That didn't happen -- but I did finally pick it up after the first episode aired. (There are six episodes; I've seen two so far.)
It's the "Swinging Sixties" (1964, as the book opens) in England, and Barbara Parker has just won the title of Miss Blackpool in a bathing suit beauty contest. Her father and aunt hope she'll settle down now and marry her butcher boyfriend Aidan. But Barbara wants more out of life: she secretly dreams of being on "telly" and making people laugh, like her heroine/role model, Lucille Ball -- and she's soon off to London to seek her fortune. She finds a job, selling hats at a department store, and a roommate,
This was a fast read -- albeit it took me a week-plus to get through it (because, life, and it's been a busy week!). (When I did get to it, I was able to speed through large chunks in a sitting.) I've previously read and enjoyed several other Hornby novels, including " Juliet, Naked ," and " State of the Union " (reviews in the links), as well as " High Fidelity " and " About a Boy " ( pre-blogging, so no reviews to point you to).