Saul, Gloucestershire answers calls for Better Call Saul UK office
June 26, 2017
Saul, a tiny village in Gloucestershire with a population of only 700, has become the surprise location for Jimmy McGill, the fictional “Breaking Bad” attorney’s new UK office.
“Better Call Saul,” the “Breaking Bad” prequel and story of how Jimmy McGill transformed into Saul Goodman, is making its UK network debut on AMC, exclusive to BT customers, on 27 June at 9pm. To celebrate, the series’ hero – played by award winning actor Bob Odenkirk – has set up office in an iconic red BT phone box.
The show’s star is no stranger to weird office locations, as Jimmy rents an office in the back of the Day Spa and Nail beauty salon in “Better Call Saul.”
The “office”, on Framilode Passage, is submerged within a roadside hedge and is almost invisible from the street. It is only when up close that villagers can sense that something unusual is happening.
An office sign on the hedgerow includes a number to call for legal advice 0800 345 7285 (SAUL), whilst office furniture – including waiting room chairs, filing cabinets and client files – is placed either side of the iconic red box.
A statement released by Jimmy McGill has shed light on the reasoning for setting up his first international office after finding several outdated laws that could be taken advantage of.
The statement from Jimmy McGill, said: “I am proud to announce the first J M McGill Attorney at Law office outside of Albuquerque. I have chosen England as my new base after finding out that those folks with a stiff upper lip have some ridiculous laws. Only within England and Wales can someone get into legal trouble for having one too many drinks, vacuuming in the evening, dressing up as a sailor and even flying a kite in a park… crazy Brits.”
The laws quoted in the statement are, in fact, real laws and it turns out that more of these bizarre laws remain. See below for ten strange laws that some people might be unfamiliar with:
- It is illegal to fly a kite in a park in an annoying manner
- It is illegal to sing or chant crude football chants in the street
- It is illegal to be drunk and in a public place… including on the street or in a pub or restaurant
- It is illegal to dress up as a sailor or soldier
- It is illegal to vacuum between the hours of 11pm & 7am
- It is illegal to erect a washing line across any street
- It is illegal to rap in public if it contains swearing
- It is illegal to do your make up whilst driving
- It is illegal to wilfully and wantonly disturb people by ringing their doorbells or knocking at their doors – so playing knock, knock, ginger (also known as knock down ginger),
- It is illegal to jump a Tube ticket hall queue
After stumbling across the office on his property, local resident Mandy Crawford, said: “We don’t normally have much happen in this village, it is pretty quiet here, so you notice something new. Having the office of “Better Call Saul” here hasn’t bothered me… Actually I am just happy he cut my hedge back, it needed the trim!”
“I think it’s kind of funny to think that someone has turned our local BT phone box into an office – the only other one here was turned into defibrillator a few years ago – so this didn’t seem that crazy. In fact, there are only a few businesses in the area, so it is good to see more people setting up here,” Crawford said.
“This is the only lawyer in the village, so I am sure I will not be alone in calling up for some legal advice.”
As “Breaking Bad” obsessives are well aware, Saul Goodman is an elusive character, so it remains to be seen if the show’s star turns up.
Jonathan Boseley, general manager of BT TV content, said: “We’re delighted that Saul has decided to set up his UK office…in Saul! We’re hoping he makes an appearance at our iconic phone box, but if he doesn’t we’ll just have to follow this quirky character on our screens from Tuesday on AMC, exclusive to BT customers.”
The UK network premiere of “Better Call Saul” will be exclusive to BT customers in the UK on the AMC channel – on BT TV channel 332. AMC is also available in HD on both BT TV and Sky with an HD subscription. The first episode will air at 9pm on Tuesday 27 June and is free to view for all.
Joining Odenkirk are Jonathan Banks (“Breaking Bad,” “Wiseguy”) as Mike Erhmantraut, Michael McKean (“This is Spinal Tap”) as Chuck McGill, Rhea Seehorn (“Franklin & Bash,” “House of Lies”) as Kim Wexler, Patrick Fabian (“Big Love,” “Grey’s Anatomy”) as Howard Hamlin and Michael Mando (“Orphan Black,” “The Killing”) as Nacho Varga.
From “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan and writer Peter Gould, “Better Call Saul” is executive produced by Gilligan, Gould, Mark Johnson (“Breaking Bad,” “Diner”, “Rain Man”) and Melissa Bernstein (“Breaking Bad,” “Rectify,” “Halt and Catch Fire”) with “Breaking Bad” alums Thomas Schnauz and Stewart A. Lyons as co-executive producers for Sony Pictures Television. Season one of the series contains 10 episodes.