I'm a test subject for the show analysts because at 4:33 minutes into The Naked Living Room, and after watching the series on hulu starting in order from episode 1, it just dawned on me that Jeff, played by actor Richard Coyle, is permanently gone from the series and this Oliver is supposed to be his replacement. No offence to the actor but Oliver is flat, not funny, has no chemistry with the group and was never properly introduced.I did find an article dated 2005 about Jeff leaving at the end of Season 3.
Three W's.readjunk.com/interviews/steven-moffat-writer-creator-of-coupling/
I wish they would have enticed him to stay because it seems like the energy left the group and is probably why Coupling didn't last after Season 4 - which is a shame because it's a BRILLIANT show.The chemistry of the group was one in a million and it workd. Jeff didn't carry the whole show as some have mentioned in my opinion but he was hilarious to watch. A hit show needs to be ridden to the end. How often does a stroke of luck like that happen for an actor? Who cares if they get typecast for a few years? Reminds me of what happened to Upstairs Downstairs when the leading actress wanted greener pastures and allowed herself to be written off by being a passenger on the Titanic.