In three part serial A Family Man, middle aged William Robertson gets a sense of his own mortality in a coming to terms with the fact that his parents are very much getting on in years whilst also reflecting on his own growing up.
A low key production with no real raison d’etre as such; In the first episode William is trying to cheer his dad Bill up he has had a hip operation, a nostalgia tinged second episode and a carry on with that theme for the third and final episode with a funeral trip to the small Worcestershire village the Robertsons came from. There were also flashbacks to when William was a boy.
production details
UK / BBC Two / 3×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 13 – 27 January 1984
Writer: Ted Walker / Music: Dave Greenslade / Production Design: Stephen Brownsey / Camera: Jim Saunders / Costume Design: Joan Wakefield / Producer and Director: Colin Rose
cast
Ian Hogg as William Robertson
Tony Steedman as Bill Robertson
Jean Heywood as Kate Robertson
Lloyd McGuire as Young Bill
Carol Leader as Young Kate
Edward Barrett as Young William
Simon Stewart as Younger William
Roderick Smith as Tom
David Beckett as Charlie
Roger Hume as Grandfather George
Charlotte Perrin as Mrs Hanmore
Mary Wimbush as May
Emrys James as Caleb
John Evitts as Doctor
THE EPISODES
1. THE ARIEL (13 Jan 1984)
2. HOME TRUTHS (20 Jan 1984)
3. A FIRE BEFORE WINTER (27 Jan 1984)
