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Chance in a Million is a British sitcom broadcast between 1984 and 1986, produced by Thames Television for Channel 4. The series was co-written by Andrew Norriss and Richard Fegen and starred Simon Callow and Brenda Blethyn. The producer and director of the series was Michael Mills.
1984
Shy librarian Alison Little arrives at a hotel to meet long-lost cousin Tom Cheyney. Eccentric, accident-prone Tom Chance turns up for a blind date with Alison Hughes but, due to misunderstanding, they end up with each other as Tom's clumsiness with a rowing oar knocks his date unconscious.
Alison's parents are not exactly warming to the notion of Tom after their daughter returns at three in the morning minus her dress. Tom returns it to her at the library but gets into a row with an aggressive Scotswoman who, due to another 'coincidence', believes he is the man who sold her son a duff car.
Tom believes he has had no post for six and a half weeks but in fact all his mail got stuck behind a heater and, as he has not paid his bills, tthe amenities are due to be cut off.
Tom is arranging a surprise birthday for Alison which includes a pillar box singing telegram that arrives seven hours early and an odd caterer who puts plastic insects in the food to spark off conversation.
Tom's bad luck affects Alison's visiting cousin Thomas.
Tom and Allison are now living together. On the day that Tom won a boat years ago—which was stolen the next day—it is returned by Corporal Browning, who drops in—literally.
Streaming availability information not available
1986
A Portuguese couple mistakenly arrive at Tom's, seeking hotel work. The language barrier is broken by Alison, who speaks fluent Portuguese, and the couple stays with them. Meanwhile, a taxman believes that Tom is well off despite having no income, and gives him an ultimatum: pay the bill or marry his daughter.
As Barbara's wedding approaches, chaos bounds on all fronts. Another bride, Penny, seeks help for her carriage horse but the vet is her ex, and she can't go through with her nuptials. Barbara's groom, Terence, is hospitalised by a fleeing horse.
Tom visits a garage, explaining truthfully that 'a buzzard has shattered my windscreen', unaware that this is the code for a courier to be given a consignment of heroin.
Another one of Tom's 'coincidences' brings him and Alison the spoils of a supermarket robbery and a jewel heist, a car identical to that of the criminals, and a stash of live ammunition.
By good old chance, Tom's luck changes as he keeps winning huge prizes.
Tom finds the paper's announcement of his wedding... in the obituaries! The widow, now convinced her beloved has survived, latches onto Tom.
Simon Callow
Tom Chance
Brenda Blethyn
Alison Little
1986
Elderly library patron Mr Hemstridge passes away, so Alison talks Tom into attending his funeral. There, the deceased's sister gifts Alison a gramophone, which is filled with not so wholesome content.
Alison is nervous about visiting Tom's relatives' country home, believing they are of higher class.
While Tom is away on a cricketing tour in Norway, Alison's parents take this opportunity to try and talk her out of the wedding.
With Tom still undecided as to whether he really wants to walk down the aisle with, he and Alison visit Reverend Dodge, not the most enthusiastic of vicars, to sort out the arrangements.
It is the day before Alison becomes Mrs Chance and she is very excited, Tom a little less so. They are preparing for the wedding rehearsal — but somehow it would seem that they have lost the best man,the bridesmaids and all the guests — not to mention the honeymoon tickets. And this is all before lunch!
Unaware that their guests – due to their misdirections – are stuck in the sewer, Tom and Alison have wedding eve celebrations. She dresses as a tart for a 'vicars and tarts' party and is arrested for soliciting when she goes into an off-licence.
