Memorable TV

BBC1 / x30m-e / 1985-continuing

Creators: Julia Smith, Tony Holland / Theme Music: Simon May 

Soap. Eastenders is set in the East End borough of Walford (Postcode E20). Focal figures in the shows early years were the Fowler family led by the indomitable Pauline and the her put upon husband Arthur (who would later have a nervous breakdown in spectacular fashion) and their kids Mark and Michelle. Pub landlord Den (Dirty Den as he became known) and his brassy wife Angie quickly became the focus of most of the media attention lavished on the show in its early days. Den and Angie's daughter Sharon was best friends with Michelle Fowler who happened to get herself pregnant by Sharon's father.
Other important characters from the shows early years included Dot Cotton and her evil son Nick, Pauline's Mum Lou and the elderly Ethel Skinner, local GP Dr Legg, Pauline's brother Pete Beale and his family (wife Kathy and son Ian). Asian shopkeepers Saeed and Naima Jeffrey and Turkish cafe owner Ali Osman provided the ethnicity.
During the early 'Den and Angie' years the show was incredibly popular beating all comers. Since Den's departure (being 'hit' by gangsters) there has always been a 'hard man' type character in the show with the brutish Grant Mitchell ruling the roost at the Vic for many years, Steve Owen is the latest (he has literally got away with murder during his time on the show).
Eastenders has never been shy of tackling the big issues, Aids, murder, teenage pregnancy, cancer and even euthanasia have all had an airing on the show. The show is most probably the most depressing of the UK soaps (although Brookside runs it a close second).
During its most popular spell several of the stars even had hit singles (Anita Dobson with a vocal version of the theme tune and Nick Berry getting to number one with Every Loser Wins).  First episode broadcast 19 Feb 1985. 

Cast members have included:- BILL TREACHER as Arthur Fowler / LESLIE GRANTHAM as Den Watts / ANITA DOBSON as Angie Watts / WENDY RICHARD as Pauline Fowler / SUSAN TULLY as Michelle Fowler / DAVID SCARBOROUGH as Mark Fowler(1) / TODD CARTY as Mark  Fowler(2)(-September 2002) / GILLIAN TAYLFORTH as Kathy Beale / ADAM WOODYATT as Ian Beale / LETITA DEAN as Sharon Watts / JUNE BROWN as Dot Cotton / JOHN ALTMAN as Nick Cotton / GRETCHEN FRANKLIN as Ethel Skinner / PAM ST CLEMENT as Pat Wicks/Evans / TOM WATT as Lofty / LINDA DAVIDSON as Mary Smith / MIKE REID as Frank Butcher / SOPHIE LAWRENCE as Diane Butcher / SID OWEN as Ricky Butcher / DANIELLA WESTBROOK as Sam Mitchell / ROSS KEMP as Grant Mitchell / STEVE McFADDEN as Phil Mitchell / MARTINE McCUTCHEON as Tiffany / LINDSAY COULSON as Carol Jackson / DEAN GAFFNEY as Robbie Jackson / MICHAEL FRENCH as David Wicks / NICK BERRY as Simon Wicks / PATSY PALMER as Bianca Butcher / MICHAEL GRECO as Beppe Di Marco / MARC BANNERMAN as Gianni Di Marco / CARLY HILLMAN as Nicky Di Marco / LOUISE JAMESON as Rosa Di Marco / LEILA BIRCH as Teresa Di Marco / SHAUN WILLIAMSON as Barry Evans / JAMES ALEXANDROU as Martin Fowler / TAMZIN OUTHWAITE as Melanie Healy / DANIELA DENBY-ASHE as Sarah Hills / NATALIE CASSIDY as Sonia Jackson / MARTIN KEMP as Steve Owen / NADIA SAWALHA as Annie Palmer / LUCY SPEED as Natalie Price / JOE ABSOLOM as Matthew Rose / CRAIG FAIRBRASS as Dan Sullivan / DEREK MARTIN as Charlie Slater / LAILA MORSE as Mo Harris / ELAINE LORDAN as Lynne Slater / JESSIE WALLACE as Kat Slater / KACEY AINSWORTH as Maureen Slater / MICHELLE RYAN as Zoe Slater

BBC1-IA / 7x15m-e / 2000 16-22 April Nightly various times

Music: Ricky Ross / Executive Producer: Chris Loughlin

A series of monologues about ordinary people and their meetings with Jesus.

1. THE CENTURION (Sunday 16 April - 11.00pm) / Writer: Sergio Casci / Director: Denny Lawrence with James Cosmo

2. JUDAS ISCARIOT (Monday 17 April - 10.45pm) / Writer: Tony Robinson / Director: Norman Stone with Tony Robinson

3. THE SERVANT GIRL (Tuesday 18 April - 11.10pm) / Writer: Anne Marie di Mambro / Director: David Hayman with Helen Baxendale

4. THE YOUNG RICH RULER (Wednesday 19 April - 11.20pm) / Writer: Peter France with Peter France

5. BARABBAS (Thursday 20 April - 11.40pm) / Writer: Arnold Wesker / Director: Guy Slater with Joss Ackland

6. THE MOURNER (Friday 21 April - 10.55pm) / Writer: Murray Watts with Eileen Atkins

7. THE THIEF (Saturday 22 April - 10.40pm) / Writer: Nigel Forde / Director: Norman Stone with Jonathan Pryce

BBC / 1x85m-e / 1986

Writer: Michael Palin / Producer: Innes Lloyd / Director: Tristam Powell / Music: George Fenton / Costume Design: Charlotte Holdich 

Period drama. In 1959 young teenage Richard Burrill goes on a seaside holiday with his mother and father and manages to learn a few things about life and love. Heavily based on writer Palin's own experiences of meeting his wife for the first time.

With:- EDWARD RAWLE HICKS as Richard Burrill / JOHN NETTLETON as Mr Burrill / PAT HEYWOOD as Mrs Burrill / ALLAN CUTHBERTSON as Mr Horrobin / RPSEMARY MACKE as Mrs Horrobin / OONA KIRSCH as Julia / PIPPA HINCHLEY as Anna / JOAN SANDERSON as Miss Wilbraham / GRAHAM CROWDEN as Headmaster / CHARLES McKEOWN as Mr Hargreaves / SHEILA FEARN as Mrs Hargreaves

Granada / 1x120m-e / 1997

Writer: Simon Fraser / Novel: R.L. Stevenson / Director: Nicholas Renton 

Period drama. In 1890 three men in trouble escape from a South Sea island on a plague ridden boat.

Capt Chisholm..................................... ROBBIE COLTRANE

Swanson............................................. STEVEN MACKINTOSH

Bunch................................................. CHRIS BARNES

Ellstrom.............................................. NIGEL TERRY

Granada / 1x90m-e / 1984

Writer: John Mortimer / Novel: John Fowles / Music: Richard Rodney-Bennett / Director: Robert Knights

Drama. Artist/writer David Williams spends time in the French country home of a celebrated English painter and his two models.

Henry Breasley..................................... LAURENCE OLIVIER

David Williams....................................... ROGER REES

Mouse................................................. GRETA SCACCHI

Freak.................................................. TOYAH WILCOX

BBC1 / 2x75m-e / 1998 29 - 30 December

Writer: Kevin Hood / Novel: Minette Walters / Producer: Kate Harwood / Director: Diarmuid Lawrence 

Psychological thriller. A journalist investigates the mysterious death of a down and out.

Mike Deacon....................................... CLIVE OWEN

Amanda Powell................................... JOELY RICHARDSON

Lisa.................................................... CAMILLA POWER

Terry................................................... KEVIN KNAPMAN

Barry.................................................. STUART McQUARRIE

Lawrence............................................ RICHARD JOHNSON

Billy Blake.......................................... ANTON LESSER

Nigel DeVreiss.................................... GREG HICKS

Charlie............................................... JOHN FORGEHAM

C4/Working Title / 4x60m-e / 1988

Novel: Maeve Binchy / Costume: Geoff Sharpe / Producer: Rebecca O'Brien / Director: Barbara Rennie

Period drama serial. Love and life in a small seaside town in Ireland in the 1950's.

Angela O'Brien................................... GERALDINE JAMES

Caroline Nolan................................... ALISON DOODY

Father O'Dwyer.................................. ERIC ERSKINE

Agnes O'Brien................................... AINE NI MIUIRI

Breeda.............................................. DEIDRE MONAGHAN

Associated-Rediffusion / 10x50m-e / 1961

Producer: Richard Matthews 

Crime drama series. Spin off from No Hiding Place. Detective Sergeant Baxter is promoted to Inspector and tackles his own cases.

Det Insp Baxter.................................. ERIC LANDER

Det Sgt York..................................... GEOFFREY RUSSELL

Thames / 1x30m-e / 1970 3 June - Wed 7.00pm

Writer: Benny Hill / Producer/Director: John Robins, Benny Hill 

Silent comedy. The adventures of a love struck young man.

Eddie.................................................. BENNY HILL

 BBC2 / 6x55m-e / 1985  4 Nov - 9 Dec

Writer:Troy Kennedy Martin / Music: Eric Clapton, Michael Kamen / Producer: Michael Wearing 

Drama serial. A Yorkshire inspector investigating the murder of his daughter gets caught up in a government cover up involving the dumping of nuclear waste. 

With:- BOB PECK as Ronald Craven / JOANNE WHALLEY as Emma Craven / JOE DON BAKER as Darius Jedburgh / JACK WATSON as James Godbolt / ZOE WANAMAKER as Clemmy / TIM McINNERNY as Terry Shields / IAN McNEICE as Harcourt / TREVOR BOWEN as Childs / CHARLES KAY as Pendleton

BBC / 1x90m-e / 1971

Writer: Jeremy Sandford / Producer: Irene Shubik / Director: Ted Kotcheff 

Drama. An elderly bag lady refuses to be helped out of her predicament.

With:- PATRICIA HAYES as Edna / BARBARA JEFFORD / PAT NYE

Tyne Tees / 1x30m-e / 1986

A kind of spin off from Auf Weidersehen Pet which saw Dennis Patterson having to give a heap of bricklayers a talk on the dangers of the AIDS virus. He attends a course, and afterwards goes to the local pub, to watch the course leader give a TV interview. Unfortunately, he finds a more than cynical Oz at the bar. Naturally Oz displays a bigotted attitude towards the whole thing, but Dennis decides that if he is to convince 70 brickies of the danger, he must make Oz aware also. This slightly bizarre entry into the Auf Weidersehen canon was made to promote AIDs awareness using two characters from the highly popular show to get salient points across.

With:- TIM HEALY as Dennis / JIMMY NAIL as Oz

Thames / 6x60m-e / 1978  8 Nov - 20 Dec

Writer:Simon Raven / Producer: Allan Cameron 

Period drama serial. The events surrounding the abdication leading up to the actual day on 10th Dec 1936. 

With:- EDWARD FOX as Edward / CYNTHIA HARRIS as Wallis Simpson / JESSIE MATTHEWS as Auntie Bessie / NIGEL HAWTHORNE as Walter Monckton / MARIUS GORING as George V / ANDREW RAY as Duke of York

ITV (Armchair Theatre) / 1x60m-e / 1969 24 February

Writer: Leigh Vance / Producer: Henry Caplan 

Drama.

With:- ALFRED BURKE / IAN HOLM / BERYL REID as Mrs Blaxhill

ATV / 13x60m-e / 1975 1 Apr - 1 Jul

Producer: Cecil Clarke / Book: Philip Magnus 

Period drama serial. The life of the heir to Queen Victoria, especially his dalliances with Lillie Langtry and other women. Also known as "EDWARD THE KING".

With:- ANNETTE CROSBIE as Queen Victoria / ROBERT HARDY as Prince Albert / TIMOTHY WEST as Edward Vii / FRANCESCA ANNIS as Lillie Langtry / FELICITY KENDAL as Princess Vicky / MICHAEL HORDERN as Gladstone / JOHN GIELGUD as Disraeli / CAROLYN SEYMOUR as Lady Brooke / GEOFFREY BAYLDON as Campbell-Bannerman / CHARLES DANCE as Prince Eddy / CHRISTOPHER NEAME as Kaiser Wilhelm / RICHARD VERNON as Lord Salisbury

BBC / 1x120m-e / 1971

Writer: Christopher Marlowe / Director: Tony Robinson

Marlowe's historical drama in blank verse set in the 14th century and written in 1593. The play opened with the accession of Edward and leading up to his estrangement with his French wife Queen Isabella.

With:- IAN McKELLAN / TIMOTHY WEST / JAMES LAURENSON / DIANE FLETCHER

Granada / 4x90m-e /  1965 black and white

Writer:Gerald Savory / Producer: Stuart Latham 

Four dramas written in the Edwardian Era. 1.The Walls of Jericho, 2.Mid Channel 3.Olive Latimer's Husband, 4.The Madras House the casts included Fulton Mackay, Patrick Allen, Clifford Evans, Gerald Flood, Robin Bailey

BBC / 8x50m-e / 1972

Producer: Mark Shivas 

Anthology of plays about important figures from turn of the century Britain.The people covered were Rolls & Royce, E. Nesbit, Arthur Conan Doyle, Daisy(mistress of Edward VII), Baden Powell, Marie LLoyd, Horatio Bottomley and Lloyd George.

Lloyd George................................... ANTHONY HOPKINS

Frederick Henry Royce..................... MICHAEL JAYSTON

Charles Stewart Rolls....................... ROBERT POWELL

King Edward VII............................... THORLEY WALTERS

Also with:- JACK DOUGLAS / MARIA AITKEN / FULTON MACKAY 

Channel 4 / 1x90m-e / 1984

Writer:John Mortimer / Producer: Rodney Bennett 

Drama. An elderly retired judge and his neighbour rival argue over the paternity of the Judge's son.

With:- ALEC GUINESS / PAUL RODGERS / RENEE ASHERSON

ATV / 1x60m-e / 1968 black and white 

Writer:Hugh Leonard / Producer: Rex Firkin / Director: John Nelson Burton 

Drama. Mary Downey is determined not to succumb to the entanglements of love.

Mary Downey...................................... LYNN REDGRAVE

Bender............................................... CHARLES GRAY

Timothy Driscoll.................................. T.P. McKENNA

Brian.................................................. PETER BOWLES

Newscaster........................................ DERMOT TOUHY

Dawn................................................. NERYS HUGHES

Waitress............................................ CAROL CLEVELAND

Eileen................................................ CAROLE MOWLAM

Central / 6x60m-e / 1984

Writer:Stephen Bill / Producer: David Dunn 

Comedy drama series. Stories of a group of fishermen at a Midlands angling club.

With:- ROY HOLDER / ARTRO MORRIS

BBC2 / 1x75m-e / 1997

Writer/Producer/Director: Phillipa Lowthorpe 

Comedy drama. Life for the residents of the railway town of Crewe in Cheshire.

Colin.................................................... TOM HIGGINS

Janet................................................... JULIA FORD

Sheila................................................. ANGELA WALSH

Lenny................................................. BILLY GERAGHTY

Harvey................................................ TIM BARLOW

BBC / 1x75m-e / 1975

Writer:Hugh Whitemore / Book: Helene Hanff / Producer: Mark Shivas / Director:Mark Cullingham

Drama. Over a 20 year period a London bookshop owner corresponds with a lady in America.

With:- ANNE JACKSON as Helene Hanff / FRANK FINLAY as Frank Doel

Granada / 18x60m-e / 1990-92

Creators:Chris Kelly, Iain Roy / Theme Music: Georgie Fame / Producer: Matthew Bird 

Crime drama series.A pair of ex-cops live on a boat on Spain's Costa Del Sol working as private detectives.

Bernard Blake(90-91)......................... ALFRED MOLINA

Douglas Bromley............................... JOHN BIRD

Frank............................................... TONY HAYGARTH

Metcalf............................................. DONALD CHURCHILL

Delgado............................................ SIMON ANDREAU

Mercedes......................................... VIVIANE VIVES

Rosie Bromley(92)............................ AMANDA REDMAN

Gus Mercer...................................... KENNETH CRANHAM

Senora Sanchez............................... MARIA ISBERT

BBC1 / 156x30m-e / 1992-93

Creators: Julia Smith, Tony Holland / Producers: Julia Smith, Corinne Hollingsworth 

Twice weekly drama series. Life for a group of ex-pats living on the Costa Del Sol in the Spanish fishing village of Los Barcos. The show touted as a major new long running soap lasted exactly one year.

With: - PATRICIA BRAKE as Gwen Lockhead / CAMPBELL MORRISON as Drew Lockhead / JESSE BIRDSALL as Marcus Tandy / POLLY PERKINS as Trish Valentine / LESLEE UDWIN as Joy Slater / SANDRA SANDRINI as Pilar Moreno / BUKI ARMSTRONG as Gerry Peters-Smith / ROLAND CURRAM as Freddie Martin / WILLIAM LUCAS as Stanley Webb / CLARE WILKIE as Trine

BBC / 3x75m-e / 1977

Writer:Andrew Davies / Producer: Louis Marks 

Trilogy of dramas about the life and loves of Karl Marx's daughter Tussie.

Tussie................................................ JENNY STOLLER

Avelina............................................... ALAN DOBIE

Marx.................................................. LEE MONTAGUE

Associated-Rediffusion / 1x90m-e / 1962 28 Nov black and white

Producer/Director:Joan Kemp-Welch 

A Greek tragedy (performed in the original Greek!).

With:- DIMITRI MALAVETAS / DIMITRI VEAKIS

BBC 'Play of the Month' / 1974  24 October

Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg 

Greek tradegy.

With:- ROSALIE CRUTCHLEY / JULIAN GLOVER / EILEEN ATKINS

BBC1 'Comedy Playhouse' / 1x30m-e / 1973 18 Jan - Thurs 8.00pm

Writer:N.F. Simpson / Producer: Barry Took / Director: Harold Snoad 

Comedy. A send up of the Sherlock Holmes oeuvre.

Holmes.............................................. JOHN CLEESE

Watson.............................................. WILLIE RUSHTON

Lady Cynthia...................................... JOSEPHINE TEWSON

Insp Street......................................... NORMAN BIRD

Constable.......................................... CHIC MURRAY

Frank Potter...................................... BILL MAYNARD

Fu Manchu........................................ LARRY MARTYN

C4/Hatrick / 1x90m-e / 1995

Writer/Director:Andy Hamilton / Producer:Jimmy Mulville 

Comedy thriller. The corrupt chairman of a Premier league football club is having to take desperate measures to keep his club afloat.

Sir Bob Luckton............................... TIMOTHY WEST

Ted Whitehead................................ JAMES BOLAM

Glenda Whitehead........................... SUSIE BLAKE

Jake Leach..................................... KEVIN McNALLY

Ron Griffiths.................................... SAM KELLY

Frank Jardine.................................. DAVID ROPER

Steve Denton.................................. PETER HOWITT

ITV / 1x120m-e / 1996

Writer:David Pirie  / Producers: Michael Whitehill, Sue Bennett-Unwin / Director: Christopher Morahan

Thriller. Beth Murray, a schoolteacher, begins to have suspicions that her husband Richard may be a killer.

Richard Murray................................ NIGEL HAVERS

Beth Murray.................................... GINA McKEE

Genevieve....................................... JUDY PARFITT

Kirk................................................ MICHAEL JAYSTON

Simon............................................ DENIS LILL 

ITV1 / 4x90m / started 19 January 2006

Writer: Stephen Gallagher / Director: Terry McDonagh / Producer: Stephen Smallwood

Professor Ian Hood is a top government scientist with a roving brief to investigate emergency situations where science has gotten out of hand. He is constantly accompanied by secret service bodyguard Rachel Young.

With PATRICK STEWART as Professor Ian Hood / ASHLEY JENSON as Rachel Young

C4 / 1x50m-e / 1994

Writer:Nigel Gearing / Producer: Susan Francis / Director: Paul Yule 

Drama. Ageing composer Elgar begins an affair with a young violinist.

Sir Edward Elgar............................... JAMES FOX

Jelly d'Arynal.................................... SELMA ALISPAHIC

Lady Alice Elgar............................... FAITH BROOK

William Reed................................... RUPERT FRAZER

C4 / 2x120m / 29 Sept, 6 Oct 2005

Writer: Nigel Williams / Director: Tom Hooper / Producer: Barney Reisz

Period drama. Starting in 1579 this is the story of Elizabeth I in her later years and about the politics of the time. Still without any child to continue her line Elizabeth's advisors are anxious that she should marry and bear children before it is too late. They arrange for suitor's from abroad to cement relationships between those who might otherwise choose to invade - but she has her eye on someone closer to home.

With:- HELEN MIRREN as Elizabeth I / JEREMY IRONS as Earl of Leicester / HUGH DANCY as Earl of Essex / PATRICK MALAHIDE as Sir Francis Walsingham

BBC / 6x75m-e / 1971 17 Feb - 24 Mar

Producer: Roderick Graham 

Historical drama serial. 6 plays telling the life of the Virgin Queen. 1.THE LION'S CUB Writer:John Hale / 2.THE MARRIAGE GAME Writer:Rosemary Anne Sisson / 3.SHADOWS IN THE SUN Writer:Julian Mitchell / 4.HORRIBLE CONSPIRACIES Writer:Hugh Whitemore / 5.THE ENTERPRISE OF ENGLAND Writer:John Prebble / 6.SWEET ENGLAND'S PRIDE Writer:Ian Rodgers

With:- GLENDA JACKSON as Elizabeth / ROBERT HARDY as Robert Dudley / RONALD HINES as William Cecil / ROBIN ELLIS as Earl of Sussex / DAPHNE SLATER as Mary Tudor / BERNARD HEPTON as Thomas Cranmer / PETER JEFFREY as Philip II of Spain

BBC1 / 2x60m / 10&11 August 2002 / 9:00pm

Writer: William Gaminara / Director: Gavin Millar / Producer: Emma Burge

Drama serial. When a fertility clinic receives press allegations of embryo mix-ups from six years ago, Gina, who received unsuccessful IVF treatment back then begins to suspect that 5-year old Ella, whose mother Madeleine was also receiving treatment at the same time, is really her child.

With:- MICHELLE COLLINS as Gina / JULIET AUBREY as Madeleine / SEAN GALLAGHER as George / LUCY JOYCE as Ella / JULIA DAVIS as Nicola

Yorkshire / 7x60m-e / 1996

Executive Producer: Keith Richardson 

Drama series. Stories of a tough sports promoter. There was a 90 minute pilot broadcast 1995.

Ellington............................................. CHRIS ELLISON

Ben Ellington...................................... SEAN CHAPMAN

Kelly Logan........................................ BETH GODDARD

Mary Pitt............................................ MAUREEN O'FARRELL

Vinnie Done........................................ PERRY FENWICK

BBC2/Tiger Aspect / 1x30m-e / 1997 26 Mar - Wed 10.00pm

Writer:Cris Cole / Executive Producer:Peter Bennett-Jones / Producer:Sophie Clarke-Jervoise / Director: Mark Chapman 

Comedy. Problems of new ambassador Peter Nevin in the central American republic of Solandas.

Peter Nevin....................................... ROBERT DAWS

Belinda Thompson............................. CAROLINE LANGRISHE

Taylor Scott...................................... BENJAMIN WHITROW

Senor Diace..................................... EDWARD DE SOUZA

Sarah Nevin..................................... CANDIDA GUBBINS

Rupert Lightfoot................................ ROBERT PORTAL

Mario Escabar................................. ARANCHA DE JUAN

Senor Hernandez............................. EMIL WOLK 

Book: David Bodanis (based on) / Producer/Director: Gary Johnstone

Drama documentary exploring the roots of Einstein's famous equation. >From the discoveries of Michael Farady, Antoine-Laurent Lavosier and Emilie du Châtelet which contributed vital elements of scientific wisdom which in the early 1900's were related by Einstein's deceptively simple formula which went on to provide the basis for the creation of nuclear power and the atomic bomb. Narrated by Christopher Eccleston

With:- AIDAN McARDIE as Albert Einstein / SHIRLEY HENDERSON as Mileva Maric / STEPHEN ROBERTSON as Michael Faraday / JULIAN RHIND-TUTT as Anyoine-Laurent Lavosier / RICHARD HENSHALL as James Clerk Maxwell / HÉLÈNE DE FOUGEROLES as Emilie du Châtelet / EMILY WOOF as Lise Meitner

ATV / 966x30m-e 50x60m-e  / 1957-67 black and white

Creator: Tessa Diamond / Producers: Anthony Kearey, John Cooper , Josephine Douglas 

Medical drama series.Shown twice weekly. Stories of the staff and patients of a Midlands General Hospital. The first big popular medical series.

Important characters included:-

With:- ROSEMARY MILLER as Nurse Pat Roberts / JILL BROWNE as Nurse Carole Young / ELIZABETH KENTISH as Sister Crowley / IRIS RUSSELL as Nurse Stevenson / RICHARD THORP as Dr John Rennie / JOHN ALDERTON as Dr Richard Moone / PAUL DARROW as Mr Verity / CHARLES TINGWELL as Dr Alan Dawson / GLYN OWEN as Dr Patrick O'Meara / DANDY NICHOLS as Mrs Hill / FREDERICK BARTMAN as Simon Forrester / WILLIAM WILDE as Dr Brooke / NOEL COLEMAN as Dr Richmond / DESMOND CARRINGTON as Chris Anderson

BBC / 6x30m-e / 1982

Writers:John and Steven Singer / Producer: Harold Snoad 

Comedy thriller serial. A private detective is hired to track down six people who stand to inherit a fortune. Dick Emery played the private detective as well as the six missing people.

Robin Bright....................................... BARRY EVANS

Roland Tolhurst.................................. RICHARD VERNON

O'Toole............................................. THOMAS BAPTISTE

Marley.............................................. MICHAEL ROBBINS

Thelma............................................. PATSY ROWLANDS

Cousin Looby.................................... IRENE HANDL

BBC/ABC / 4x75m-e / 1976

Producers: Frank Hatharly, Eric Taylor 

Drama serial.An Australian co-production. The Parker family decide to emigrate from Sussex to Australia.

William............................................... MICHAEL CRAIG

Mary.................................................. SHEILA REID

Michael.............................................. BRIAN DEACON

June.................................................. PENNE HACKFORTH-JONES

Paul.................................................. SIMON GIPPS-KENT

Janice............................................... LESLEY MANVILLE

William Parker Sr.............................. JOE RITCHIE

Meridian-United-Chestermead-A&E / 1x120m-e / 1996

Writer:Andrew Davies  / Novel: Jane Austen / Camera: Remi Adefarasin / Design: Don Taylor / Costume: Jenny Beavan / Music: Dominic Muldowney / Producer: Sue Birtwhistle / Director: Diarmuid Lawrence

Period drama. Too busy organising the love lives of her friends 21 year old Emma Woodhouse doesn't realise that she herself is in love.

With:- KATE BECKINSALE as Emma Woodhouse  / MARK STRONG as Knightly / SAMANTHA BOND as Mrs Weston / JAMES HAZLEDINE as Mr Weston / PRUNELLA SCALES Miss Bates / BERNARD HEPTON as Mr Woodhouse / SAMANTHA MORTON Harriet Smith / RAYMOND COULTHARD as Frank Churchill / SYLVIA BARTER as Mrs Bates / LUCY ROBINSON as Mrs Elton / DOMINIC ROWAN as Mr Elton

Yorkshire / 2000+x30m-e / 1972-continuing

Creator: Kevin Laffan / Theme Music: Tony Hatch 

Soap. Rural soap Emmerdale has changed out of all recognition since its humble beginnings on daytime TV on 16 October 1972 as Emmerdale Farm. When it began (with a funeral) the show was almost wholly concerned with the Sugden family led by the newly widowed matriarch Annie. Eldest son (and black sheep) Jack also returned home after years away. The title of the show was also the Sugden's Farm which had been left to Jack by his father. Also involved in the farm were youngest son Joe, daughter Peggy and her husband Matt Skilbeck and wily old Sam Pearson (Annie's ageing father). The tow other main characters during the shows early years were somewhat cantankerous pub landlord Amos Brearley (he of the famous mutton chop sideburns) and businessman Henry Wilks who not only ended up as co-landlord of the Woolpack Inn with Amos but also part owner of Emmerdale Farm Ltd (Jack decided to share the farm out among the family, Sam Pearson then sold his share to Henry). 

Although part of the ITV Network's daytime schedules the show was very popular (even being repeated at night in many ITV regions) and as time went on the show was moved nearer and nearer to prime time to its current spot of being shown each week night at 7.00pm. It wasn't until 1976 that the show opened out to take in more characters such as Matt's second wife Dolly Acaster and in the late seventies two characters still in the show today gamekeeper Seth Armstrong and tubby Alan Turner (Turner initially worked for conglomerate NY Estates and later took over the Woolpack from Henry and Amos). Jack Sugden (now played by a different actor) later got married to his childhood sweetheart Pat (he had unknowingly got her pregnant before leaving the village years before) and learned he had a teenage son called Jackie. Since that time the show has opened out all the more until now farming has very little to do with the show. There have been several spectacularly outrageous incidents since the early nineties (such as a plane crashing on the village wiping out many cast members, sieges and bus crashes).  With the de-emphasising of the farming aspects the shows producers decided to shorten the title of the show to simply Emmerdale they also renamed the village of Beckindale again calling it Emmerdale. 

Some facts:- The first Emmerdale wedding was between that of Frank Blakey and Janie Harker in March 1973. The first death of course occurred in the first episode with the funeral of Annie's husband Jacob. The first shop owner was Amy Postlethwaite who sold out to Alison Gibbons and Henry Wilks. Longest running policeman was Sergeant MacArthur. The vicar in Beckindale for the earliest years was the Reverend Ruskin but the longest serving was the Reverend Donald Hinton. Although the show is now very removed from its simple roots it remains one of the UK's big three soaps behind Coronation Street and Eastenders. 

Important cast members:-

SHEILA MERCIER as Annie Sugden / ANDREW BURT as Jack Sugden(1) / CLIVE HORNBY as Jack Sugden(1980- ) / FRAZER HINES as Joe Sugden / TOKE TOWNLEY as Sam Pearson / FREDERICK PYNE as Matt Skilbeck / JO KENDALL as Peggy Sugden/Skilbeck / ARTHUR PENTELOW as Henry Wilks / RONALD MAGILL as Amos Brearly / GAIL HARRISON as Marian Wilks(1) / LESLEY MANVILLE as Rosemary Kendall / KATHERINE BARKER as Dolly Skilbeck(1) / JEAN ROGERS as Dolly Skilbeck(2) / HELEN WIER as Pat Merrick/Sugden / IAN SHARROCK as Jackie Merrick / JANE HUTCHESON as Sandie Merrick / STAN RICHARDS as Seth Armstrong / RICHARD THORP as Alan Turner / MALANDRA BURROWS as Kathy Bates / CHRIS CHITTELL as Eric Pollard / CLAIRE KING as Kim Tate / NORMAN BOWLER as Frank Tate / GLENDA MACKAY as Rachel Hughes / HUGH MANNING as Reverend Hinton / PETER AMORY as Chris Tate / LEAH BRACKNELL as Zoe Tate / PAULA TILBROOK as Betty Eggleton / BILLY HARTMAN as Terry Woods / STEVE HALLIWELL as Zak Dingle / JOHNNY LEEZE as Ned Glover / TONICHA JERONIMO as Linda Glover / SAMANTHA GILES as Bernice Blackstock / PAUL LOUGHRAN as Butch Dingle / JANE COX as Lisa Dingle / LISA RILEY as Mandy Dingle / MARK CHARNOCK as Marlon Dingle / PAULA TILBROOK as Betty Eagleton / STUART WADE as Biff Fowler / NICKY EVANS as Roy Glover / KELVIN FLETCHER as Andy Hopwood / SALLY WALSH as Lyn Hutchinson / LOUISE BEATTIE as Laura Johnstone / STEPHANIE SCHONFIELD as Stella Jones / DOMINIC BRUNT as Paddy Kirk / FREYA COPELAND as Angie Reynolds / STEPHEN McGANN as Sean Reynolds / SHEREE MURPHY as Tricia Stokes / VICTORIA BINNS as Ollie Reynolds / CHRISTOPHER SMITH asRobert Sugden / MADELEINE HOWARD as Sarah Sugden(1) / ALYSON SPIRO as Sarah Sugden(2) / JOHN MIDDLETON as Rev Ashley Thomas / ADELE SILVA as Kelly Windsor/Glover / DEENA PAYNE as Viv Windsor