Decades ago I saw a film, possibly a BBC movie, in which John Cleese starred as a married middle class air traffic controller living in Luton. When he discovered that his very economical but plebeian Citroen CV2 was damaged, he replaced it with an used XKE coupe, over which he predictably obsessed. His wife, who wasn't obsessed with the Jag, got to drive it while he was at work. She also used it to consummate, with difficulty, romantic liaisons with her lover. The whole story revolved around Jag.

Anyone recall this film/movie and remember the name of it? I've searched the internet looking for it and can't find any reference to it. It isn't listed in Cleese's film credits.

 

He had an XJ in "A Fish Called Wanda", and was uncredited for his role. Was it that one? Found it here:
Jag-lovers Film and TV

 

Are you sure it was John Cleese?

This sounds like the plot of 'Car Trouble' (1986) with Ian Charleson playing an air traffic controller and Julie Walters as his wife.

 

It must be this one. Here's the DVD cover featuring the E Type:



Must admit that Charleson has a touch of the John Cleese about him.

We Brits all look the same to you

 

Great find, GGG! He does look a lot like Cleese, I can see confusing the two over a couple of decades, think I'll grab one!
Amazon.com: Used and New: Car Trouble

 

And the airport shown in the movie was 'Stanwick' and not Luton. There again- all your airports look alike to us colonials

The movie is available on YouTube if watching it in 10 minute chunks isn't a problem.

 

Thanks GGG. Ian Charleson and Car Trouble it is. Which explains why I couldn't find it while searching for a movie starring John Cleese. I did say it was decades ago. I just watched a few minutes of it on Youtube. It reminds me why I'm content to be single: I can buy whatever I want and not have to discuss it with anyone.

Charleson's character strikes me as an understated version of Cleese's Basil Fawlty.