The DVD Review

WHEN THE BOAT COMES IN Series 2 

13 Episodes in a 6 disc Box Set. Acorn Media UK .

Following on from their release of season one Acorn Media UK bring us season two of one of the BBC’s most fondly remembered series, series one saw Jack Ford return home from world war one determined to make his mark in the world, set in Newcastle, in particular Gallashields, fitting in with the Seaton family Jack (played superbly by James Bolam) was soon involved with the local Fitter’s Union. 

Season two, made in 1976, carried on in much the same vein, with Jack though becoming a little more devious as the series progressed, married to Matt Headley’s sister Dolly and working as Branch secretary for the Union all seems good for Ford but he is not satisfied, still in love with Jessie Seaton even though she is married and pregnant Jack seems unconcerned when his wife begins an affair with Tom Seaton, of course the Seaton family play a very important role in the series, as much time is devoted to their troubles as to Jack’s and developments this season include Billy struggling to make ends meet as a newly qualified doctor, Jessie having a child and father Bill (confined to a wheelchair following a pit accident) spreading his shop empire.

When the Boat Comes In is superior drama, storylines spreading with ease over numerous episodes and sustaining the interest (helped enormously by the fact that series creator James Mitchell wrote all the episodes for this season), Jack always on the look out for ways to move up in society especially with his shady dealings with Lord Horatio Manners. The cast are uniformly excellent from Bolam down, (his real life partner Susan Jameson plays the forthright Jessie Seaton), but James Garbutt and Jean Heywood as Bill and Bella Seaton are fantastic their sparring providing a real highlight of the series.  Roll on series three.

Extras include cast filmographies, extensive production notes and a picture gallery.