David Brent

Great to see that THE PRESS GANG, the quality children's program of the 1990's, is now available on DVD.
Starring a young Julia Sawalha, Dexter Fletcher and Paul Reynolds, the show was equally enjoyed by the adults that watched it. Drama/comedy that had intelligent storylines that for once didn't treat young viewers as mindless zombies.
Both Series 1 and 2 are currently available.
Well worth watching again.

Dave.

sanndevil

I always thought Julia Sawalha was a bossy so-and-so who lacked basic man-management skills. I would have lasted about a pecosecond in that office!

She was nice to look at though!

Steve Crook

There's not many that would last much longer than that - she'd fire them .

But the series was brilliantly written, acted & made.

It's not just series 1 & 2 that are available on DVD. They've released series 1-5 (all the programmes that were made)

Steve

Freddy

I have seen little or no childrens tv recently but the likes of Press Gang and Tom's Midnight Garden catered for a great age range, child and adult alike.
Sadly what I have now seen seems to mimic America, ie canned laughter at everything; dumbed down shortened scenes, 'Friends' style writing. Why Oh why can't we look towards other countries for ideas and programmes.

Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

Marky B

Hi sanndevil,
Sorry to be off topic,but who is that gorgeous actress in your avatar (that picture in the corner,like mine is Peter O'Toole as Lawrence)?
Ta Ta
Marky B

I once shot an elephant in my pyjamas - how he got in my pyjamas,I'll never know

Steve Crook

Or find more home grown talet like Steven Moffat, the writer of Press Gang, Coupling and various other TV series. He's also done a couple of episodes of the new Doctor Who ("The Empty Child" & "The Doctor Dances", the double episode set in wartime London).

Steve

Freddy

Cheers for that addition Steve, I always think writers are the unsung workhorses of film and TV. Many people will remember Ronnie Barker as a great comic actor but he was also a fine writer, with gave him a talent of seeing a good script. I think it was Chris Biggins who mentioned his generosity in Porridge. If he had a good line to say but thought it would be funnier coming from another actor he would let them say it.
Going back to childrens tv I loved the foreign chidrens' series from West and East Europe. It broadened our horizons and showed us how other children lived when we would never have a chance of being able to afford a holiday outside UK.

Freddy

"What I owe you Colonel Lawrence, is beyond evaluation."

Steve Crook

People often say that of Victoria Wood as well. She gives most of her best lines to the other actors.
She's another great writer of course.

Writers should always be respected. It's hard to make a film or TV show without them.

Steve