Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) Fat Chance (1980) User Reviews

"How is the pig?"

[classicsoncall · 8/10 · 25 August 2021]

In his introduction, Roald Dahl explained how scheming maharajahs in India would eliminate their no longer desired wives - they chopped tiger whiskers into very fine, thin pieces, and mixed them into their curry. It would cause tiny perforations in the lining of the intestines, eventually causing death. It sounded unusually creative for a means of murder.

The story itself doesn't utilize tiger whiskers, but a poisoned chocolate intended for a comfort food bingeing wife (Miriam Margolyes) who can't seem to stop eating. When nudged by husband John Burge (John Castle) to lose some weight, she blames her metabolism, a claim I've actually heard people use in describing their own battle of the waistline. I tend to agree, in the sense that yeah, your metabolism can't keep up with all the FOOD YOU EAT!. No mystery there.

You know, I thought about that poisoned chocolate after seeing John inject it with a hypo, and then use a heated object to melt over the tiny hole. Why not insert the poison from underneath - who ever looks at the bottom of a chocolate before eating it? I might start doing that now come to think of it.

Anyway, there's a surprise in store for chemist Burge that he couldn't have seen coming for girlfriend on the side Frances (Sheila Gish). She would come running back to John if he ever decided to divorce his wife, but it's too late now and no way to warn her. I wouldn't mind seeing this episode done over again, but this time using those tigers whiskers.

Tales of the Unexpected episode in the early Thatcher years

[safenoe · 7/10 · 7 November 2016]

Roald Dahl's introductions to Tales of the Unexpected are worth the price of admission alone, seeing him resting in his armchair by his fireplace. I'm not sure if it was filmed in a studio, but the setting was very convincing.

It's a shame the Dahl introductions didn't continue for every episode.

Anyway, the episode gets off to a sunny start, with beautiful weather, kind of representing the early Thatcher years where the Winter of Discontent dissolved following the election of Thatcher in 1979.

Mirian Margoyles (who became an Australian citizen in 2013) is a delight in this episode.

Credit also to Michael Quinto (not sure if he's related to Zachary) who was the Man in the Dressing Room, and Carol Thornton, the Woman in the Dressing Room.

The ending is downbeat or upbeat depending upon your perspective.

Decent Tales of the Unexpected episode.

[poolandrews · 6/10 · 7 May 2007]

Tales of the Unexpected: Fat Chance is set in a small English village where chemist John Burge (John Castle) runs a pharmacy & is in love with legal secretary Frances (Sheila Gish), everything would be perfect except for his fat overweight wife Mary (Miriam Margolyes) whom won't give him a divorce & still loves him. Frances gives John an ultimatum, she is going away & unless he gets rid off Mary she won't be coming back. John takes the decision to kill Mary & uses her obsession with eating chocolates to do so, however his carefully laid plans don't go as smoothly as he had anticipated...

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 6 from season 2 that originally aired here in the UK during April 1980, the first of eleven Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by John Gorrie this is an OK way to pass 30 odd minutes but nothing more. The story by Robert Bloch was dramatised by Denis Cannan & unlike most of season 1 & 2 Roald Dahl creatively had nothing to do with Fat Chance although he still gets an introduction in which he talks about how rich Indians used to poison their wives by putting Tiger whiskers in their curry! Anyway, this is a decent enough crime thriller with yet another seemingly clever plan back firing in a spectacular way & to it's credit it has a nice ironic twist ending which makes Fat Chance a worthwhile watch. This has some OK dialogue & character's which don't feel as rushed or pointless as in a lot of Tales of the Unexpected episodes which helps draw you into the story & makes the twist at the end have at least some impact.

This one looks OK, it's a bit flat & bland but it's watchable if a bit dated. There's no horror, suspense or excitement really but the stories alright which is it's main selling point. There's yet another strong cast featuring plenty of familiar British TV actors.

Fat Chance is a painless way to pass 30 odd minutes, don't bust a gut to do so but if you can catch it on TV then it's worth a watch.

One of my favourites. A classic episode of Tales.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 10/10 · 10 February 2016]

John Burge, a conceited Pharmacist is annoyed by his wife Mary, as time has gone on she's piled on weight, and enjoys sitting in front of the TV eating sweets and boxes of Chocolates. John is having an affair with the attractive Frances, a woman that he does amateur dramatics with. John gets Frances to suss out Mary's opinion on what she'd do hypothetically if he was having an affair, she explains she'd take him for every penny. Frances comes up with the idea of bumping off Mary, through poison.

Fat Chance is beautifully acted, John Castle I am a huge fan of, he is brilliant in this. Sheila Gish is excellent, almost Lady Macbeth is a pleated skirt. Miriam Margolyes shines in every scene she's in, such a glint in her eye in every scene, utterly brilliant. Geoffrey Bayldon too, excellent as the blackmailed Doctor.

There is a total nastiness about this episode, it's a fantastic story, with a really nasty twist, one that you did not see coming. I can also relate with Mary, times when I hammer the gym, and times where I love to pop the TV on and open the box of chocs.

Possibly many people will argue that my score of ten is too high for this episode, but there is just something magical about this episode, it's one of my favourites, and when I think of this show I think of Flypaper and Fat Chance.

Love everything about this episode, it boasts one of the best ever twists. 10/10