"Actor: Mel Oxley"

• Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps - Series 1 and 2 | DVD | (18/08/2003) from £5.32   |  Saving you £19.67 (369.74%)   |  RRP £24.99

  Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps is the smuttier, stupider sitcom descendent of Men Behaving Badly, but lacks that show's charm and intelligence. The series tells the story of five twentysomethings--the loveable Johnny (The Royle Family's Ralf Little), his libidinous sidekick Gaz (Will Mellor), their long-suffering girlfriends Janet (Sheridan Smith) and Donna (Natalie Casey), and a token comedy-weirdo Louise (Kathryn Drysdale)--doing their best to fathom life's hardships through endless discussions about sex, booze and relationships. In trying to appeal to a "yoof" audience through the use of recognisable, everyday settings, Two Pints... eschews the tradition of focusing on a "situation" almost entirely; essentially consisting of a string of scenes in which the characters sit trading witless banter in a pub, then in a lounge, then in a kitchen and then in the pub again. As a result it can't punch in the same league as more sophisticated, dramatically satisfying and, frankly, funnier sitcoms such as The Office, Spaced or Black Books and feels more like a weak excuse for a series of toilet gags. On these terms, however, it is amusing if juvenile entertainment. In particular, Little's performance as Johnny, a confused child trapped in a man's body, provides both humour and a likable centre to the show. On the DVD: Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps on DVD has the complete first two series with has episode selection, scene selection and subtitles but no special features --Paul Philpott

• UFO - Series 1 | DVD | (18/03/2002) from £28.99   |  Saving you £21.00 (72.44%)   |  RRP £49.99

  UFO was Gerry Anderson's first live-action TV series after a decade of producing such children's animated classics as Stingray (1963) and Thunderbirds (1964). The premise of UFO, which ran for a single season of 26 episodes, was like a more serious version of Anderson's Captain Scarlet (1967)--in the near future of 1980 a hi-tech secret organisation, SHADO, waged covert war against mysterious alien attackers. Ed Bishop played the American head of SHADO--he had had previously featured in Captain Scarlet and Anderson's Doppelganger (1969)--though in all other respects this was a thoroughly British production. As with all Anderson series UFO evidenced remarkable technological inventiveness and groundbreaking production values, coupled with startling lapses in fundamental logic too numerous to list. Much more adult in story and content than earlier Anderson productions, and surprisingly dark with its pragmatic view of human nature and downbeat endings, the show now seems like a forerunner of The X Files and the equally short-lived Dark Skies (1996). Barry Gray's memorable theme and atmospheric music greatly enhanced the overall impact. Stylishly made, though terribly sexist by current standards and featuring eye-catching costumes more fitted for a camp fancy dress party than the front line of a futuristic war, this cult classic eventually evolved into Space 1999 (1975). On the DVD: this four-disc deluxe box features the first 13 episodes. The box set has five free postcards and a booklet offering interesting background on the programme. The first disc includes an alternate, more violent opening scene, while later discs feature text transcriptions and photographs from scenes cut due to TV running time restrictions. All discs provide extensive galleries of publicity and behind the scenes photos, as well as character profiles or a history of SHADO. The opening episode, "Identified", features a commentary by Gerry Anderson, in which he talks in general about the production of the series and Ed Bishop does the same for the episode "Sub Smash". From the animated menus onwards these DVDs have been beautifully designed and produced. The mono sound is exceptionally strong and the restored and remastered picture is almost unbelievably good for a 1970 TV show. With barely a flaw anywhere the episodes look so clear, colourful and detailed that they could have been filmed last week. --Gary S Dalkin

• Sam - Series 3 - Part 3 | DVD | (07/08/2006) from £N/A   |  Saving you £N/A (N/A%)   |  RRP £19.99

  An investigation is called for when a mysterious visitor is crushed to death at Plummer And Sons.

• UFO - Vols. 5 To 8 | DVD | (10/06/2002) from £27.99   |  Saving you £22.00 (78.60%)   |  RRP £49.99

  The complete second season of Gerry Anderson's classic sci-fi serial. The operatives of the secret Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation (S.H.A.D.O.) defend the earth from extra-terrestrials who are abducting humans to obtain their organs which can be transplanted into their own bodies... Episodes include: Confetti Check A-O-K E.S.P. Kill Straker Sub-smash The Sound Of Silence The Cat With Ten Lives Destruction The Man Who Came Back The Psychobombs Reflections In The Water

• Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps - Series 1 To 4 | DVD | (24/10/2005) from £29.99   |  Saving you £20.00 (66.69%)   |  RRP £49.99

  Two Pints of Lager And a Packet of Crisps is a sitcom set in Runcorn centering around the lives of five nineteen/twenty year-olds. This 5 Disc Box Set features all the episodes from series 1-4. Series 1 - Episodes: 1. Fags Shags and Kebabs 2. Spunk 3. Bone with the Wind 4. Angry Wangry 5. Lard 6. Ugly Babies Series 2 - Episodes: 1. On the Blob 2. Bungle 3. Dirty Girls 4. Vomit 5. Crusty Curtains 6. Mo Mo And Pigsy Series 3 - Episodes: