Fat Friends


Fat Friends is a British drama that aired on ITV from 12 October 2000 to 24 March 2005, consisting of 25 episodes over four series. Set in Leeds, the series explores the lives of several slimming club members, with a focus on the various ways their weight has impacted upon them.
The series was created by Kay Mellor and made by Rollem Productions in association with Tiger Aspect Productions and Yorkshire Television. Four of the cast — Ruth Jones, James Corden, Sheridan Smith and Alison Steadman — went on to appear in the sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

Premise

Fat Friends is set around a slimming club in the Headingley district of Leeds. The club is run by the formidable Carol, who fruitlessly tries to persuade the members of the group to follow the 'Super Slimmers' diet. The characters who attend the club are from varied backgrounds and of varied weight. Whilst some plots continue throughout all four series, each episode focuses on one particular character.

Main cast and characters

Ratings

Episode No.AirdateTotal ViewersITV Weekly Rank
1.112 October 200010,370,00013
1.219 October 20008,660,00016
1.326 October 20009,190,00016
1.42 November 20009,140,00015
1.59 November 20008,790,00016
1.616 November 20009,610,00016

Episode No.AirdateTotal ViewersITV Weekly Rank
2.15 September 20027,810,00016
2.212 September 20027,260,00014
2.319 September 20027,280,00012
2.426 September 20026,610,00016
2.53 October 20026,450,00018
2.610 October 20026,990,00015
2.717 October 20027,020,00016

Episode No.AirdateTotal ViewersITV Weekly Rank
3.11 January 20046,470,00023
3.27 January 20047,360,00019
3.314 January 20047,470,00018
3.421 January 20047,540,00017
3.528 January 20048,690,00022
3.64 February 20047,240,00022

Episode No.AirdateTotal ViewersITV Weekly Rank
4.117 February 20056,560,00018
4.224 February 20057,510,00015
4.33 March 20057,030,00019
4.410 March 20055,600,00020
4.517 March 20056,050,00020
4.624 March 20055,790,00019

Awards and nominations

Region 2
A VHS of the first series was released on 24 June 2002. The first three series of Fat Friends have been released on DVD in the United Kingdom via Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Region 1
A stage musical adaptation of the series directed and written by original creator, Kay Mellor, with music by Nicholas Lloyd Webber made its world premiere at the Grand Theatre in Leeds on 7 November 2017 before embarking on a UK tour, starring Jodie Prenger as Kelly Stevenson.