Drop Dead Gorgeous is a British dramedy television series created by Carmel Morgan and set in Runcorn, which tells the story of teenager Ashley Webb, whose life is turned upside-down when she is approached by a spotter from a local modelling agency.
The series originally premiered in the UK on BBC Three on 11 June, 2006. There are 10 episodes in two seasons to date.
Drop Dead Gorgeous premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Prime channel on Tuesday 1 April 2008, at 20h30. There are four hour-long episodes in the first season.
Repeats
Thursdays: 22h30
Synopsis
This comedy/drama is centred round Runcorn (in the north of England) and is home to the Webb family. They’re a modest living and working-class, but like many suburban families, appearances can be deceiving.
Mum, Pauline is seemingly happy with the hand she has been dealt. School dinner lady by day, door-to-door cosmetics agent by evening, and along with husband Terry, life and soul of the local pub by night.
They have a nice house, brilliant mates and a great family.
But all this changes when twin daughters Jade and Ashley are approached by a model scout - but it's not the beautiful Jade who gets the nod, it's geek goddess Ashley who is the chosen one.
Life for Ashley becomes increasingly exciting as she rapidly ascends in the glamorous, sophisticated world of modelling.
An endless, dizzy whirl of champagne and canapés, itineraries, sponsors, major fashion house contracts and massive pay packets might seem ever more irresistible, but is the inevitable emotional price she has to pay really worth the money and the fame?
The future of the Webb family is in jeopardy – it’s falling apart as a direct result of Ashley’s rise to stardom, helped along the way with hefty shoves from ‘Pushy Mum’ turned ‘Monster Agent’ Pauline and Ashley’s acid-queen agent Murray.
Sibling relations with green-eyed twin sister Jade are in tatters; entirely inappropriate relationships are spiralling out of control and long-suffering husband and Dad Terry - the supposed head of the family - is floundering, desperately trying to stop their old, happy life unravelling any further.
As well as working hard to stop his family and marriage falling apart, he’s having to force a brave face and solid front for best mate Tiggsy, whose continuing battle with cancer is taking its toll.
Meanwhile, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding chaos, younger brother Mikey and partner in crime Moonbase are showing off some impressive entrepreneurial skills by flogging Ashley’s underwear, whilst back in the school canteen at Runcorn Comprehensive, headmaster Howard has more than a twinkle in his eye for dinner lady Val.
As Murray’s marriage hits the rocks, a burgeoning relationship develops between himself, Nana Howard and Brutus the Chihuahua, with the mixture of Armani, acrylic cardies, sushi and steak & kidney pudding making for a surprisingly good partnership.