RELUCTANT PERSUADERS

Episode Synopses

 

Episode I – Lemon

Welcome to Hardacre’s, the worst advertising agency in London, and setting of Edward Rowett’s new series Reluctant Persuaders.

The agency is shaken by the arrival of a new accounts chief, Amanda Brook (Josie Lawrence), who is determined to rebrand and re-launch the agency as a legitimate business.

Inept creative team Joe and Teddy (Mathew Baynton and Rasmus Hardiker), two recent graduates who are still not entirely sure what it is they’re supposed to be doing, find themselves fighting to save their jobs and prove they are not quite as clueless as they appear.

Meanwhile, creative director and advertising legend Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers) is appalled to discover Amanda expects him to do slightly more than play golf and drink whisky all day.

And receptionist Laura (Olivia Nixon)…well, she doesn’t care what happens.

The team must work together as they head to the Advertise NOW! Awards, and find an answer to the question – how do you advertise yourself?

 

Cast:          Hardacre…………………. Nigel Havers

                   Joe…………………….Mathew Baynton

                   Amanda………………..Josie Lawrence

                   Teddy…………………Rasmus Hardiker

                   Laura…………………………Olivia Nixon

                   Guy…………………………Nicolas Burns

                   Sarah……………….. ……..Holly Morgan

                   Barman/Announcer……….Mark Evans

 

Episode II – We Try Harder

In Episode Two change is afoot at Hardacre’s, London’s worst advertising agency. New accounts chief Amanda Brook (Josie Lawrence) is well underway with her plans to turn the agency around, insisting they take any work they can get. Creative team Joe and Teddy (Mathew Baynton and Rasmus Hardiker) thus find themselves reduced to working on posters for industrial adhesives, cast iron stoves, and jewellery for dogs.

Horrified at seeing his name associated with such a low calibre of clients, creative director and advertising legend Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers) resolves to bring in a better class of account. He enlists Amanda’s help to chase down McCutcheon’s Whisky, a client he worked with many years earlier.

While Hardacre and Amanda head off, Joe and Teddy are left at the office determined to prove that they can design a poster, hire a plumber, and interview a client entirely unsupervised. Their jobs may just depend on it.

 

Cast:          Hardacre………………………………….. Nigel Havers

                   Joe……………………………………..Mathew Baynton

                   Amanda………………………………….Josie Lawrence

                   Teddy………………………………….Rasmus Hardiker

                   Laura and McCutcheon’s Assistant……Olivia Nixon

                   Jeremy, Pete and McCutcheon……Nick Mohammed

 

Episode III – The Best A Man Can Get

Things are getting desperate for the staff of Hardacre’s, London’s worst advertising agency. The work isn’t coming in, and accounts chief Amanda Brook (Josie Lawrence) finds herself reduced to pleading for the business of old friend/nemesis, India (Felicity Montagu).

Back at the office, hopeless creative team Joe and Teddy (Mathew Baynton and Rasmus Hardiker) devise a campaign for an anti-aging cream for men. Worse, they must grapple with the most difficult and least glamourous form of advertising of all – radio work.

They find themselves unexpectedly assisted by creative director Rupert Hardacre (Nigel Havers), who descends from on high at Amanda’s instruction to give the little people the benefit of his creative wisdom. The only trouble is, he seems to have forgotten most of it. Fortunately, he wrote it all down in a book, Hardacre On Advertising, and he sets out to find a copy for Joe and Teddy.

Cast:          Hardacre…………….Nigel Havers

                   Joe………………Mathew Baynton

                   Amanda…………..Josie Lawrence

                   Teddy……………Rasmus Hardiker

                   Laura…………………..Olivia Nixon

                   India……………..Felicity Montagu

                   Bookshop Assistant…Mark Evans

 

Episode IV – Vorsprung Durch Technik

In the final episode of the series of Reluctant Persuaders things are looking up for Hardacre’s. They may still be London’s worst ad agency, but business has begun to trickle in. Moreover, thanks to a herculean effort by accounts chief Amanda Brook (Josie Lawrence), the agency is to be featured in an article in industry bible Campaign; a chance to answer their critics and take control of their image. A reporter is coming by today to interview the team, and Amanda needs them at their very best. Or failing that, their least incompetent.

But the team has other things on their mind. Like Joe’s (Mathew Baynton) divorce lawyer, who seems to have developed a sideline as a blacksmith. Or their campaign for Hardacre’s (Nigel Havers) mysterious gentlemen’s club. Or why Teddy (Rasmus Hardiker) is covered in spiders.

Or what to do when the office lift breaks down, stranding Joe, Teddy, Amanda, and Hardacre between floors, with the woman from Campaign due any minute…

Cast:          Hardacre………………………Nigel Havers

                   Joe………………………..Mathew Baynton