Original title
Timewasters
Released
10/9/2017
Origin country
GB
Genre
Comedy
Status
Returning series
Number of seasons
2
Number of episodes
12
A struggling four-piece South London jazz band find themselves transported back in time to the 1920s and 1950s via an elevator in a dilapidated block of flats. Met with stares and curiosity in the past, the group hilariously navigates the clash of cultures and social conventions all while exploring worlds that are both incredibly familiar and painfully foreign.
In season one, the band find themselves transported back in time to the 1920s. After their “time machine” is destroyed, the group quickly realise that being young and black in the Jazz Age is a lot more difficult and unpleasant than they had expected. The band must navigate the parties and pitfalls of the Roaring Twenties while searching for a way back home.
Nick is committed to his struggling jazz quartet despite the apathy of his sister, drummer Lauren, trombonist Horace and the philandering Jason. Then a tramp, Homeless Pete, shows them a lift which is actually a time machine, whisking them back to 1926 where they attract - largely unwanted - attention until aristocratic twins Victoria and Ralph book them to play at their birthday party. More concerned with returning home Nick enlists the aid of crazed boffin John Logie Baird, who accuses him of being a spy and imprisons him though he escapes to join the others at the ...
While the rest of the band enjoy living it up in their new environs at Victoria and Ralph's house, Nick desperately tries to work out a way back home. He is invited on a spiritual retreat to help with his wellbeing, but it soon becomes apparent that all is not what it seems. Meanwhile, Jason is all loved up with Victoria, but Lauren begins to tire of Ralph's irritating advances.
Nick decides to get to know Victoria's long-suffering butler a little better. It turns out that Langley once had hopes of being an opera singer, so Nick becomes determined to help him follow his dreams. Elsewhere, Lauren tries to integrate herself into 1920s high society by befriending Victoria and her gaggle of party girls. Will Lauren stick to her principles or change instantly on being accepted by the posh rich girls?
After rebelling against the men-only rule at the band's latest gig, Lauren unexpectedly finds herself with a new fan called Rose. Rose brings back lots of friends the following night, giving Lauren her moment to shine. Much to Nick's irritation, Lauren soon catches the public's imagination and becomes a star, but will her new-found fame go to her head?
The band enjoy a game of murder mystery while at Victoria's country house for the weekend. But when Curtis tracks them down to the house, he has his mind on one and one thing only: revenge.
The time machine has been fixed! It's finally time for the band to return to home. Or is it? With Nick and Jason both experiencing girl trouble - and Lauren in financial trouble - the path back to modern day London soon looks a lot less simple.
In season two, the band are transported back to the 1950s. In an era of Cold War paranoia, the gang will have to stay on their toes if they want to get out alive.
Horace is desperate to go back in time and save his Grandma from slipping on the stairs but time travelling with Homeless Pete is not an exact science and the band find themselves in 1958.
The gang move in with Victoria and Nick wants to open his own jazz club, which Lauren sees as a new business venture. Meanwhile a mysterious woman called Janice is tailing the gang - is she a spy?
Victoria decides that it's time to marry off her and Jason's son, JJ. But it seems the only woman JJ has eyes for is Lauren.
Horace's private diary from 2019 is published in 1958 and becomes an overnight 'science fiction' sensation.
General Hands agrees to come and play at the club, but Nick's more than a little put out when he forms a much closer bond with Jason. Lauren, meanwhile, is enraged when her money goes missing.
Nick befriends some West Indians and Horace befriends some Teddy Boys, but when the two groups meet, it sparks a race riot.
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