The lowdown:  The eight episodes of 'Posh Nosh' were broadcast on BBC2 between 4 February and 25 March 2003.
The series features Richard E. Grant and Arabella Weir as the Hon. Simon and Minty Marchmont, and is essentially
a parody of popular cooking shows of the time. Simon and Minty are both chefs and own an upmarket restaurant, The
Quill & Tassel.  Each episode features the couple preparing a different meal, such as architect's fish and chips, bread
and butter pudding or paella.  They often use ingredients that the average person could not afford, like Greek currants
specially flown from Greece.  As Minty notes in the first episode, they cook "extraordinary food for ordinary people".
Simon and Minty initially appear to be a happy couple, but as the series progresses it becomes increasingly apparent
that their marriage is strained, as they are always making snide remarks about each other. Simon's sexuality is also
open to question, as he is infatuated with his Spanish tennis coach, Jose Luis Hernandez (played by David Tennant).

Tennant made two appearances in the series, playing different characters. In episode three, which was broadcast on
25 March, Jose Luis has been invited to lunch with Simon and Minty at their country house, so they cook paella (with
Simon having to correct Minty on the correct pronunciation).  Jose Luis does not speak, but simply grips Simon in a
rather intimate way while Simon practices his tennis swing. Tennant returns in the final episode, with Simon mourning
the death of Jose-Luis, who fell off his motorbike while swerving to avoid a dog. As Simon notes, Jose Luis was much,
much more than just a tennis coach.  Simon and Minty cook organic spotted dick, as it is good to eat food you love
during times of grief. Meanwhile, Simon has vowed that he will never play tennis again, but Minty thinks he will change
his mind when he meets their dinner guest, a tennis pro called Piers (who remarkably looks just like Jose Luis). Again,
Tennant has only a very brief appearance, although this time he has a speaking role.

The verdict:  'Posh Nosh' is a very witty and entertaining show. Richard E. Grant and Arabella Weir are superbly cast
as Simon and Minty, and their frequent sniping at each other is a highlight of the series, as is the use of distinctly non-
cooking terminology such as "excite the chicken" and "embarassed mussels".

Video clips:   Jose Luis      3.0mb                 Piers      9.3mb
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