Drama to dye for
MARION MCMULLEN recalls how Cutting It launched big names and brought us hairdryers at dawn 20 years ago
EVERYONE was eager to make an appointment to see the BBC’S sharp new romantic drama Cutting It 20 years ago.
It was an early vehicle for stars Amanda Holden, Sarah Parish, Ben Daniels, Jason Merrells, and Angela Griffin, and left a strong impression on fans with its razor-sharp depiction of personal and professional rivalries.
It centred on the ups and downs of the lives of the staff of two hairdressing and beauty salons in Manchester.
The Henshall Ferraday salon was run by husband and wife Allie and Gavin (Sarah Parish and Jason Merrells), but their lives were turned upside down when Allie’s handsome ex Finn Bevan (Ben Daniels) and his glamorous but devious new wife Mia (Amanda Holden) opened up a rival salon called Blade Runner across the street from them.
Jason Merrells visited salons in London and Manchester as part of research for his part and also underwent a week’s intensive training with top stylist John Neale.
Cutting It launched on April 16, 2002 and the rivalry between the two couples played out across four thrilling, tense and addictive series before the salon closed its doors in the series finale in 2005, after 25 episodes.
Every series in now available on BBC iplayer and is attracting a new generation of viewers.
The cast members have all gone on to carve out high-profile careers. Amanda Holden is best known these days for Britain’s Got Talent, Sarah Parish has featured in Doctor Who, W1A and Broadchurch, Ben Daniels has starred in House Of Cards and as Lord Snowdon in The Crown, while both Jason Merrells and Angela Griffin went on to star in the hit BBC school series Waterloo Road.