Just a Gigolo is a 7-episode 1993 British sitcom made for ITV. It follows former primary school teacher Nick Brim (Tony Slattery) as he is pushed into becoming a gigolo by his younger brother Simon (Paul Bigley). During his foray into this, however, he begins to gain feelings for a woman named Natalie (Rowena King). Thus, he tries to keep his love life with her separate from his career as a gigolo.
Tropes in this series:
- Accidental Misnaming: One of the people at the Dole Office calls Nick Brim "Brian" instead. Unfortunately, when Nick corrects him, he has to go get his papers all over again. By the time Nick leaves, they have become convinced that he's called Nicola McBroom.
- Ambiguous Ending: It's left unclear whether Nick has finally decided to be frank with Natalie and tell her his profession at the very end of the series as it cuts to the endboard before he can say the word "gigolo" - for all we know, he could have said another profession.
- Ancestral Name: In Episode 4, Nick goes out with a woman called Naomi Foreman. Apparently, she's the ninth in her line, with even the boys in her family being called Naomi.
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Nick has a tendency to become exacerbated by his younger brother Simon's antics.
- The Big Damn Kiss: At the end of the series, Nick and Natalie's date gets ruined by Simon. After trying to explain it all, Nick just gives up and gets into a big snog with Natalie that lasts for about a minute.
- Bill... Bill... Junk... Bill...: Episode 2 starts with Nick going through his bills:Nick: Bill, Bill, Job Rejection, Job Rejection, Bill, Job Re— no, hang on, that's a bill. Job Rejection, Bill, Bill, Bill, no, here, what's this? Free sample of bikini line depilatory cream.
- British Brevity: Despite good reviews, only seven episodes were ever made.
- Cardboard Pal: In episode 2, Simon shows up with a cardboard cutout of a woman. Nick naturally mocks him for it, not helped by the fact that Simon is kissing the cutout, but Simon tries to argue that he intends to use the cutout for making money. Nick ends up destroying it after he finds that Simon had set up a gigolo date using their dole money. Unluckily for him, Simon has another.
- "Do It Yourself" Theme Tune: The theme song was performed by main star Tony Slattery.
- Fictional Document: Simon reads a book called A Lust for Passion by Jackie Gold at the start of Episode 3. Apparently, it has sold around 20 million copies and has a bit of a ridiculous plot.
- Freeze-Frame Ending:
- Episode 4 ends on a freeze frame of Nick opening a packet of crisps in surprise after the telephone rings again.
- Episode 6 also ends on a freeze frame of Nick about to charge after Simon after a date gone wrong.
- Fun Personified: Bibi, Nick's date in Episode 3, is a fun-loving woman who wants nothing more than to play pranks on people. However, it's implied that this nature has led to her burning through a lot of husbands, and Nick himself gets anxious to get away from her.
- Head Desk: Upon realizing that he's forgotten to put letters in the envelopes during his envelope-licking job, Nick dramatically bangs his head against the desk.
- Interrupted by the End: The final moment of the series has Natalie realize that she doesn't know what Nick does for a living. He's about to explain, but is cut off by the endboard before he can say the word "gigolo" (presumably - the series wasn't picked up for a second one).
- Nervous Wreck: Mrs. Morgan, the date who Nick briefly pairs up with in episode 5. Apparently, she has a fear of electricity, gas, Formica, dogs, and handbags and is such a wreck she hasn't spoken to anyone in over 2 months.
- Pie in the Face: Nick gets one such pie to the face courtesy of the fun-loving prankster Bibi in Episode 3.
- Relatively Flimsy Excuse: A minor Running Gag is Nick passing off his gigolo dates as relatives of his to Natalie. For instance, Carol, his date from Episode 2, is passed off as his sister whilst Bebe, his date from Episode 3, is passed off by his aunt.
- Running Gag: Whenever Nick usually thinks about Natalie, it always cuts to the exact same shot of her face against a white background with very heavenly music playing before abruptly stopping afterward.
- Show Within a Show: It's Outrageous, the show that Simon watches in Episode 4. Apparently, it features such stuff as people eating their own cars, honey spicing up sex life, and the possibility of meeting a Russian bride, a possibility which Simon attempts to achieve.
- Skeleton Key Card: Simon needs help with a dog in Episode 6, but the door is locked, so Nick uses Natalie's credit card to get in. Unfortunately for him, it ends up breaking in the door, so they just smash in through a window.
- Straight Woman: When compared to the women that Nick goes out with and even paired up with Nick and his brother, Natalie stands out in that she has no strange quirks whatsoever and is rather normal.
- Tempting Fate: When Nick ends up on TV in Episode 4, he fears that his hoped love interest, Natalie, and others would see him. Simon tries to reassure him that no one watches the show and the chances of that are remote. Just then, their mother, who has seen him on TV, rings up, leaving him very embarrassed.
- Will They or Won't They?: Natalie and Nick have this dynamic, with Nick's attempts to date her complicated by his gigolo double life. In the end, Nick does manage to get his Big Damn Kiss, although it is left ambiguous whether Natalie did discover his secret double life.
