O'Neal	Main
Elaine C. Smith as Christine O'Neal		Main
Jamie Quinn as Ian Baird		Main
Harki Bhambra as Jaz		Main						Guest
Kieran Hodgson as Gordon				Main
Graeme 'Grado' Stevely as Alan				Guest	Main
Joy McAvoy as Michelle				Guest	Main
Siobhan Redmond as Anne-Marie							Main
	Guest Appearances
Daniela Nardini as Caroline Stewart	Guest
Greg McHugh as Tony Patterson	Guest
James Young as Angus Baird	Guest
Kevin Guthrie as Ian Baird	Guest
Victoria Balnaves as Joanne		Guest
Maurice Roëves as Willie Whyte			Guest
Rachel Jackson as Waitress				Guest
Lisa Bradley as Barmaid				Guest
Gemma McElhinney as Heather					Guest
Sophie Leigh Stone as Louise					Guest		Guest
Martin McCormick as Michael						Guest
Divian Ladwa as Iqbal						Guest
Ambreen Razia as Ash						Guest
Julie Graham as Gail						Guest
Kevin Harvey as Andy						Guest

Episodes

Series	Episodes		Originally aired
			First aired	Last aired	Network
Pilot			31 December 2013 (2013-12-31)		BBC One Scotland
1	6		1 April 2016 (2016-04-01)	6 May 2016 (2016-05-06)	BBC Two
2	6		21 November 2016 (2016-11-21)	19 December 2016 (2016-12-19)
3	6 (+special)		26 December 2017 (special) 29 January 2018 (2018-01-29)	5 March 2018 (2018-03-05)
4	6		7 January 2019 (2019-01-07)	11 February 2019 (2019-02-11)
2020 Special			28 December 2020
5	6 (+special)		6 December 2021 (2021-12-06)^[a]	1 August 2022 (2022-08-01)
6	6 (+special)		9 November 2022 (2022-11-09)^[b]	23 December 2022 (2022-12-23)	BBC Two BBC One (special)
7	6		2023 (2023)	2023 (2023)	BBC One

Pilot (2013)

No. overall	No. in series	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[18]
1	–	Pilot	Catherine Morshead	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	31 December 2013 (2013-12-31)	3.28
The neighbours descend on the Bairds for a Hogmanay celebration that, naturally, goes awry. First appearance of Beth, Eric, Cathy, Colin, Ian and Sophie.

Series 1 (2016)

No. overall	No. in series	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[18]
2	1	Episode 1	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	1 April 2016 (2016-04-01)	1.80
Beth invites the neighbours round for a special feast, after husband Eric leaves the freezer door open after coming in late, desperate for chips, resulting in everything defrosting. First appearance of Christine and Jaz.
3	2	Episode 2	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	8 April 2016 (2016-04-08)	1.36
The Bairds' home ends up like a hostel for the night, after Christine's ceiling collapses, Ian splits up with Jaz, and Cathy has a row with Colin over his porn-watching.
4	3	Episode 3	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)	1.14
Ian and Jaz don't exactly make a good first impression on the neighbours, as a drunken Cathy causes trouble when she accompanies Beth to their flatwarming; an errant swingball, while waiting for the tennis coverage, gives a burglar-concerned Christine the chance to practise her baseball bat on Colin, and to a larger extent, Eric.
5	4	Episode 4	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	22 April 2016 (2016-04-22)	1.15
A quiet birthday is not one of the wishes granted for Eric, whose evening in alone is disturbed by Cathy and Colin - holding disparate attitudes on divulging their fertility test results - as well as Christine and Sophie - who display different levels of mourning for the relative whose funeral they've just been to - and Ian and Jaz - who have completely forgotten the special occasion. Birthday presents are gifted, and the topic of discussion unfortunately lets slip something embarrassing that's dragged down from the attic for all to see.
6	5	Episode 5	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	29 April 2016 (2016-04-29)	1.13
Christine is determined to find out who the father of Sophie's baby is, and as a last ditch attempt locks her in the back garden shed. After being rescued, Beth and Cathy try to calm Christine down - in a way that slanders Beth - while Eric discovers Colin's competitive side as a friendly darts match in the garage turns dirty.
7	6	Episode 6	Simon Hynd	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	6 May 2016 (2016-05-06)	1.14
Cathy is more fixated than ever on showing off her new hot tub as her envy grows upon learning Beth and Eric have booked a last-minute holiday abroad, but her and Colin's party fails to go to plan when she snatches Sophie's baby scan and Jaz ends up wearing some unfortunately undersized Speedos.

Series 2 (2016)

No. overall	No. in series	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[18]
8	1	Episode 1	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	21 November 2016 (2016-11-21)	1.49
A sizeable PPI refund payout for Christine lands Beth with hosting duties for a neighbourly celebration barbecue, at which a bronzed Cathy proudly, and arrogantly, shows off her special Spanish ham, and she and Colin try to get one of the others to accompany them on their next cruise - in search of a recommendation discount.
9	2	Episode 2	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	28 November 2016 (2016-11-28)	1.58
A distant car alarm wakes the neighbourhood up, with Christine and Colin misinterpreting a remark by Eric as an invitation into the Bairds'. Soon enough, a midnight feast ensues and Sophie and Cathy arrive, reigniting a feud between Christine and Sophie over what to name the baby - but some reminiscing and a search through the television leading to the shipping forecast quells all.
10	3	Episode 3	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	5 December 2016 (2016-12-05)	1.69
A Sunday roast at Beth's gets derailed, with Cathy incensed at Colin but not willing to discuss why, Jaz getting wound up - from Colin and by himself - over his return to work from sick leave the next day, and his requiring of a vegetarian alternative seeing Ian go out to buy one and Christine and Sophie tagging along upon his return.
11	4	Episode 4	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 December 2016 (2016-12-12)	1.16
Cathy reluctantly plays hostess as everyone comes to celebrate Colin's dad, Willie's, birthday. Beth progressively gets handed the reins to organise everything, Willie can't crack a smile, and Ian and Jaz are on tenterhooks waiting to see if their offer on a flat has come good. Everyone's spirits soon pick up, however, when Willie's old accordion makes an appearance...
12	5	Episode 5	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	19 December 2016 (2016-12-19)	1.00
Christine's computer troubles (she is technophobic) end up burdening Beth further, already dealing with the clutter from Ian and Jaz's temporary stay before they can move in to their new flat. Christine soon ropes everyone in to searching for anywhere that has the Barneyboo buggy in stock - insisting it must be in blue to match the umbrella Pat over the back has bought as a matching set - while Eric mulls over wearing a kilt or not for a Scotland away game in Latvia.
13	6	Episode 6	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	19 December 2016 (2016-12-19)	0.90
The Bairds' baby shower for Sophie takes a sour turn when Christine isn't exactly impressed with what's on offer, and Cathy and Colin revel in winding up an already-anxious Jaz (dismissing a black eye as a packing incident) about the notorious location of his and Ian's new flat... although Sophie gets her revenge. Final appearance of Sophie and Jaz.

Series 3 (2018)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[18]
14	–	"Christmas Special"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	26 December 2017 (2017-12-26)	1.04
Beth and Eric's turkey crown ends up in smaller portions than expected when Christmas dinner for two ends up being for six; with flights from France grounded, Sophie is stranded in the airport unable to celebrate her first Christmas with her baby, Madison, and Cathy and Colin's plans to go skiing are off. Ian pays his parents a visit, with his new Yorkshire-born boyfriend Gordon in tow, who attracts Cathy's attention straight away and is accidentally outed by Christine to his parents. A ramshackle Christmas becomes special, nevertheless, as Cathy discovers her celestial gift and Eric gets his old Santa suit down from the attic. First appearance of Gordon.
15	1	"Burns Supper"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	29 January 2018 (2018-01-29)	2.11
Everyone is celebrating Burns' Night, but the renovations done to the Bairds' downstairs toilet end up being the temporary focus of attention instead. Scotland-adopted Gordon gets into the spirit of things, wearing tartan and starting a sing-song, Eric's enthusiasm for the occasion is diluted by Beth's apathy, Christine is very keen to tell everyone about her daughter's new living situation - and how dismayed she is at where it is - and a discussion about past commemorations ends up with Cathy massively overreacting when she gets it into her head that Colin and his ex-girlfriend are speaking to each other behind her back.
16	2	"Eric's Colon"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	5 February 2018 (2018-02-05)	1.50
An accident during a colonoscopy has resulted in Eric needing to recuperate on the downstairs couch, and soon his suffering becomes a spectacle. Cathy and Colin pop in on their way to dinner with a couple whose wife's occupation remains nameless, and Christine works out a solution to Beth's inability to take her to the supermarket, roping Ian into it. Her shopping quickly becomes the products of Beth's cooking as everyone pressures her into making homemade soup, and Gordon's appearance with some crusty bread too leads up to Eric attending to the toilet... and the sounds of his activity prove a must-listen.
17	3	"Break In"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 February 2018 (2018-02-12)	1.69
Cathy becomes distraught when she discovers that, upon the discovery her and Colin's house having been ransacked by burglars while they were away on holiday, someone has relieved themselves in her pants' drawer. Beth is assigned the role of washing all of Cathy's clothes as a precaution (as everyone else inspects her lingerie for any evidence of titillation), and then seamstress as Gordon's new trousers for a wedding he and Ian are going to need taken up... and the sight of his bare legs appears to take the edge off the day's events for Cathy.
18	4	"Fish Friday"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	19 February 2018 (2018-02-19)	1.63
A belated birthday treat for Beth to a local pub for dinner gets two unexpected guests added to the roster, with Christine near enough inviting herself, and Colin, deciding to spend his free time while Cathy is away at a spa getting drunk, bothering the assembled company with his lechery.
19	5	"Party Pieces"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	26 February 2018 (2018-02-26)	1.72
Arriving home from a mixed performance at the pub quiz, Beth surprises everyone with revelations about her past career aspirations. They are not long after interrupted by Christine, who is after a lift up the hospital to see Pat after her dog attacked her, and Ian and Gordon, returning home early from a weekend in Amsterdam after the former's activities in a gay bar toilet. The gathering soon turns into a party as Beth is relegated to frying up some homemade chips and all are eager to show off their party tricks, from magic, impressions, tongue-twisters, mournful meows, and doing the crab - with Gordon's hedge-hurdling going quite wrong...
20	6	"Alan and Michelle"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	5 March 2018 (2018-03-05)	1.81
Christine palms off organising a welcoming party for the new, rather mismatched, couple across the street, Alan and Michelle, onto Beth. There being a younger woman on the street raises Cathy's jealousy levels, which soon boil over and she takes to seeing to the house porch Michelle has condemned... First appearance of Alan and Michelle.

Series 4 (2019)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[19]
21	1	"Anniversary"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	7 January 2019 (2019-01-07)	1.75
An anniversary party for Eric and Beth goes awry, with Cathy insisting on answers to her questions on whether Ian and Gordon and Alan and Michelle would ever marry each other, Christine insisting someone at least try her trifle - and the parlour games not doing much to rescue the occasion, with the addition of Michelle wanting to wear Beth's wedding dress, Cathy and Colin re-enacting their first dance, and Gordon feeling spurned - after Ian's unwillingness to marry him - to the mix.
22	2	"Willie's Wake"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	14 January 2019 (2019-01-14)	1.63
Cathy persistently tries to turn the solemn occasion of Colin's dad's wake into a less mournful one - with the help of some alcohol, as well as reluctant, happenchance invites Alan, Michelle and Gordon. Christine is frustrated about the non-religiosity of the affair, and is not afraid of voicing her complaints or trying to get everyone else to reminisce over Seve Ballesteros.
23	3	"Hospital"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	21 January 2019 (2019-01-21)	1.64
A routine operation turns into an overnight stay in hospital for Christine, and a populated visiting time raises a medley of discussions that all lead to Christine worrying about whether she'll survive her surgery - and Eric wondering if he'll ever get his dinner.
24	4	"Graham & Sandra"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	28 January 2019 (2019-01-28)	N/A (<1.63)^[c]
Gordon invites his parents, Graham and Sandra, up to meet the Bairds, and the conversation soon becomes animated when the neighbours call round, and the topic of Scottish independence causes a rift between the guests.
25	5	"Overnight"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	4 February 2019 (2019-02-04)	1.63
Beth's invitation to Alan and Michelle to stay the night while their home is covered in sawdust proves more trouble than it's worth, when Alan, to Michelle's chagrin, takes advantage of the hospitality, and Cathy takes umbrage at Beth and Michelle getting close and becomes desperate to outdo her in the non-existent friendship stakes. Meanwhile, Christine's obsession with the cat-urine-stained rhubarb her neighbour found round the back of her shed leads to a late-night snack for everyone... and causes a row and a sight not to behold.
26	6	"Housewarming"	Sasha Ransome	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	11 February 2019 (2019-02-11)	1.74
Michelle is perseverant in trying to impress all at her housewarming party, although Alan not taking the situation seriously - including neglecting the serving of drinks and spreading private news about his sex life to Eric and Colin - as well as snide remarks from a jealous Cathy don't help, especially when Michelle's attention is redirected to the sudden arrival of a long-time friend, whose deafness provides a talking point for the neighbours and an opportunity to get away with mocking a frenziedly-envious Cathy as well as Christine's deliberate sympathy push, as she overexaggerates the state of an eye injury.

Christmas Special (2020)

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[19]
27	–	"Christmas Special"	Adrian McDowall	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	28 December 2020 (2020-12-28)	2.11
Cathy and Colin's plans to spend the festive season in Dubai have been put paid to by COVID-19, and hole up in a cabin in the Highlands. Joined by Beth, Eric, Christine, Ian and Gordon for a post-Christmas jolly-up, the initial fun - buoyed by exciting relationship news from Ian and Gordon and light banter about everyone's activities during lockdown and the amount of repeats on TV - almost immediately begins to subside as Cathy manipulates everyone into staying in rather than venturing outside, and her hospitality sharply extinguishes when Gordon mocks her via impression and Beth lambasts her for her drinking... with an unbothered Christine continuing her reminiscing, Colin stuck between supporting his wife and finally revealing what he really thinks about her behaviour, and an atmosphere so sour no-one wants to be there.

Series 5 (2021–22)

Plans for a fifth series were formally announced in mid-2020,^[5] with filming originally set to start at that time delayed until March 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.^{[6][7][20][21]} Filming was subsequently interrupted by Joy McAvoy giving birth, and as a result was only completed on two episodes and the Christmas special.^[22] Filming resumed in February 2022.^[23]

The series resumed on 12 July 2022; the final three episodes of the series were made available on iPlayer on that date following the linear broadcast of "Brother Michael".^{[8][24][25][26]} In order to air the entire series in one run, the first two episodes were repeated (out-of-order) following the linear premiere of the last four episodes of the series.^[27]

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[19]
28	1	"Veggie Curry"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	6 December 2021 (2021-12-06)	1.91
Beth's cooking up a veggie curry as part of a quiet family dinner to celebrate Ian and Gordon's second anniversary. It isn't long before the neighbours drop round, though; Christine rather unwilling to eat anything prepared in the Bairds' kitchen - believing her bout of diarrhoea comes from a dodgy ham sandwich she ate there - and Cathy and Colin in search of a free meal, and getting rather annoyed at Gordon when the lack of meat in their meal becomes apparent - on top of the revelation coming from Ian's black eye that he didn't step into help when he was attacked.
29	2	"Beth's Flu"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	13 December 2021 (2021-12-13)	1.76
Beth's got a bad cold and has taken to her bed, but she and Eric aren't escaping everyone else pestering them and advising on how best to nurse her back to health, with Christine persistently claiming the benefits of the homemade soup she's brought round, Colin and Cathy thinking that alcohol is the way forward, and Ian trying his best to defend his father as the discussion moves onto critiquing how well he's looking after her.
30	–	"Christmas Special"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	20 December 2021 (2021-12-20)	2.00
Michelle and Alan host a pre-Christmas neighbourly get-together, where her efforts go somewhat unappreciated with Cathy not afraid to show her displeasure at what's been arranged for them all, Colin determined to snatch her under the mistletoe he's brought, and Christine overdoes the guilt trip with Beth after learning she and Eric are considering spending the festive season in Yorkshire with Gordon and his parents. Alan is predictably less-than-excited about the whole affair, and heads out back for a sneaky toke... soon joined by Ian and Gordon and leading to some rather inappropriate under-the-influence behaviour...
31	3	"Brother Michael"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 July 2022 (2022-07-12)	N/A (<2.26)^[d]
Best man duties see Alan delegated with taking care of the rings for his surly brother, Michael's, wedding, and his dropping by turns into an introduction to the neighbourhood as Beth hosts an impromptu gathering at the Bairds'. Christine is forthcoming with how favourable Michael is when comparing the brothers against each other, Michelle does her best to allay everyone's - and her own - concerns about Alan's competence at the position he's been given, and Cathy and Colin are keen on demonstrating and querying the more prurient aspects either side of the ceremony.
32	4	"Girls' Night"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 July 2022 (2022-07-12) (iPlayer) 19 July 2022 (2022-07-19) (BBC2)	N/A (<2.30)^[d]
Michelle hosts a girls' night for Beth, Cathy and Christine over at hers, with Cathy eager to take advantage of the free-flowing alcohol and Christine keen to get on with some knitting for granddaughter Madison - misunderstanding what a gathering of just women has instore. The discussion turns to the annoying foibles of their other halves', before the conversation strays into dangerous territory creating a rift between Beth and Christine, and Cathy tries to end the night on a less salubrious note by convincing the others - and introducing Christine - to watching porn.
33	5	"Doughnuts"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 July 2022 (2022-07-12) (iPlayer) 26 July 2022 (2022-07-26) (BBC2)	N/A (<2.23)^[d]
Michelle disapproves of Alan's plan for them to gorge on a large box of doughnuts from the supermarket by themselves, sending him round the neighbours' to share them out. As they, Beth, Eric, Christine, and later Colin, gather to indulge at the Bairds', they are interrupted by the arrival of new neighbours Ash and Iqbal. Disclosing they work for the NHS is ill-judged; the neighbours teasing strange patient dilemmas out of Iqbal - as Christine repeatedly guilt-trips him into seeing to her stiff shoulder - becoming confused as to what exactly Ash does in her administrative role, and are dumbstruck by the couple's announcement they're not keen on eating takeaways.
34	6	"Amalfi Friends"	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	12 July 2022 (2022-07-12) (iPlayer) 1 August 2022 (2022-08-01) (BBC2)	N/A (<2.13)^[d]
An ecstatic Cathy and an insecure Colin are eager to show off their prosperity and popularity by packing the house with company as the couple they met on their holiday to Sorrento - Gail and Andy - drop by. Both get more desperate as the night goes on, Cathy irritated by the neighbours - in particular the crude-mouthed Christine - taking Gail away from her, and Colin's jealousy gradually rising as he starts to feel inferior to Andy in his fitness (and ability to court conversation with Michelle). Their actions reach a point where the spectacle they aimed to put on turns sour and embarrassing, and Cathy chastising her neighbours in front of a new, less accommodating audience... Final appearance of Cathy.

Series 6 (2022)

A sixth series was indirectly mentioned in the BBC's Annual Plan, published in March 2022,^[9] reported by cast members in July 2022 as table reads took place,^[10] and officially confirmed by the BBC in August 2022. The series consists of six episodes and a Christmas special.^[11] Doon Mackichan and her character Cathy no longer appear; she "has left [Colin] and now lives abroad", with plots for the series centring around the fact he "can't help oversharing personal details" about it. Actress Siobhan Redmond joined the cast as a new regular character, Anne Marie.^[11]

Following the broadcast of the first episode, the remaining episodes of the series (except the Christmas special) were made available on BBC iPlayer.^{[28][29][30][31][32]} The Christmas special, like the show's original pilot, aired on BBC One instead of BBC Two.^[13]

No. overall	No. in series	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	UK viewers (millions) ^[19]
35	1	"Macaroni"^[12]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09)	N/A (<3.03)^[d]
Beth and Eric invite over Colin, who has been left disoriented and in a vulnerable state after Cathy suddenly dumps him. Despite their attempts to keep the tone sympathetic, Beth volunteering to teach him how to cook meals for himself and Eric the subject of some awkward physical comfort, Christine drops by determined to find out the nitty-gritty and the entire story. Ian and Gordon arrive to share the latter's good news about a job, discovering they may not be best placed to empathise with Colin, and Michelle appears just as Colin feels resolved to move on... and let Cathy know what he, and the rest of the neighbours in their earnest admissions, really think of her...
36	2	"Alan's Boot"^[28]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09) (iPlayer) 16 November 2022 (2022-11-16) (BBC2)	N/A (<2.00)^[e]
An accident at work has left Alan propped up on the sofa at home, one of his legs in a surgical boot rendering him unable to walk about unaided, Michelle having to run about after him. Neighbourly doting subs in for her as she escapes on an errand into town; initially quiet company from Beth and Eric - she fulfilling her usual role at home, heeding every order - is crashed by Christine - bearing gifts to help his mobility and becoming enamoured with his new crutches - Ian and Gordon - with an unappetising smoothie and controversial advice to seek compensation - and Colin - eager to inform everyone about his bedroom activities that morning, and his eye-opening escapades with online dating.
37	3	"Dinner for Seven"^[29]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09) (iPlayer) 23 November 2022 (2022-11-23) (BBC2)	N/A (<3.29)^[d]
Colin hosts a dinner party to introduce everyone to his new skittish and overzealous partner, Anne-Marie, but they're a little startled by how much she throws herself into the festivities, as Colin continuously assures everyone she's simply nervously trying to impress them all, with a disturbing willingness to divulge personal information about her troubled son and how maternally doting she is in serving up the scrumptious, but semi-chaotic, evening meal. First appearance of Anne-Marie
38	4	"Christine 69"^[30]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09) (iPlayer) 30 November 2022 (2022-11-30) (BBC2)	N/A (<1.73)^[f]
The Bairds host Christine's 69th birthday party, with everyone baking something for the occasion - although, to Alan's chagrin, no brownies, who's already temporarily abstaining from the beers on offer, expecting a call to help a mate's dog give birth. Eric's bad news that an old work friend has passed on is shared around like the store-bought cake Beth is hesitant to reveal the source of to the birthday girl - with Anne-Marie baffled at the lack of hot food on offer - as he and Ian are sent upstairs to see if their funeral garb still fits. The conversation promptly turns to deaths and funerals, Christine disclosing the plans for hers, with the selection of music and her insistence Beth will wear a veil of most significance.
39	5	"Aussie Holiday"^[31]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09) (iPlayer) 7 December 2022 (2022-12-07) (BBC2)	N/A (<2.85)^[d]
Beth and Eric are paid a fleeting visit by Ian and Gordon, and their friends, Morven and Lin, who are keeping their car at the Bairds' while they journey on holiday. As one neighbour pops in after another, they repeat their plans for their extensive, jam-packed, six-week-long travels around Australia, with Lin's happy-go-lucky and care-free attitude and approach to life gradually irritating her more prepared and meticulous partner, Morven, as Lin's admission she may have overpacked is realised, and a revelation about some of Lin's plans while abroad that she's kept to herself are uncomfortably cast into the open.
40	6	"Garden Party"^[32]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	9 November 2022 (2022-11-09) (iPlayer) 13 December 2022 (2022-12-13) (BBC2)	N/A (<3.00)^[d]
A spot of salubrious weather sees Beth organise an impromptu gathering in her back garden, with the entire gang eventually joining, sampling margaritas as an accompaniment to the heat. Once again, they overcompensate trying to communicate with Michelle's deaf friend, Louise, who is in pursuit of donations for a charity skydive, and Alan is summoned with beers and burgers. Beth is less-than-pleased at being the subject of indirect digs over the state of her garden - at least compared to Colin's - which boil over when the lack of a clean barbecue becomes apparent, and the suggestion Ian and Gordon - who arrive from Loch Lomond where nuptials were taking place - have their wedding in his back garden.
41	–	"Christmas Special"^[13]	Ben Gosling Fuller	Simon Carlyle & Gregor Sharp	23 December 2022 (2022-12-23) (BBC1)	2.8^[g]^[15]
Christine shocks Beth and Eric when, holing up at coffee shop to take a break from Christmas shopping, she uses her unexpectedly engorged surfeit of loyalty card points to treat them all to a coffee and a ciabatta each. Her unusual generosity is also taken with surprise by Colin, Anne-Marie, Ian and Gordon, who arrive in from the snow, but is left feeling forlorn when she is informed of all their Christmas plans, while she dreads having to try and enjoy the festivities at home alone. Michelle joins - harried from Alan's treks up and down the cold Scottish streets to retrieve his mislaid wallet - and the Christmas feeling steps up a gear as crackers are brought out, jokes are told, and a band pulls up outside to enhance the seasonal feeling, with Christine not entirely convinced that the mini-Christmas they're all having together can really make up for one with family. Final appearance of Anne-Marie

Series 7 (2023)

Recommission for a seventh series was confirmed by Elaine C. Smith in January,^[14] but not by the BBC until February. The series will comprise six episodes, filmed in summer 2023, and broadcast on BBC One in autumn 2023.^[15]

Filming began in mid-June,^[35][36] and it was confirmed that Doon Mackichan will reprise her role as Cathy after being absent from the show for the sixth series.^[37]

Production

The pilot episode was shot with all the crew and cast in a "cramped, medium-sized living room".^[1] After the pilot was deemed successful, filming was moved to purpose-built sets in Dumbarton.^[1] Filming for the first series took place in the late summer and autumn of 2015.^[38][39]

Exterior scenes were filmed in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire; these were moved to Avonbrae Crescent in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, from series 4.^[40]

Location filming for series 2 included Prestwick Airport and a local supermarket.^[41]

For the 2020 Christmas special, COVID-19 restrictions prompted changes to production, such as the entire cast and certain members of the crew isolating for two days prior to filming and doing so throughout the five-day shoot.^[42][43]

In episodes shot after the COVID-19 pandemic, Elaine C. Smith said that her weight loss during the lockdowns meant that for her role as Christine she now had to wear "a fat suit and a wig with no eyebrows".^[44]

Critical reception

Two Doors Down's initially mixed reception has grown more positive over the course of the show.

Writing for The Guardian, Ben Arnold said the first episode of the series was "a mundane set-up, not helped by a woeful lack of laughs,"^[45] sentiments he repeated upon reviewing the start of the second series.^[46] The Arts Desk wrote that the series "owes an awful lot to both Abigail’s Party and The Royle Family, as well as socially awkward characters from any number of sketch shows, with equally broadly defined characters – only without the bits that make you laugh out loud."^[47] Writing for Radio Times, David Butcher said "Sometimes Two Doors Down is so uneventful it almost vanishes" but called it a "nicely sour-edged sitcom".^[48] Conversely, The Guardian's Zoe Williams said, at the time of the first series, "this endearing ensemble BBC Comedy about a sort of Scottish neighbours has something-for-everyone humour,"^[49] with The Observer's Euan Ferguson writing, of the second series, that "[it] has it all. Wit, delight, long awkward silences, burps, bacon-farts."^[50]

A review of the series 3 opener by the i's Sarah Hughes noticed the "nice, dry one liners (most of them delivered by the estimable Elaine C Smith) and an expert ensemble cast, who manage to make you if not quite laugh out loud then at least gently smile in recognition,"^[51] shared by Chris Harvey of The Telegraph in his review, opining "Not all of the material was funny, but the acting carried it."^[52] With regards to series 4, The Herald's Alison Rowat commented that "the jokes ... are easier to see coming than before, but by this stage in the game the comedy is coming more from the characters than the situation".^[53]

Critical reaction to the 2020 special was overwhelmingly positive, with The Telegraph's Anita Singh calling it "one of the unsung gems of the festive season", saying it "takes a well-worn scenario ... and gives it some bite",^[54] and The Guardian's Rebecca Nicholson lauding praise on the cast, while noting that "for those of us missing family gatherings this year, this is an accurate re-enactment of some of its most awkward corners".^[55]

The series 5 opener received mixed reviews. Benji Wilson from The Telegraph, in a two-star review, claimed "[t]he storylines are so formulaic you're left wondering if this or that plot has already happened in the same episode, let alone in some other sitcom," but opined "[w]hat saves [the show] from the realms of utter dreck is the performances, which are the definition of making the best of a bad situation".^[56] The i's Ed Power awarded four stars, admitting the episode "coasted along on a script that was gently droll rather than madly hilarious" yet "care was taken not to look down on the characters or suggest suburban life was some sort of beige hell,"^[57] while, in a three-star review, The Times's Carol Midgley considered it "wasn't the funniest episode [she had] seen, but the writing is always tight and sharp" with "spot-on observations about the banal truths of normal life" and singled out Doon Mackichan and Elaine C. Smith as "consistently the funniest performers".^[58] The Christmas special's reviews skewed positive; The Telegraph's three-star review from Michael Hogan said that while "[the show] won't win any awards for originality", the episode was "a wryly witty treat which captured the claustrophobic domesticity of Christmas" with "its endearing warmth and estimable ensemble cast",^[59] with a four-star review from Radio Times's Huw Fullerton observing that "[t]he joy of Two Doors Down is that you can more or less predict what comes next [...] but the way the familiar beats develop is still laugh-out-loud funny, believable and even (in certain moments) a little bit festive," concluding it was "simple but well-observed character comedy".^[60]

The opening episode of series six had a mixed reaction, particularly regarding the loss of the character of Cathy. Benji Wilson, in a two-star review for The Telegraph, saying "Doon Mackichan was the funniest thing in Two Doors Down" and that "without her it lagged horribly", also opining that it would be "fine to remove her for a single episode in which her absence remains the main story, but for the balance of the show – for the jokes, frankly – she needs replacing, fast."^[61] Gerald Gilbert's three-star review for the i was less critical, and approved of Cathy's removal, stating that the character "regularly dominated a comedy that works better on more understated rhythms". Gilbert went on to praise the writing, saying a strength of it was that "it touches on the uncomfortable truth that many of us barely tolerate our supposed friends and neighbours", and "the gags are generally well-worked ... and expertly delivered".^[62] Alison Rowat, in The Herald, awarded the episode four stars, commenting that "[w]hen it comes to verbal riffs, writers Simon Carlyle and Gregor Sharp continue to be the closest thing Scotland has to Victoria Wood", and that a "superb cast take care of the rest", concluding that the show "is going to be just fine without ... what was her name again?"^[63]

Home media release

All series and episodes of Two Doors Down have been made available on DVD.

DVD title		No. of discs	Special features	No. of episodes	Release date
	Series 1	2	Includes 2013 pilot	6	16 May 2016
	Series 2	1	Outtakes, Quick-fire questions	6	23 January 2017
	Series 3	1		6 (+ 2017 Christmas special)	19 March 2018
	Series 1-3	4	As above	18 (+ original pilot and 2017 Christmas special)	1 October 2018
	Series 4	1		6	4 March 2019
	Series 5	2		6 (+ 2020 and 2021 Christmas specials)	8 August 2022
	Series 6	1		6 (+ 2022 Christmas special)	16 January 2023^[64]

References

1. Series was aired in two halves; the second half (episodes 4-6) was released on BBC iPlayer on 12 July 2022, following the linear broadcast of episode 3.
2. Entire series, excluding Christmas special, was released on BBC iPlayer on this date.
3. Not reported in the weekly top 15 programmes for four-screen viewer ratings.
4. Did not rank in the top 50 programmes on UK TV that week.
5. Did not appear in Top 50 programmes across UK TV that week, nor the Top 50 accidentally published that did not include BBC1 programmes.^[33]
6. Did not appear in Top 50 programmes across UK TV that week, nor the Top 50 accidentally published that did not include BBC1 programmes.^[34]
7. "across 30 days on all screens"

1. Spowart, Nan (28 March 2016). "Hit comedy Two Doors Down is back after winning fans on both sides of the Border". thenational.scot. The National. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
2. English, Paul (28 December 2014). "Scottish TV comedy Two Doors Down, filmed as a one-off pilot, is to be made into a series next year". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
3. "BBC Two 'plans second series for Two Doors Down' after ratings success". Express. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
4. Guide, British Comedy (19 October 2017). "Two Doors Down to return with cast changes". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
5. "Two Doors Down to return for Series 5". British Comedy Guide. June 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
6. "Interview: Jonathan Watson on the last ever Only an Excuse?". The Scotsman. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
7. Fulton, Rick (26 August 2020). "Arabella Weir confirms shooting for new series of Two Doors Down to start soon". Daily Record. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
8. "Two Doors Down - Brother Michael". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
9. BBC (March 2022). BBC ANNUAL PLAN 2022/23 (PDF) (Report). p. 36. Retrieved 6 July 2022. In comedy, Two Doors Down returns with two series broadcasting this year
10. Richardson, Jay (20 July 2022). "Two Doors Down returning for sixth series and Christmas special". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
11. "Merry and Bright! BBC Studios' Two Doors Down confirmed for 6th series and Christmas special in 2022". BBC Media Centre. 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
12. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Macaroni". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
13. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, 2022 Christmas Special". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
14. Smith, Paul T (31 January 2023). "Elaine C. Smith tells fans Two Doors Down will return for new series". The Daily Record. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
15. "Two Doors Down commissioned for seventh series and will move next door to BBC One". BBC Media Centre. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
16. "Two Doors Down - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
17. "BBC Scotland – Why Two Doors Down is Britain's best-kept sitcom secret". BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
18. "Weekly top 30 programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.
19. "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
20. Rudden, Liam (20 February 2020). "Rab C Nesbitt and Two Doors Down star Elaine C Smith recalls her days teaching drama in Edinburgh ahead of new play at the Lyceum". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
21. "BBCScotlandComms - "📽️🎬 What a Joy! Filming is underway on a new series of #TwoDoorsDown Catch Michelle (Joy McAvoy) and Alan (Graeme Stevely aka @gradowrestling ) and the rest of TDD cast back on screen later this year 🎉"". Twitter. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
22. Fotheringham that, Ann. "Two Doors Down: Actor Alex Norton talks about the new series". The National. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
23. McAvoy, Joy [@joyjoymcavoy] (10 February 2022). "This past week has been a lot of fun!! We finally got back into the studio to film the wee bits and pieces of episodes needed to complete series 5 of Two Doors Down". Retrieved 31 March 2022 – via Instagram.
24. "Two Doors Down - Girls' Night". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
25. "Two Doors Down - Doughnuts". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
26. "Two Doors Down - Amalfi Friends". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
27. "Two Doors Down - Beth's Flu". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
28. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Alan's Boot". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
29. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Dinner for Seven". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
30. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Christine 69". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
31. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Aussie Holiday". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
32. "BBC Two - Two Doors Down, Series 6, Garden Party". BBC Programmes. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
33. "BARB removal of BBC1 data - week beginning 14th November 2022". Imgur. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
34. "BARB removal of BBC1 data - week beginning 28th November 2022". Imgur. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
35. Mitchell, Nicole (13 June 2023). "Filming begins for seventh series of BBC comedy Two Doors Down". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
36. Buchan, Sophie (13 June 2023). "BBC's Two Doors Down series 7 begins filming begins as Elaine C Smith tells fans 'we're back'". GlasgowLive. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
37. "Doon Mackichan returns to Two Doors Down". BBC Media Centre. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
38. "Two Doors Down welcomes new cast members as filming begins". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
39. "Lots to laugh about - bumper collection of comedy from BBC Scotland". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
40. Bartyneck, Shirley (18 January 2019). "Popular BBC series Two Doors Down films in Hamilton". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
41. Smith, Kenny (17 August 2016). "BBC comedy film crew transforms Prestwick Airport to shoot new series". Daily Record. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
42. Swarbrick, Susan. "Two Doors Down Christmas special: Jonathan Watson and Doon Mackichan". The Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
43. Scougall, Murray. "Big interview: Two Door's Doon [sic] star Doon Mackichan takes the plunge to banish the winter blues with a little festive fun". The Sunday Post. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
44. "Elaine C Smith on Paul O'Grady, Two Doors Down and her Corrie dream". STV News. 27 May 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
45. Mueller, Andrew; Robinson, John; Verdier, Hannah; Arnold, Ben (April 2016). "Friday's best TV: Easter 1916: The Enemy Files, Billy Connolly's Tracks Across America and Boomers". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
46. Gibbings-Jones, Mark; Robinson, John; Seale, Jack; Virtue, Graeme; Harrison, Phil; Wright, Jonathan; Arnold, Ben; Howlett, Paul (21 November 2016). "Monday's best TV: The Last Miners; Back in Time for Brixton; Our Guy in China". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
47. "Two Doors Down, BBC Two". The Arts Desk. 2 April 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
48. "Two Doors Down Series 2-Episode 2". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
49. "Doon Mackichan: 'We were sexy, funny women – perhaps that was a bit much' | Television & radio". The Guardian. 13 March 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
50. "https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/two_doors_down/press/
51. Hughes, Sarah (29 January 2018). "Two Doors Down: Doon Mackichan steals the show in this Burns Night horror". The i. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
52. Harvey, Chris (29 January 2018). "Two Doors Down is fun with a strong cast, no wonder it keeps being commissioned - review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
53. Rowat, Alison. "TV Review: Two Doors Down". The Herald. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
54. Singh, Anita (28 December 2020). "Two Doors Down: Christmas Special, review: what a treat – a sitcom that is actually funny". The Telegraph. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
55. Nicholson, Rebecca (28 December 2020). "Two Doors Down review – a painfully funny portrait of a Covid Christmas". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
56. Wilson, Benji (6 December 2021). "Two Doors Down, series 5 episode 1 review: yet another sitcom made from the same old ingredients". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
57. Power, Ed (6 December 2021). "Two Doors Down, BBC2, review: A droll send-up of suburbia without the snobbery". The i. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
58. Midgely, Carol. "Two Doors Down review — exploring the classier side of toilet humour". The Times. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
59. Hogan, Michael (20 December 2021). "Two Doors Down Christmas Special, review: comedy as awkward as Christmas with the neighbours". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
60. Fullerton, Huw. "Two Doors Down Christmas special review: A festive miracle". Radio Times. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
61. Wilson, Benji (9 November 2022). "Two Doors Down, review: this sitcom just isn't the same without Doon Mackichan". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
62. Gilbert, Gerard (9 November 2022). "Two Doors Down, BBC2, review: One of the last remaining sitcoms is just about hanging on". i. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
63. Rowat, Alison (9 November 2022). "Two Doors Down, BBC2, series six, episode one and iPlayer". The Herald. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
64. "Two Doors Down: Series 6". WHSmith. Retrieved 22 February 2022.

External links

 

Wikiquote has quotations related to Two Doors Down (TV series).

• Two Doors Down at BBC Online  
• Two Doors Down at IMDb
• Two Doors Down at British Comedy Guide
• Two Doors Down at epguides.com