trailer: Sirens

Varie

Sirens, inspired by a book called Blood, Sweat and Tea written by Tom Reynolds, is a Channel 4 comedy drama set in Leeds. It explores love, friendship and family from the jaded perspective of a team of paramedics: the people who mop up the mess that we apes leave behind.
To the outside world Stuart, Ashley (is gay) and Rachid look like angels of mercy; to their colleagues, they’re a trio of pedantic know-alls; and to the career alcoholics and late night revelers on the swarming streets of Leeds, they’re nothing more than glorified taxi drivers with one drop-off point – Accident & Emergency.
Swept along by an endless tide of bodily fluids rarely their own, the trio bicker, fight and shag their way through the darkly funny maelstrom of their lives. Behind the uniforms, the sirens, and the incredibly fast driving, they are just three ordinary blokes trying to make it through yet another shift. But once they’ve finished saving other people’s lives, will they be able to salvage their own?

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‘His sexuality – that’s what interested me in the part,’ says Richard Madden. ‘He is gay and it is not an issue for him at all. He is gay with no problems or hang-ups about it at all. But he’s as straight as the other two in every other aspect, and these two push him on it just as straight men who don’t know much about the gay life.’

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Sunto degli episodi della prima stagione:

Ep. 1 – “Up, Horny, Down”

Stuart, Ashley and Rachid are three randy, maverick paramedics. After Stuart attempts open heart massage to save the female victim of a road traffic accident, the trio are sent to see therapist Kirsty Shelmerdine to treat any potential post traumatic stress. She tells them they will be subject to the classic syndrome of Up, Horny, Down where elation is followed by sexual desire, the satisfaction of which will lead to depression. Stuart refuses to give in to his basic emotions and tries his hardest not to give in to his horny side by staying with his police friend Maxine, but ends up insulting her and getting thrown out. Meanwhile, Rachid has sex with a lady barrister and Ashley has a bondage session with a man who ends up causing him trouble. Stuart is the only one of the three boys not to suffer from depression, which makes him ideal for talking a potential suicide down from a bridge. His day ends on a down note, however, and he returns to Maxine to apologize for his actions.

Ep. 2 – “Two Man Race”

Stuart, Rachid and Ashley find their male pride rattled by the lads from the local fire brigade. As the team make a drop-off in A&E, Stuart observes the waiting room is awash with the dregs of humanity and proclaims he’s proud that he is infertile. When Ashley and Rachid tease him that he’s not getting any anyway, he informs them that he has a date with Angie (Charlene McKenna), a student and eco-campaigner he met a few weeks back. As soon as he’s alone, Stuart digs out her number and quickly arranges the date. After a shaky start, things are going well with Angie, but Stuart seems to be behaving in a macho way that neither he nor his friends recognize.

Ep. 3 – “I.C.E”

The paramedics are called out to a young male in a student house who is suffering from drug-induced paranoia. When Rachid goes to talk with a neighbour, he comes across a scary ‘purple job’ – a suicide victim who has been dead for some time. The realisation that ‘Purple Phil’ (Felix Scott) wasn’t missed by anyone for a fortnight sets off an unlikely chain reaction for ladies’ man Rachid. Convinced he doesn’t want to meet his maker in similarly lonely circumstances, Rachid decides there is only one answer – he needs to settle down. Only thing is, he’s got to find the girl to do it with…

Ep. 4 – “King of the Jungle”

When Woodvine (Annie Hulle) threatens to split up the lads, Stuart’s promise that ‘his’ crew will up their game sparks an immediate challenge to his leadership from Rachid. Stuart may believe that the alpha male is the cleverest rather than strongest member of the pack, but will Rachid’s determination to prove him wrong cost him his crown? Meanwhile, Ashley has an alpha male secret of his own, while Maxine tries to bring out her feminine side to appeal to internet date Derek (Graham O’Mara).

Ep. 5 – “Stress”

Stuart is in denial about the stress of his job so he decides to focus on Maxine’s unsettled feelings about fireman Craig (Ben Batt), and how they’re threatening her chances of promotion. Although he attempts to find subtle ways to reassure Maxine that Craig is really into her, is Stuart really the right man to play Cupid? Will he end up creating more stress for both of them?

Ep. 6 – “Cry”

In the series finale, Stuart is confronted with a life and death situation, which hits closer to home than expected. Having spent the whole of his adult life trying to deny his true feelings, Stuart is going to need a special friend to help him through this troubling time. The question, when Maxine is so wrapped up in Craig, is who?
Meanwhile, Ashley is surprised to find he’s gained a live-in boyfriend, and Rachid’s future as a member of the crew suddenly doesn’t look so certain…