samkydd

Having just bought series 1 & 2 on DVD I'm thoroughly enjoying again this excellent example of good British comedy drama. It's amazing how the cast just seemed to gel together and create some marvellous characters.

I didn't realise this before but Jimmy Nail went for an audition for a walk-on part in the series and was given a leading role as Os, which he carried off amazingly well. Other greats in their younger days included of course include Tim Healy, Timothy Spall, Kevin Whateley, Christopher Fairbank, Pat Roach and the late Gary Holton, who judging by his performance as Wayne was destined for a great career (he had already enjoyed modest rock star success as lead singer for The Heavy Metal Kids and with The Damned on one of their tours). Some of the guest actors of note were Michael Elphick and a fresh faced Ray Winstone, and in series 2 James Booth and Bill Patterson. Julia Tobin as Brenda Hope, the late Caroline Hutchinson as Vera Patterson and Su Elliot as Marjory Osbourne were the epitome of three very contrasting wives back home in Geordieland, and Melanie Hill who, I didn't realise until now because she looked so different back then, played Barry's fiancee Hazel in the second series.

Not surprisingly the standard of writing was brilliant, but what else would you expect from Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais who also penned one of my favourite sitcom series of all time; The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads?

As with many old favourite and classic TV shows and films, it's really nice to spend some time in front of the box with such likeable characters!

It also brought back memories for me of being in The Services when complete strangers are thrown together in unusual circumstances and just get on with it the best they can!

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

faginsgirl

Great series, great actors apart from Jimmy Nail, really fab as Oz but atroshious in everything else he has done since!!!!!

Kevin Whatley is one of the countries best actors in my humble opinion, he has done well to escape his AVP character too, brilliant!

I have worked with Melanie Hill before, friendly woman.

xx

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marky B

A notable Teesside link,apart from the series set in Teesside,that Franc Roddam who created the programme comes from Norton,Billingham's next door neighbour across Beck Valley!
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

mariocki

A fantastic programme which really got into it's stride in the second series in which I thought Bill Paterson and James Booth were superb. There apears to be a 25th Anniversary Ultimate Box Set on the way:

Amazon.co.uk: Auf Wiedersehen Pet - 25 Years Ultimate Box Set [1983]: Timothy Spall,Kevin Whately,Gary Holton,Jimmy Nail,Pat Roach,Tim Healy,Christopher Fairbank,Paul Seed,Maurice Phillips,Roger Bamford,Baz Taylor,David Innes Edwards: DVD

Series 1 & 2 can be bought for £9:99 each from WH Smiths online with free postage for this week only:

WHSmith.co.uk | Auf Wiedersehen Pet - Series 1

You crazy idiots - my name's McGill!

DB7

Ironic really, a much-loved show about migrant workers.

Steve Crook

These Geordies, going over there, taking all of someone else's jobs

Steve

brianl

The last series seen here in New Zealand some while ago was about them working in Cuba. Has there been any other programmes/series made that follow on from this?
Thanks
BrianL

David Brent

I loved the whole series but must admit that it was never quite the same after Gary Holton's sad passing.
His cockney character Wayne was an integral part of the team.

Dave.

scholes

Away the lads.
Followed on from where Boys from the Black Stuff left off.
Great Idea. Brilliant actors. Belly laughs all round.
I agree, that the second series featuring Bill Paterson was the best one.

Jimmy Nail was also good as Spender.

samkydd

It reminded me of when James Beck died and the colourful Private Joe Walker character in Dad's Army was lost forever. In the radio version of Dad's Army he was kept in and replaced in later episodes by Larry Martin, but it was never quite the same.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

hankoler

Since doing this series I think Timothy Spall has gone from strength to strength, and the same goes for Kevin Whateley.

samkydd

They are great all rounders.

Interestingly, Gary Holton died during the making of Series 2 and so he is missing from many scenes, and it must have been re-written to exclude Wayne quite a few times. Sometimes you'll see him in the distance where they used a stand-in

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

PS68060

An excellent series that introduced many new faces (to most people). Sadly Pat Roach passed away before the final programmes were released.

"Oh! Pete!"

mariocki

Yes, knowing that spoils the enjoyment a bit for me as the scenes where he's missing stick out like a sore thumb. He's always 'chatting up the receptionist' or in the bar.' The writers did well though to work around it.

You crazy idiots - my name's McGill!

McGill

No, MY name's McGill