Agony(1979)

Agony is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1979 to 1981, starring Maureen Lipman as Jane Lucas, a successful agony aunt whose personal life and marriage are in chaos. Written by Len Richmond, Anna Raeburn, Stan Hey and Andrew Nickolds, the show balances sharp comedy with surprisingly bold storytelling. It tackles taboo subjects including drug use, racism, abortion, and infidelity with wit and intelligence. Agony was groundbreaking for its portrayal of a gay couple as fully realized, witty characters—a rarity for British sitcoms of the era. The series also fearlessly satirizes government, class privilege, and religion, weaving in darker dramatic moments alongside the laughs. It's a comedy that refuses easy answers, mixing humor with genuine social commentary.