Remember Rita, Sue And Bob Too? Here They Are Now!
It’s been over three decades since our favourite ’80s love triangle – directed and Alan Clarke – Rita, Sue and Bob Too first appeared on our screens!
In case your memory is a little rusty (it’s been 32 years after all!) the comedy/drama – written by Andrea Dunbar – followed two impoverished, working class teens from a council estate (set in Thatcher’s Britain) who fell head over heels in love with their wealthy employer: Bob!
Was it a recipe for disaster? You bet! Were we completely obsessed? Oh, yes!
If you’re dying to know -and we know you are – what the cast look like these days, then step right this way…
1. Sue (Michelle Holmes) -THEN
Sue and her best friend Rita never imagined that their baby-sitting job for a wealthy couple on the other side of town would have turned into anything more serious. Boy were they wrong…
Following a late night in Bob’s car, the feisty teenager attempted to sneak into her home unnoticed, but unfortunately for Sue, her half-drunken father was waiting for her in the living room with a snooker cue which he threatened to beat her with.
Fortunately, Michelle Holmes has had a very different life than that of her on screen character, and since appearing in the popular film the actress has taken on a variety of roles.
Remember Goodnight, Sweetheart? Well, Michelle played Yvonne Sparrow in the first three series of the show before becoming a soap star!
In recent years, the actress has appeared in Holby City as neonatal nurse Jude, and Maggie Kinsella in Hollyoaks!
Throwback Thursday "Coronation Street" days….. #Corrie #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/MdPCdax41k
— Michelle Holmes (@MHolmesActress) February 1, 2018
Michelle Holmes (Sue) -NOW
2. Rita (Siobhan Finneran) -THEN
Unlike Sue, Rita was more of a follower than a leader, who found herself easily swept up in the idea of being involved with a wealthy, married man.
Just when we thought life for the trio couldn’t get any more crazy, Rita dropped out of school and moved in with her older lover after revealing that she was expecting Bob’s baby -much to the anger of her BFF Sue.
But what we really want to know is: Where is Siobhan Finneran now?
Following her debut appearance as an actress in Rita, Sue and Bob Too, Finneran landed a variety of roles in Coronation Street, Clocking Off and The Amazing Mrs Pritchard!
From there she took on the leading role of Janice in the first seven seasons of ITV’s comedy sitcom Benidorm!
Siobhan Finneran (Rita) -NOW
Siobhan Finneran turns Cheshire Housewife for new Cold Feet. Read more https://t.co/MjQV2LSrQH pic.twitter.com/CI0w8lAQoZ
— Siobhan Finneran (@TeamSFinneran) August 15, 2017
3. Michelle (Lesley Sharp) -THEN
Bob’s vivacious and glamorous wife Michelle discovered a pack of condoms while ironing her husband’s trousers, but upon questioning why he would have such a thing, he met her with a bare-faced lie. Not believing him, the pair began arguing which led to a shocking reveal: Bob had a history of affairs -especially with the babysitters!
When her unfaithful hubby finally admitted the truth (after first convincing his teen mistresses to cover for him!) Michelle decided that she could no longer stand by her man and left with the kids.
It seems there was no hard feelings shared between Lesley Sharp and Siobhan Finneran who both went on to appear in Clocking Off after filming came to an end.
From there you might have spotted Lesley in Afterlife, The Full Monty or maybe even ITV drama Scott & Bailey – where she played leading character Janet Scott from 2011 until 2016!
Lesley Sharp (Michelle) -NOW
4. Bob (George Costigan) -THEN
George Costigan took on the role of Bob, a middle class man who lived with his wife and children in the wealthier part of town.
Unfortunately for his wife Michelle, Bob wasn’t the upstanding citizen and loving husband he professed to be…
After seducing teenage girl babysitters Rita and Sue after giving them a lift home, he offers them a bit of fun and Bob’s marriage with his wife Michelle (unsurprisingly) fell apart. But instead of mourning the loss of his long-term relationship, or even trying to win her back, Bob saw the split as an opportunity to immerse himself in his newfound polyamorous relationship with the 15-year-old girls.
Bob used his charm (and let’s face it, his cash) to woo the young girls and keep them interested! In the end, everything seemed to work out for the unconventional trio.
George Costigan (Bob) -NOW
After playing the adulterous Bob, George Costigan went on to star in The Adventures Of Sherlock Holmes, A Touch Of Frost, The Bill and Holby City.
But following his appearance in The Secret Agent in 2016, Costigan decided it was time he took a break from acting in order to focus on furthering his career as a novelist, and it looks like it worked…
In 2017, the star published his debut novel titled The Single Soldier.
After loving Rita, Bob and Sue in the film, we were delighted to find that artistic director Kate Wasserberg had created a post show theatre in 1982, starring Gemma Dobson and debuting in the Royal Court Theatre.
