Episode 4

Helen ropes Alex in as childcare-expert and nappy-changer when she’s forced to babysit her goddaughter for the day.

Friday night and Alex is at his latest temporary home – a one-bedroom rented flat of Stephens that he’s having redecorated.

Alex is webchatting with his kids when they accidentally reveal that their mum has a new boyfriend. When Helen shows up the next morning with her baby god-daughter, begging Alex to be chief baby-sitter for the day, he unexpectedly agrees, suggesting they all go to the park. In fact it’s a particular park which, as Helen discovers, is the park where Alex’s ex-wife and kids (and therefore new boyfriend) are likely to be found. But when his plan to spy on his kids’ new stepfather is rumbled, Alex relaxes and takes charge of Peta. Helen sees a new side to Alex – the responsible grown-up.

But their day of pretending to be co-parents is interrupted by a summons from Stephen to an emergency board-meeting that turns out to be a party he’s arranged because he’s feeling lonely.

Driving home, Helen asks Alex to move in to her spare-room. He’d love that. In fact if Helen’s out tomorrow could he cook lunch at her flat for Sarah and his kids? “There’s only so many times you can go to the zoo!”

At the zoo with Sarah, Alex’s kids ask him why their friend’s mum saw him hiding behind a tree spying on them with his girlfriend and a baby….   

First Played: Friday 6th March, 2009 – Channel 4 at 10pm (Channel 4+1 at 11pm)

Behind the Scenes Video 5

Cast and crew discuss keeping their energy levels up during the shoot.

Episode 3

Stephen makes Alex and Helen attend an agent’s funeral in order to steal his old friend/late colleagues clients.

Alex is still homeless. Helen finds him sleeping in his car one morning. And at work Alex’s day gets even worse: Stephen tells them his old friend and rival agent Charlie Renfrew has died. He wants all CMA Agents to attend the funeral. As a mark of respect. And to steal Renfrew’s clients.

Alex is deeply depressed that he?s about to become a professional grave-robber. Helen, however, enjoys buying a new hat for the funeral – on expenses – until Alex reminds her that this will be the first funeral she’s been to since Pete, her fiancé, died. Helen heads for the nearest off-licence.

Helen is still drunk that evening, having supper with Sophie – Pete’s sister – and her husband Malcolm. Sophie is a chippy control-freak and competitive-griever who has never liked Helen, but in an attempt to force a connection with her dead brother’s fiancé, she asks Helen to be godmother to her baby daughter. Who she’s named ‘Peta’. Or ‘Pete’ for short….   

At the funeral, Alex accidentally finds himself chatting up a successful young actor, then immediately antagonises him. while Helen drunkenly confronts the vicar about the ethics of being a godmother if you don’t actually believe in God. They both make a run for it…

First Played: Friday 27th February, 2009 – Channel 4 at 10pm (Channel 4+1 at 11pm)

Episode 2

Alex meets an old flame when Helen posts his details on a dating website called Boyfriends With Baggage.

It’s almost Valentines Day and Alex has decided it’s time for him to start dating again. Or rather Helen’s decided. She posts his details on a dating website. While opting out of Valentines herself by arranging something as unromantic as possible – to have dinner with her elderly accountant.

Alex says no to online dating, but one night lodging with Stephen is enough to convince him he better find a girlfriend to move in with ASAP. He rings Helen for his password, she’s secretly logged into his account having a snoop but quickly logs off, and he discovers a drunken video-message from Sarah Stephens, an old girlfriend.

Meanwhile Stephen has fallen in love, and asks Helen’s advice on how to give up his lecherous ways. But come Valentine’s Night, Stephen quickly becomes aroused as a side effect of being emotionally open; prompting him to ask his beloved to do something disgusting.

And Helen’s night doesn’t turn out as planned when her accountant sends Raz his very good-looking – but gay – deputy instead. And Sarah turns out to be funny and attractive. Alex is seeing her again the following week…..

First Played: Friday 20th February, 2009 – Channel 4 at 10pm (Channel 4+1 at 11pm)

Behind the Scenes Video 4

Costume Designer Rosa Dias discusses finding the look of the characters for Free Agents.

Behind the Scenes Video 3

Writer Chris Niel introduces a video blog about the casting process of Free Agents.