Clocking Off

How much do you know about the person working next to you?

From the outside, life at Mackintosh Textiles appears to run smoothly, but in a community with so many secrets to hide, things are far from straightforward.

In six powerful, self-contained dramas, everyday life is fractured by tumultuous marriages, snatched passions, disappearing husbands and gang harassment.

Production Credits
Written by Paul Abbott

Directors
John Strickland (Eps 1 & 3)
Geoffrey Sax (Eps 2 & 4)
Sarah Harding (Eps 5 & 6)

Producer Annie Harrison-Baxter

Set in the North West of England, Clocking Off is a witty, warm and stylish drama focusing on the lives of the employees at Mackintosh Textiles. It is written by Paul Abbott, BAFTA and RTS award-winning creator of Reckless and Touching Evil.

As the series uncovers the private lives of the bosses and workers, loveless marriages, disappearing husbands, bungled arson attempts, infidelity, gang harassment and plastic surgery all fuel the rumour machines at the factory.

Each episode of Clocking Off focuses on different members of the work force, from Mack, the charismatic owner, and his indispensable secretary, Trudy, to KT, the lowliest worker on the shop floor and Katherine, Mack's stunning young wife, who holds the key both to his happiness and his downfall.

Paul Abbott explains, "The mechanism of the factory is not what I started to write about. We cherry-picked the best stories to pull out of that environment. I didn't want to write an anthology series. The binding element is just working life - we've all got jobs, we all work with a number of people. It could have been set anywhere. It's an arena for stories. The factory is a sanctuary for the workers, away from their dramatic personal lives.

"It is not an issue-based piece, it's about relationships. I'm happier with stories about ordinary people. I think they make for more interesting television. I enjoy comedy and I enjoy hard-line drama and I love putting them side-by-side."