Men Behaving Badly
Lager, telly and general laddishness
Men Behaving Badly is a British sitcom created and written by Simon Nye. First broadcast on ITV in 1992 before moving to BBC One in 1994, it chronicles the beer-soaked, immature lives of flatmates Gary Strang and Tony Smart as they dodge responsibility, watch television and generally disappoint their long-suffering partners, the sensible nurse Dorothy and the glamorous upstairs neighbour Deborah. A defining comedy of the 'new lad' era, it swapped its original flatmate Dermot, played by Harry Enfield, for Neil Morrissey's Tony from the second series onward. Across six series and the feature-length finale 'Last Orders', the show became a ratings juggernaut, with its 1998 send-off watched by 13.9 million viewers.
Start a quizAt a glance
- First aired
- 18 February 1992
- Last aired
- 28 December 1998
- Created by
- Simon Nye
- Channel
- ITV, then BBC One
- Series
- 6
- Episodes
- 42
- Set in
- A shared flat in London
- Quizzes
- 3
Men Behaving Badly quizzes
Lager, telly and bad behaviour. Test your knowledge of Gary, Tony and the gang.
Gary, Tony and the women who put up with them. How well do you know the lads and their flatmates?
The sofa, the lager and the big finale. Test your memory of the lads' most memorable moments.
Men Behaving Badly cast and characters
Gary Strang
Played by Martin Clunes
The immature thirty-something who owns the flat and manages a dead-end security equipment office staffed by two old-fashioned employees. He is in a long, on-off relationship with Dorothy.
Tony Smart
Played by Neil Morrissey
Gary's womanising flatmate from series two, who drifts from job to job after his record stall collapses and has musical ambitions beyond his talent. He is besotted with Deborah upstairs.
Dorothy
Played by Caroline Quentin
Gary's outspoken girlfriend, a nurse who despairs of his behaviour but always ends up back with him. She becomes close friends with Deborah.
Deborah
Played by Leslie Ash
The attractive neighbour in the flat upstairs and the object of Tony's devotion. Put off for years by his immaturity, she finally gets together with him in series six.
Dermot Povey
Played by Harry Enfield
Gary's original flatmate in series one, forever behind with the rent and hopelessly in love with Deborah. He leaves on a round-the-world motorbike trip.
Men Behaving Badly facts and FAQs
- When did Men Behaving Badly first air?
- Men Behaving Badly first aired on ITV on 18 February 1992. After two series on ITV it moved to BBC One in July 1994, and the final episode was shown on 28 December 1998.
- How many series (seasons) and episodes of Men Behaving Badly are there?
- There are 6 series and 42 episodes. That total includes the 1997 Christmas special and the three-part finale "Last Orders", shown at Christmas 1998.
- Who created and wrote Men Behaving Badly?
- Simon Nye created and wrote Men Behaving Badly, adapting it from his 1989 novel of the same name. It was produced by Beryl Vertue for Hartswood Films.
- Where was Men Behaving Badly filmed and where is it set?
- Studio scenes were recorded at Teddington Studios in south-west London, with location scenes shot around London. The show is set in and around Gary's flat in London, with Deborah in the flat upstairs and The Crown as the local pub.
- What is Men Behaving Badly about?
- Men Behaving Badly follows two beer-loving flatmates, Gary and Tony, who would rather watch television and talk about women than grow up. Dorothy and Deborah, the women in their lives, spend six series trying, and mostly failing, to get them to act their age.
- Why did Men Behaving Badly move from ITV to the BBC?
- Men Behaving Badly moved to the BBC because ITV dropped it after two series, judging a peak audience of seven million not enough. Producer Beryl Vertue took it to the BBC, where a later, post-watershed slot on BBC One turned it into a hit.
- Why did Harry Enfield leave Men Behaving Badly?
- Harry Enfield left after the first series in 1992, having felt out of place in the sitcom; producer Beryl Vertue has said he never intended to stay longer than one series. Neil Morrissey joined as Tony Smart from series two.
Awards and recognition
National Television Award for Most Popular Comedy (1995 and 1996)
RTS Award for Best Situation Comedy (1996)
British Comedy Award for Best ITV Comedy (1992)