The Professionals
It was only relatively recently that The Professionals was able to be repeated on television. If you like Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes you can see that those series drew their inspiration from the multitude of cop dramas of the 1970s and 1980s. The Professionals was one of these and focussed on three central characters – George Cowley (played by Gordon Jackson), Ray Doyle (Martin Shaw) and Bodie (Lewis Collins) – whose first name of William is seldom mentioned.
The programme started in 1977 and ran for 5 series in all. It had a memorable theme tune, was action packed and had plenty of classic cars. It focussed on the workings of CI5. Having two lead characters (and a boss), the series was almost the British version of “Starsky and Hutch”.
Bodie and Doyle were opposites. Bodie was a smooth womaniser, but mean with it (ex-SAS). He was fairly relaxed in manner and was never short of a witty one liner. Doyle was scruffier and quite artistic with a hot temper and a tendency to rush into situations. Cowley was their boss and the voice of reason. He was in MI5 and was the founder and leader of CI5. Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw were chosen for the roles as they had worked together in the past and not got on.
As well as the car chases, gun fights and intrigue, is memorable for Ray Doyle’s curly perm and super tight jeans and Bodie’s leather jacket and suave dress sense. The series also featured a number of cars including Ford Capris, Escorts, Rover, Leyland Princess and Triumphs. The programme was criticised for the level of violence but was a hit with viewers. Martin Shaw did particularly well from the series and struggled for a while to shrug off Doyle. He is now better known as Judge John Deed.
On watching the show again, it is easy to see why The Professionals has received cult status.
Too Young To Retire
Too Young to Retire was a special edition of the Money Programme concentrating on those over 60s who were still active and felt that they did not want to retire just yet. It was presented by evergreen Valerie Singleton and examined several people who had decided to start up a business.
It is well known that those in their late 50s, 60s and 70s are the most wealthy generation. They have paid off their mortgages, have an amount of disposable income and tremendous drive and determination to succeed. The programme featured two sisters, one of whom had worked selling cosmetics and beauty products for the last 20 years or so. They set up a company called Rhodes to Heaven selling organic skin creams and lotions of a soothing nature. They had been selling their products at various fairs but were now ready to take the next step. The women met with Peter Jones from Dragon’s Den who gave them advice about marketing and packaging of their products and received a goodie bag of their expensive products.
The programme showed the sisters visiting Heels in London, who were impressed with their products. Other people were featured such as Jackie Lawson, who creates e-cards, and has learnt to use the animation programme Flash, to do this.
After working as an accountant and a restaurateur, one man decided to change career entirely by moving to France and planting trees that were infected with truffle spores. He ran a successful business selling black truffles – one tree could produce £3,000 worth of truffles! Too Young To Retire was an inspiring programme and pained a positive picture of setting up a business in later life.
Ashes to Ashes
Ashes to Ashes is the welcome sequel to the fantasy, time-travel cop drama, which was also named after a David Bowie song, Life on Mars.
This series follows on where Life on Mars left off, but this time we are in 1981 (instead of 1973), a time when men wore make-up and flouncy blouses and dandy clothing. Sam Tyler died a few years ago, but we follow DI Alex Drake (played by Keeley Hawes). In the present day, Alex is called to a hostage situation but her daughter also gets involved . Alex is shot and wakes up dressed in a very short skirt and a fur coat at a party in 1981. Dazed and confused, she is mistaken for a prostitute as the police are called in.
Alex is familiar with Sam Tyler and the details of both his coma and his writings about serving in the police in 1973. So when Gene Hunt turns up, Alex is aware of him, together with Chris and Ray from Sam Tyler’s notes. Yes, Gene Hunt is back and as chauvinistic as ever – but he is in a 1980s suit and has now moved from his beloved Manchester to London (taking his team with him). Gene has swapped his Ford Cortina for an Audi Quattro , but he still has the patter and the respect of his team. DI Alex Drake spends most of her time dressed in her short skirt trying to listen to messages through the television and the radio of the current day (as Sam as done).
She comes face to face with the man who shot her (who later becomes a powerful drugs baron) and tries to arrest him but all the while, she is chased by the white clothed clown from the Ashes to Ashes music video. The programme allows you to reminisce about 1980s music, cars and fashions and the Thatcher era. It has some classic lines, mainly from Gene Hunt, and there is an element of sexual tension between Gene and Alex. We look forward to seeing how Ashes to Ashes develops.
Neighbours Round Up
It’s a tense time for all on Ramsay Street as Susan’s trial for her hit-and-run offence gets underway this wee. The pressure is on for many of the residents, including Toadie, who is gripped with panic attacks at the prospect of having to defend his friend and mentor in court. Steph is shocked to find him in the middle of an attack and forces him to admit his darkest fears. Despite everyone’s faith in him, Toadie feels like a fraud. Convinced he will only let Susan down, he tries to get the trial adjourned. Unfortunately, Toadie faces an uphill battle to clear Susan’s name and it isn’t long before Miranda’s harshly-worded statement paints her friend in a bad light.
Elsewhere, a concerned Pepper breaks her promise and tells Frazer about Ringo’s eating disorder. Frazer calls his mum, Prue, and asks her to step in. Prue dishes out some tough love to Ringo and gives him an ultimatum - if he does not see a counsellor about his problem, she will take him back to Muttatang. Feeling betrayed, Ringo has a chance to wreak revenge on Pepper when he finds a caricature that she has drawn of her fellow teacher, Helen.
Also this week, Rosie discovers that Marco is married when she goes snooping around his farmhouse. Paul is determined to find out why Elle quit Lassiter’s. Ringo learns that he has a pretty admirer. And Karl begins to suspect that Susan’s symptoms may be the signs of something more serious.
Hollyoaks Round Up
There’s plenty of action this week in Chester. Nancy is terrified when Jake shows up at Sarah’s looking for her and Sarah demands that Nancy tell her what’s going on. Louise is overwhelmed when Warren secretly arranges an Ibiza-inspired meal at The Loft. She tells Warren to get rid of Carl and Anthony as she’s suspicious of their strange behaviour, but the lads decide to stay put after overhearing a conversation between Warren and Jack. It is revealed that Jack has taken out a loan from a loan shark to buy The Dog back from Warren. Carl and Anthony take Jack, Frankie, Newt and Louise hostage at gunpoint, demanding the money from the loan shark. Anthony and Carl panic when the police arrive, a gunshot rings out and Darren slumps into Jack’s arms.
O.B. is touched by Max and Tom’s happiness about him staying in Hollyoaks, but he doesn’t realise that there’s a new addition to the household. He starts to feel left out as Max and Steph spend time together by themselves and finally reaches a decision on whether to stay or leave the village.
Elsewhere, John Paul and Kieron get close when they are roped in as models for the fashion show. They are left holding the fort at the fashion show when Katy, Warren and Carmel race off to The Dog after hearing that Louise is being held in the siege, and John Paul starts to see Kieron in a new light. There’s chemistry in the air and they find themselves leaning in for a kiss. John Paul tries to avoid Kieron after their illicit kiss, but Kieron catches up with him at the McQueens’.
EastEnders Round Up
Jack manages to rub a few residents up the wrong way and pays the price for it in this week’s visit to the Square. After he announces the new opening hours for the club, most of the Mitchells are furious with him, but Phil remains uncharacteristically composed. Jack is soon on the warpath though, as his flat is broken into and trashed. Determined to discover the culprit, he starts pointing the finger of blame in more than one direction. Once Jack finally figures out who wrecked his flat, he’s determined to teach them a lesson.
Clare turns her attentions to Ian after being shunned by Max. She dresses to kill and invites a mesmerised Ian round for dinner. Will she get her claws into him? Sean dumps Tanya, who turns to drink. She forgets to pick Abi up from school but Max comes to the rescue. On her birthday Tanya decides to celebrate in style, but Max uses the opportunity to spike her drink. Unaware of his wicked ways, she attempts a reconciliation with him.
Elsewhere, Jase is evicted and Dawn is more than willing to come to his rescue. Bradley returns to the Square and tells Stacey she should get a solicitor and Mickey offers the Masood family a place to stay.
Emmerdale Round Up
It’s not exactly a dream wedding by anyone’s standards, and Andy and Jo both attempt to summon up enthusiasm for their big day, but both are only too aware of the miserable circumstances surrounding their nuptials. Jo has her hen night at the Woolpack, but it turns into a night to remember for all the wrong reasons after she kisses Ross. On the big day, Jo arrives at the prison and walks into a prison room lit by candles. After a brief moment of happiness during the ceremony, Jo is forced to leave her husband and return home alone. But as an intruder enters Butlers Farm, will she have company on her wedding night after all?
When Hilary and Doug return to the village and the family sit down for a late lunch, Daniel is asleep upstairs in his cot. Laurel heads upstairs to check on him and her screams soon reverberate through the house when she discovers that he’s not breathing. As Paramedics arrive and administer CPR, family members are frantic. The doctor pronounces the infant dead and Ashley and Laurel’s world falls apart. They have to tell Gabby that Daniel has gone to heaven. Will Laurel let Ashley in to be the support she so desperately needs?
Elsewhere, David reassures Nicola that he’s still on side with her plans to bump off Donald, but is inwardly less than convinced. There are tears from Betty when Sandy finally breaks the news of his travel plans. An exhausted Bob is eager to take Mel on at the shop, but a green-eyed Viv aims to make the interview process as difficult as possible.
Coronation Street Round Up
A fed-up Violet wants out of Weatherfield. The heavily-pregnant Violet is increasingly exasperated by dad-to-be Sean’s constant niggling, and decides that she and Jamie should move before the baby is born - without of course telling Sean. But as Jamie gets set to go to London with a load of their stuff ahead of the secret move, events overtake her. A panicked Violet realises that her contractions have started. There’s no time for the ambulance as her waters have broken and the baby is coming now. Will Jamie - en route to London - make it back to Weatherfield in time?
Carla appears to have put aside her disappointment over Liam’s marriage to Maria - or has she? There’s gossip aplenty at the factory this week as Carla enjoys a fling with Tony. Her former lover turns up to give her a cheque, but ends up taking the keys from her handbag and letting himself into her flat to prepare a candlelit dinner for two. When Carla finds the door unlocked she thinks she has been burgled, and just misses Tony with a tire iron before she realises who it is. Anger, however, quickly turns to passion as the duo reunite. So why is Carla so reluctant to tell the newly-married Liam on his return from honeymoon that she and Tony are back together?
Elsewhere, Tyrone and Molly want Jack to carry on living with them when they buy the house - but not Jack’s grandson Paul. Paul, meanwhile, has found Jack’s winning betting slip among Vera’s belongings and can’t wait to give him the good news - until that is Tyrone and Molly break the news that they want him to move out. Will a disgruntled Paul do the right thing or give in to temptation and cash the slip himself?
Keeping Up Appearances
Keeping Up Appearances must rate as one of those classic British sitcoms. Made in 1990 – 1995, it focuses on the life of Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “bouquet”) and her long-suffering and put-upon husband, Richard. Hyacinth and Richard live in a bungalow in a well-to-do area were Hyacinth shows off to her neighbours and the local vicar and is famed for her candlelight suppers. She dresses rather like the Queen Mother did, in fitted dresses and matching hats and gloves and has an outfit for every occasion. Her only son Sheridan is away at University and occasionally phones up. She constantly criticises others and tells them off when they fail to meet up to her exacting standards – the very definition of the word “snob”. The neighbours Elizabeth and her brother Emmett dread seeing her in case she asks them to visit or do something for her. Hyacinth can be rather irritating with her constant name-dropping and delusions of grandeur, but is, in a strange way, likeable.
Hyacinth comes from much poorer stock and is constantly embarrassed by her sister Daisy and her slob of a husband Onslow, her flirty sister Rose and other sister Violet. Dotty Daddy also appears quite regularly although he rarely speaks. Hyacinth’s family live on a council estate and often turn up at her home or at important events unannounced and unwashed. Keeping Up Appearances works because of the way in which the characters interact with each other. The relationship between Daisy and Onslow is a joy to witness. Hyacinth often finds herself in embarrassing situations (e.g. taking half a house worth of luggage on a short trip on the QE2) and any episode of the programme is worth a second visit.
The Royle Family
The Royle Family broke the mould of British Soap Operas, when it was introduced in 1993. Written by the talented Caroline Aherne (Mrs Merton) and comedy writing partner Craig Cash , the programme won many awards including a BAFTA.
The programme concentrates on a working class family in Manchester called “The Royles”, consisting of a lazy father Jim, worn out mother Barbara, even lazier Denise and Anthony otherwise known as “lurch”. Denise is married to long suffering Dave and they have a child, baby David. Barbara’s mother (Nana) makes a regular appearance as does Denise’s best mate Cheryl (always on a diet); Anthony’s girlfriend Emma and his best friend, Darren. Nana and Jim do not like each other and make constant jibes and Nana seems obsessed with telling the family all about Elsie (who no one has met). Dave and Jim get on well and there are many references to spending time in the local pub, The Feathers, which Denise’s nemesis, Beverly Macca frequents.
The programme is slow moving and mainly set in the Royle’s living room as they drink tea, smoke, watch television and eat biscuits. Barbara works part-time in a bakers and occasionally brings back discounted cakes. Much commentary is made about whatever is on the television and Jim has a habit of slagging everyone off and being jealous of their money. He is quite a mean man and does not like Denise taking advantage of Barbara. However he does have a soft side which comes out now and again. Denise palms off her son on everyone, treating them as unpaid baby sitters whilst she worries about fashion, hair, make-up and whether she is getting fat. She cannot cook and is the butt of many jokes from Jim.
Although The Royle Family is centred around the more dull aspects of life, it works well as we explore the relationships between characters and appreciate how well it is written. It is a classic series.
