Taking a break from 'Alas Smith & Jones', Mel Smith decided to give sitcom a go. Paul Smith and Terry Kyan ( who provided sketches for him on 'Smith & Jones' ) fleshed out the premise which cast him as Colin Watkins, a struggling novelist whose mundane job answering the telephones in the British Rail complaints department drags him down no end.
Colin has an understanding girlfriend in the shape of Jenny, who does her best to keep him on the straight and narrow but also supports his dream. His mates include Des ( Mike Grady ), Trevor ( Tony Hasse ) and Graham ( Lee Cornes ) who are always seen leading him astray. His boss is Travers, a glum faced Scotsman who Colin strives to stand up to.
The premise was good. The thing is, it had already been done before, and much better, in BBC Scotland's 'City Lights' ( written by Bob Black ), which starred Gerard Kelly as a would-be writer who worked in a job he hated, in this case, as a bank clerk. Also, in my opinion, whilst Mel Smith was a talented comedian, he was not cut out to do a sitcom ( excepting guest appearances that is ). He was more suited to sketch comedy. Louisa Rix, who played Jenny, later played Kevin's mum in the Teenager Kevin sketches in 'Harry Enfield & Chums'.
'Colin's Sandwich' was popular enough to run to two seasons but today seems to be little remembered. One episode made for uncomfortable viewing in which the lead character believed he was suffering from a heart attack. This was how Mel Smith died in 2013.
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