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Coupling

TV SERIES · 2000–2004 · UK

Coupling

Created by
Steven Moffat
Network
BBC Two
Seasons
4
Episodes
28
Studio
Hartswood Films, BBC Studios

58 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026

Six friends in their thirties navigate dating, sexual adventures, and mishaps on their quest to find love.

  • Coupling — production image

58 Interesting Facts About Coupling

Interesting Facts (14)

  1. #001

    Ben Miles, who played Patrick, insisted that his character drink Guinness because faking it in the studio was impossible.

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  2. #002

    The main characters were named Steve and Susan after writer Steven Moffat and producer Sue Vertue, who are married.

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  3. #003

    Although some scenes were filmed away from the studio audience (for example, the nude scenes and exteriors), no canned laughter is used. The scenes are played on a monitor for the studio audience and their reactions are genuine.

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  4. #004

    Every episode of the series contains the word "breast" or "breasts."

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  5. #005

    Richard Coyle (Jeff) chose not to return to the series for the fourth season. Coyle was afraid of being typecast as Jeff and wanted to explore other roles. He was replaced by Richard Mylan as Oliver, the nervous comic book store owner who pursues Jane. Jeff was played by a different person in the final episode when he "returns."

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  6. #006

    Although the subject is never raised in the series, Steve is a professional writer. The character of Steve is based on the series' writer, Steven Moffat.

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  7. #007

    Jack Davenport (Steve) chose the theme song "Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps."

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  8. #008

    To accommodate the fact that Kate Isitt had just had a baby and was therefore not always available, much of the third season's early episodes had to be filmed out of order.

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  9. #009

    In the episode "My Dinner in Hell" (2001), Jane (Gina Bellman) tries to become friends with Mariella Frostrup. In real life, the two are actually close friends.

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  10. #010

    From the first broadcast of the season 3 finale, in which Susan learns she is pregnant, to the broadcast of the series finale, when she has had the baby, 19 months and 10 days passed.

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  11. #011

    After the fourth season aired, the BBC expressed interest in a fifth season. However, Steven Moffat's commitment to Doctor Who (2005) and the unavailability of the main cast prevented it. While it is true that cast availability was indeed a problem, Steven Moffat's commitment to Doctor Who (2005) amounted to writing only two scripts; in addition, more than a year passed between the end of the fourth season and the start of the revived Doctor Who (2005), so Steven Moffat's availability was not an issue and played no part in the absence of a fifth season.

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  12. #012

    At the start of production, all of the season's exterior scenes were always filmed first. Because Steven Moffat made a habit of delivering the last few scripts of each season late in the production process, these episodes were deliberately written to take place entirely indoors.

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  13. #013

    The series drew so much inspiration from Moffat's relationship with producer Sue Vertue that two characters were named after them. Coupling (2000) is an example of the "group genre," a type of ensemble show that had by then proven popular. Critics compared the series to the American sitcoms Friends (1994) and Seinfeld (1989).

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  14. #014

    While the other five actors were born in England, Gina Bellman (Jane) was born in New Zealand and Richard Mylan (Oliver) was born in Wales.

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Production Story (20)

  1. #015

    NBC's adaptation of the series was considered such a certainty that when the second season of the original UK version was released on DVD in the US, it carried a sticker reading "The original UK version of NBC's hit series SMASH!" Unfortunately, the DVD came out the same week the US version was cancelled.

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  2. #016

    In season 4, during the usual madness, Steve says that such things do not happen: "This isn't an American sitcom." In fact, there was an extremely short-lived American version of the series (Coupling (2003)) that was hated by both viewers and critics, leading to the production being cancelled after only four episodes.

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  3. #017

    Ben Miles (Patrick) insisted that his character drink Guinness because it was impossible to fake on the studio floor.

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  4. #018

    Although some scenes (such as the nude scenes and exteriors) were filmed without a studio audience, no 'canned laughter' is ever used. The scenes are shown to the studio audience on monitors and their reactions are genuine.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  5. #019

    Most of the first episodes of the third season had to be filmed out of order because Kate Isitt had just given birth and was not always available.

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  6. #020

    Director Martin Dennis performs most of the voice-overs required for the series. A few notable exceptions: 'The Melty Man' (voiced by Richard Coyle) and the radio announcer who introduces Jane in the episode 'Jane and the Truth Snake' (Ben Miles).

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  7. #021

    A season's exterior scenes were always filmed first, at the start of production. Because Steven Moffat habitually delivered the last few scripts of each season late, these episodes were written to take place entirely indoors.

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  8. #022

    When Richard Coyle auditioned for the role of Jeff, he spoke in a Welsh accent. The character was not actually written as Welsh, but the producers liked it and hired him. Until the middle of the second season, they did not realize that Coyle was not actually Welsh and was only imitating the accent for the series. When Welsh actor Richard Mylan was cast as Oliver, he had to suppress his own accent to make the character more distinct from Jeff.

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  9. #023

    Richard Coyle (Jeff) chose not to return to the series for the fourth season. Coyle was afraid of being typecast as Jeff and wanted to explore different roles. He was replaced by Richard Mylan as Oliver, a nervous comic book shop owner who pursues Jane. Jeff 'returns' in the finale, played by a different actor.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  10. #024

    In the episode My Dinner in Hell (2001), Jane (Gina Bellman) tries to befriend Mariella Frostrup. In real life, the two are close friends.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  11. #025

    While the other five cast members were born in England, Gina Bellman (Jane) was born in New Zealand and Richard Mylan (Oliver) in Wales.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  12. #026

    NBC's adaptation of Coupling was considered such a surefire hit that when the original British version of the second season was released on DVD in the US, it carried a sticker reading 'The original British version of NBC's smash hit!' Unfortunately, the DVD came out the same week the US version was cancelled.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  13. #027

    The main characters Steve and Susan take their names from writer Steven Moffat and producer Sue Vertue (a married couple). The series was inspired by Moffat's relationship with Vertue, to the point that they gave the two characters their own names.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  14. #028

    Susan often enters a scene saying, 'Sorry I'm late.' According to Steven Moffat, this is a nod to producer Sue Vertue, who was often late.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  15. #029

    Although it is never mentioned in the series, Steve is a professional writer. The character of Steve is based on the series' writer, Steven Moffat.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  16. #030

    In season 4, during one of the usual madcap moments, Steve says that such things do not happen because 'this isn't an American sitcom.' In fact, there was an extremely short-lived American version of the series (Coupling (2003)), which was met with hatred by viewers and critics and was cancelled after only four episodes.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  17. #031

    After season 4 aired, the BBC showed interest in a season 5. However, Steven Moffat's commitment to Doctor Who (2005) and the unavailability of the main cast prevented it. While cast availability was indeed a problem, Moffat's Doctor Who commitment amounted to writing only two scripts; moreover, there was more than a year between the end of season 4 and the revival of Doctor Who, so Moffat's availability was not an issue and did not play a role in there being no season 5.

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  18. #032

    Every episode of the series contains the word 'breast' or 'breasts.'

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  19. #033

    In almost every episode there are references to science fiction films/series or to Doctor Who (2005); Steven Moffat later became the showrunner of Doctor Who in 2010.

    PRODUCTION STORY · SOURCED

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  20. #034

    Framed posters for the films The Procurer (1968), Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) and Espionage in Tangiers (1969) hang in Jeff's flat.

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Behind the Scenes (7)

  1. #035

    Ben Miles (Patrick) insisted that his character drink Guinness because it was impossible to fake on set.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

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  2. #036

    Although some scenes (such as nude scenes and exteriors) were shot without a studio audience, no 'canned laughter' is ever used. The scenes are shown to the studio audience on monitors and their reactions are genuine.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  3. #037

    Most of Steve's aggressive tirades were done in a single long take.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

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  4. #038

    Jack Davenport (Steve) chose 'Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps' as the theme song for the series.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

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  5. #039

    Most of the first episodes of the third season had to be shot unusually because Kate Isitt had just given birth and was not always available.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #040

    Director Martin Dennis performs most of the voice work required for the series. A few notable exceptions: 'The Melty Man' (voiced by Richard Coyle) and the radio announcer introducing Jane in the episode 'Jane and the Truth Snake' (Ben Miles).

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #041

    A season's exterior scenes were always shot first, at the beginning of production. Because Steven Moffat habitually delivered the last few scripts of each season late, these episodes were written to take place entirely indoors.

    BEHIND THE SCENES · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Characters & Cast (16)

  1. #042

    Richard Coyle spoke with a Welsh accent when he read for the role of Jeff. The character had not been written as Welsh, but the producers liked it and hired him. They did not realize until the second series that Coyle was not Welsh and was only putting the accent on for the show. When Welsh actor Richard Mylan was cast as Oliver, he had to hold back his accent so that the character would resemble Jeff less.

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  2. #043

    When Richard Coyle auditioned for the role of Jeff, he spoke with a Welsh accent. The character had not actually been written as Welsh, but the producers liked it and hired him. Until the middle of the second season, they did not realize that Coyle was not actually Welsh and was only imitating the accent for the series. When Welsh actor Richard Mylan was cast as Oliver, he had to suppress his own accent to make the character more distinct from Jeff.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

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  3. #044

    Most of the series' stars were the first people cast in their roles.

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  4. #045

    Richard Coyle (Jeff) chose not to return to the series for the fourth season. Coyle was afraid of being trapped in the role of Jeff and wanted to explore different roles. He was replaced by Richard Mylan as Oliver, a nervous comic book shop owner who pursues Jane. In the finale, Jeff 'returns,' played by a different actor.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  5. #046

    In the episode My Dinner in Hell (2001), Jane (Gina Bellman) tries to become friends with Mariella Frostrup. In real life, the two are close friends.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  6. #047

    While the other five actors were born in England, Gina Bellman (Jane) was born in New Zealand and Richard Mylan (Oliver) in Wales.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  7. #048

    NBC's adaptation of Coupling was considered such a surefire success that when the original UK version of the second season was released on DVD in the US, it carried a sticker reading 'The original UK version, NBC's smash hit!' Unfortunately, the DVD came out the same week the US version was cancelled.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  8. #049

    The main characters Steve and Susan take their names from writer Steven Moffat and producer Sue Vertue (a married couple). The series was inspired by Moffat's relationship with Vertue, to the extent that they gave the two characters their own names.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  9. #050

    Susan often enters a scene saying, 'Sorry I'm late.' According to Steven Moffat, this is a nod to producer Sue Vertue, who was frequently late.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  10. #051

    Although it is never mentioned in the series, Steve is a professional writer. The character Steve is based on the series' writer, Steven Moffat.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  11. #052

    In season 4, during one of the usual antics, Steve says such things don't happen because 'this isn't an American sitcom.' In fact, there was an extremely short-lived American version of the series (Coupling (2003)), which was met with hatred by viewers and critics and was cancelled after only four episodes.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  12. #053

    From the first broadcast of the season 3 finale (the episode in which Susan learns she is pregnant) to the broadcast of the series finale (the episode in which she gives birth), 19 months and 10 days passed.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  13. #054

    After season 4 aired, the BBC showed interest in a season 5. However, Steven Moffat's commitment to Doctor Who (2005) and the unavailability of the main cast prevented this. While cast availability was indeed an issue, Moffat's Doctor Who commitment consisted of writing only two scripts; moreover, there was more than a year between the end of season 4 and the revival of Doctor Who, so Moffat's availability was not a problem and did not play a role in the absence of a season 5.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  14. #055

    Every episode of the series includes the word 'breast' or 'breasts'.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  15. #056

    Almost every episode contains references to science fiction films/series or to Doctor Who (2005); Steven Moffat later became the showrunner of Doctor Who in 2010.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport
  16. #057

    Framed posters for The Procurer (1968), Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958) and Espionage in Tangiers (1969) hang in Jeff's flat.

    CHARACTERS & CAST · SOURCED

    ShareReport

Easter Eggs & References (1)

  1. #058

    Nearly every episode contains some reference to science fiction shows or films, or to Doctor Who (2005) (Steven Moffat later joined as showrunner in 2010).

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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

  • Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
  • IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

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