User:Kirsty Turkington/20 things to do before you're 30

20 things to do before you're 30 is a British television comedy drama created by Jane Fallon and Liz Lewen, produced by Tiger Aspect Productions and broadcast on Channel 4. The show only ran for one 8 episode series which was broadcast between 6 February 2003 and 27 March 2003. 20 things to do before you're 30 follows the lives of four office workers who, as they approach 30, create a list of things to do before then. Starring Matthew Horne as Conrad, Amanda Abbington as Shona, Georgia Mackenzie as Zoe, and Chris Polick as Dominic, the show is set primarily in a data processing office, the smoking area outside, the local pub and Shona and Conrad's shared flat.

Main Characters
Matthew Horne portrays Conrad- an insecure, bitchy, chain smoking, gay man who lives with his work colleague Shona. Many of the plots revolve around Conrad's obsession with masculinity.

Amanda Abbington portrays Shona, Conrad's flatmate and work colleague. Shona is feisty and very much an alpha female character. She has an ongoing battle with Nadia the receptionist and a love affair with her colleague Glen.

Georgia Makenzie portrays Zoe, the office manager of the other 3 main characters and friend. Zoe is often bullied at work either by the dinner lady or her friends. Zoe is often criticised for not having a backbone. She is divorced but continues to see her ex husband.

Chris Polick portrays Dominic - the only non smoking member of the group who frequently talks about sex and who's contributions to the list include "sleep with a married person" and "punch someone".

Other Characters
Stephanie Street portrays Nadia, the head receptionist. Nadia rarely does he job properly and often finds excuses not to preform tasks given to her by nemisis Shona.

Samantha Whittaker portrays Celia a receptionist who often finds herself trapped in Nadia and Shona's battles

James Murray portrays Glen a new worker who, on his first appearance, is fought over by Shona and Conrad. The theme of this episode is 'turning someone'. He subsequently starts a relationship with Shona. Glen comes accross as a grounded character.

Episode Synopsis
Episode 1 Episode 1 sees the office foursome discussing whether it's possible to turn someone from gay to straight or vice versa. They decide to put this on their list of things to do before they turn 30. The episode revolves around Conrad and Shona fighting over Glen and trying to figure out his sexuality. Meanwhile Dominic harasses the receptionists and tries to find a lesbian.

Episode 2 In Episode 2 Zoe decides that she should stand up for herself and Conrad becomes obsessed with being funny after Dominic tells him that gay people can't be funny. They decide to put these on their respective lists of things to do before they're 30. After a series of unsucessful practical jokes Conrad eventually takes a prank phonecall to far and puts a pregnant colleague into premature labour.

Episode 3 Conrad celebrates his 28th birthday in Episode 3. After recieving a couple of cliché presents (these include Barbara Streisand's beard from Yentl and the builder from YMCA's toolbelt) he decides that being more masculine should go on his list of things to do before he's 30.

Episode 4 In Episode 4 Shona, Dominic, and Zoe are astounded to learn that while Conrad found it easy to come out to his mum about his sexuality she still doesn't know he smokes, which he goes through great lengths to hide from her. The others decide that Conrad should tell his mother that he smokes as one of the things to do before he turns 30. The others go for a walk in the park to find a pub.

Episode 5 In Episode 5 Dominic becomes aware that he is the only one in the group who hasn't punched anyone. He decides that this should go on his list of things to do before he's 30. With his reputation at stake Dominic heads out looking for someone to punch. Much to the delight of the gang, Dominic ends up punching a woman, which he claims was in self-defence.

Episode 6 The ongoing battle between Shona and Nadia comes to head in Episode 6 when Shona decides to sack Nadia. However Shona is unable to sack Nadia as she isn't her boss. The group decide that firing someone should definitely go on their list of things to do before they turn 30. Conrad decides to hire a non English speaking elderly male immigrant as a house cleaner just to sack him. Conrad begins to feel guilty after the cleaner draws a picture of his family and what appears to be an elephant so he ends up keeping the cleaner on.

Episode 7 After breaking up with his girlfriend Katie and growing a beard Dominic decides that he should sleep with a married person before he turns 30. Meanwhile Conrad's cleaner finds a wedding ring in Conrad and Shona's flat. Conrad decides that it must be Glen's wedding ring, and that Glen is married. Shona is furious with both Conrad and Glen. Dominic, after failing to seduce a married woman from HR, shaves off his beard and proposes to his ex girlfriend.

Episode 8 The final episode starts of tense after the drama of the last one. Conrad decides that he wasnts to be a best man before he is thirty and puts that on his list. He then hassles Dominic and convinces him to let him be the best man at the wedding. It's decided that Shona will get to be the Usher. Zoe is not invited to the wedding as Dominic says it's close friends only. The pair get drunk and talk about her invite. They end up sleeping together. The Episode finishes with Zoe comparing all their lives to a piece of unwanted beetroot.