Goodnight Mister Tom (ITV 1998, John Thaw, Nick Robinson)

Charming, award-winning family drama Goodnight Mr Tom stars John Thaw as “Mr Tom” Oakley, a widower who reluctantly looks after a boy who has been evacuated from London during World War II. Mr Tom is still brooding over the death of his wife and young son and so finds his new charge William an unwelcome guest. However, the old man soon takes the quiet 10-year-old under his wing after discovering the child has scars on his back and irrational fears, as a result of an abusive home life, and resolves to give him a better life.

Goodnight Mr Tom won the Most Popular Drama, and John Thaw the Most Popular Actor gongs at the National TV Awards in 1999.  Thaw was voted number three in a public poll of TV’s Greatest Stars in 2006, four years after his death from throat cancer aged 60.

cast
John Thaw as Tom Oakley
Nick Robinson as William Beech
Annabelle Apsion as Mrs. Beech
Thomas Orange as Zacharias Wrench
Bill Armstrong as Dr. Stelton
Geoffrey Beevers as Vicar
Mossie Smith as Mrs. Fletcher
Peter England as Michael Fletcher
Ivan Berry as George Fletcher
Harry Capehorn as Edward Fletcher
Merelina Kendall as Mrs. Holland
Marlene Sidaway as Mrs. Webster
John Cater as Dr. Little
Denyse Alexander as Mrs. Little
Avril Elgar as Mrs. Ford

crew details
Writer: Brian Finch
Novel: Michelle Magorian
Producer: Chris Burt
Director: Jack Gold

production details
Country: UK
Network: ITV – Yorkshire
Duration: 1×100 minute episodes
Aired From: 25 October 1998