![Jam and Jerusalem - Series 3 [DVD]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81ddEeEeCpL.jpg)
Set in the small West Country village of Clatterford St. Mary, Jam & Jerusalem centres on community life and the comical misadventures of the members of a local Women’s Guild. Written by Jennifer Saunders (Absolutely Fabulous, French & Saunders), this much-loved rural comedy stars some of the best-loved names in comedy including Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), Pauline McLynn (Father Ted), Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones' Diary) and David Mitchell (Peep Show). Sal Vine continues to build her new life, after the death of her husband. Her daughter has moved out, but only as far as the old van that is parked next to the house. In this series, Sal fights to save a piece of Clatterford history, a barn being renovated at the back of her house and enlists the help of the Guild in an effort to stop the development. She enjoys their full support, until Rosie discovers from the project manager Jock (Clive Russell) that the barn will be occupied by none other than Charles Dance. How could the Guild stand in the way of such an illustrious neighbour? Sal’s initially frosty relationship with Jock soon blossoms into something that could be love, while Kate and the Vicar also get closer and the Guild try desperately to get Charles Dance to be a guest speaker. Eileen is organising the biennial Guild Fashion Show, but Rosie goes missing with one of the outfits, as does the Vicar, along with the keys to the church - with the essential fashion show props inside. Kate Bales heads to the moor to hunt for him, and finds rather more than she bargained for... Spike and Tash are finally ready to travel the world in their converted mobile library, but a confusion with the gears leads to a call-out for the emergency services, and Sal's house ends up looking like a war zone. Jam & Jerusalem Series 3 takes an affectionate look at village life and the empathy and togetherness found in a local community where everyone knows everyone's business.
S**N
Great writing, great performances, great production
So basically great... but there's more.Jam and Jerusalem was poorly served by the BBC, an organisation evidently obsessing over ratings so failing to develop a show chock full of all the elements needed to establish a committed audience. And it strikes me that Jam and Jerusalem achieved something (alarmingly) rare on British television: it gave both audiences and actresses credible female characters whose lives developed in small, plausible ways. And the subject of the show seems equally rare: that is, it seems to me that Jam and Jerusalem is about the weird conflict between our daily 'local' lives and our still new world of (at least socially) larger geographic aspirations.OK, I've put that terribly. What I mean is that Jam and Jerusalem presented us with the vision of a small rural town at the turn of the new century; a town trying to make sense of change - whether that's the information economy, the lack of inward investment (the new housing scenario in the second season is hilarious and spot on), with the mighty rise of the barn conversion - where I live you can't move for the darn things (and if you think it's no big deal take a look at the 1970s TV show Survivors in which one character declares 'no one lives in a barn!') ... I could go on ...As for the performances, put simply these are some of the finest performances I've encountered on British television (and who knew Dawn French was this amazing actress just waiting to happen?)A genuine loss - I think Jennifer Saunders was right to criticize the BBC for this misguided decision.
S**S
A travesty if theres no more made
I really love this programme,its not a laugh a minute but I really care about these people.The acting is first rate every character is portrayed superbly,my own personal favourite being Jennifer Saunders as Caroline, who apart from co-writing stars in the series best episode when trying to host a dinner party,it will be a crying shame if there are to be no more episodes these ladies and a few gentlemen will be sorely missed,you don't seem to get such superbly written series very often,and I do so want to know what happens next.
J**.
Much-loved rural comedy...
Has some of the best-loved names in comedy including Sue Johnston (The Royle Family), Pauline McLynn (Father Ted), Dawn French (The Vicar of Dibley), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones' Diary) and David Mitchell (Peep Show).Written by Jennifer Saunders. This is a comic masterpiece of village life.I love it. Gentle, funny, revealing characters.Treat yourself.
J**N
Think again BBC!
The entire series of J&J repays viewing over and over to reveal its subtleties. I love it and wish the BBC would commission another series. I think this is the best thing Jennifer Saunders has written. The casting is superb. What more can I say? Except that I'm very very sad there is to be no more. What a lot of idiots at the BBC to neglect this very English gem. (They could've pensioned off Last of the Summer Wine years ago).
K**P
Very enjoyable but
I think I'm a bit more sensitive to over-acting nowadays!
E**R
Five Stars
Product was as stated and arrived on time.
L**O
Brilliant well observed, subtle humour
My whole family have loved every series of Jam and Jerusalem and the third series is great because we feel we know and love the characters by now. These are the sort of programmes that you never grow tired of watching over and over. In fact the more times you watch it the funnier it is, because you notice all the little subtle touches. Jennifer Saunders is such a clever writer and her cameo role in this programme shows what a brilliant actor she is particularly in a very emotional scene that moves me to tears every time.Shame they won't be making any more!
E**F
Jam and Jerusalem
I had never seen this programme before and bought the DVD for a friend, as she couldn't find it in this country. She passed it on to me after she had seen it and was very enthusiastic about the series, although I didn't think it was "my cup of tea". However, after a couple of episodes, and the characters became familiar to me, I thoroughly enjoyed this DVD and look forward to the repeat of the programme, which is very likely to happen. Outrageous performances by Dawn French and Joanna Lumley - how brave of them to appear so ghastly!!!
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