Period drama serial Shabby Tiger took us back to the early 1930’s where Irish servant girl Anna Fitzgerald gets involved in Manchester bohemian life after falling for artist Nick Faunt. Having met in whilst Nick was camping and Anna was en route to Manchester the pair begin an uneasy love affair and set up house together.
Although set in Manchester location filming for the series took place in Derbyshire, Manchester having been rejected for being too cleaned up and developed.
The series was Prunella Gee’s first ever TV part and the success of the drama turned her into a major player. In fact all three of the leads were not particularly well known although John Nolan had appeared in Doomwatch.
The title sequence and theme music is worthy of mention, very art deco.
production details
UK / ITV – Granada / 7×50 minute episodes / Broadcast 11 July – 22 August 1973 Wednesdays at 9.00pm
Writer: Geoffrey Lancashire / Novel: Howard Spring / Music: Derek Hilton / Producer: Richard Everitt
cast
Prunella Gee as Anna Fitzgerald
John Nolan as Nick Faunt
Sharon Mughan as Rachel Rosing
Howard Southern as Jacob “Mo” Rosing
Nigel Havers as Toby Scriven
THE EPISODES
1. A WIFE IN WATER COLOURS (11 Jul 73)
2. A JEALOUS MISTRESS (18 Jul 73)
3. BEGGARS AT A BANQUET (25 Jul 73)
4. TO ESCAPE FROM OURSELVES (1 Aug 73)
5. STRAWBERRIES AND CHAMPAGNE (8 Aug 73)
6. THE MIRROR OF REASON (15 Aug 73)
7. THE FINAL GAMBLE (22 Aug 73)
