Fair Game (BBC-1 1994 with Lena Headey and Julian Kerridge)

In excellent period comedy drama Fair Game it’s 1970 and Carl returns to his northern home from university to go on a walking holiday with his girlfriend Ellie. Carl is rather more keen on canvassing for the upcoming General Election and watching England’s games in the world cup but is convinced that the holiday will allow him to take his relationship with Ellie to the next step.

Meanwhile Marco is a very wealthy young Italian man who discovers that he is in fact adopted and that his dad was a POW in England during World War II. He heads off to Preston in search of his roots and soon his path is crossing with that of Ellie and Carl.

Fair Game is full of wonderful period flavour and with strong central performances from the three young leads in particular the gorgeous Lena Headey, there is also a cute cameo from Prunella Scales as a hippyish photographer who offers wannabe designer Ellie some words of wisdom.

Great soundtrack too, most of The Beatles’ Abbey Road gets an airing as do songs from Mungo Jerry (In The Summertime), Thunderclap Newman (Something in the Air), Canned Heat, etc. Also watch out for a cameo from writer Stephen Bill who pops up playing one half of a boring Youth Hostelling couple.

classic quote
“I don’t bore the arse off people by having one topic of conversation”

production details
UK / BBC1 / 1×110 minute episode / Broadcast 11 June 1994 @ 9.00pm

Writer: Stephen Bill / Idea: Alan Dossor / Music Advisor: John Altman / Costumes: Janice Rider / Production Design: Rob Hinds / Executive Producer: Michael Wearing / Director: Alan Dossor

cast
LENA HEADEY as Ellie
JULIAN KERRIDGE as Carl
MASSIMO BELLINZONI as Marco
PRUNELLA SCALES as Marjorie
DAVID ROSS as Carl’s Dad
POLLY HEMINGWAY as Carl’s Mum
MAGGIE OLLERENSHAW as Eileen
SIMONE BENDIX as Elena
GABRIELLE LLOYD as Auntie Alice
EAMON BOLAND as Uncle Jack
VENANTINO VENANTINI as Claudio
JOSEPH LONG as Giampaolo
MAGGIE OLLERENSHAW as Eileen
ANITA ZAGARIA as Maria
BUONVILI GAVINO as Monk
SARA SAVASTA, ELISABETA BUONSIGNORI as Maids
DAVID BRADLEY as Whitby Policeman
PAUL SLACK as Mechanic
ANGELA CURRAN as Librarian
JANE WADDINGTON as Assistant Librarian
HENRY LIVINGS as Bernie
GEORGE A. COOPER as George
NICHOLAS LANE as Kevin
JACK DEAM as Brendan
STEVE HALLIWELL as YHA Warden
GAYNOR FAYE as Goggle Hole Girl
NICHOLA CORDEY as Lucinda
STPEHEN BILL, SUE WALLACE as YHA Couple
HARRY BEETY as Helpful Masham Man
NICHOLAS GLEAVES as Nigel
JEFFREY ROBERT as Gordon
RICHARD BONNEVILLE as Jerry
MARSTON BLOOM as Simon
SIMON ROBSON as Barnaby
GORDON LANGFORD ROWE as Passerby
MICHAEL WARDLE as Lorry Driver
ANTHONY BENSON as Holiday Maker
MARTIN GREENWOOD, ANDREW GROSE, JOANNE WOOTTON as Youth Hostellers