Fathers and Families was an anthology of plays about families under strain, the linking factor was Dinsdale Landen who appeared as a solicitor in each of the six plays. The productions were all longer than the norm running to 75 minutes.
There was a nice sense of cohesion though as John Hopkins wrote all the scripts and Christopher Morahan was sole director. The casts were generally low key but included Anton Rodgers, Gareth Thomas, Benjamin Whitrow, Anna Carteret and T.P. McKenna as the highest profile ones.
The series was considered high profile enough to be given a prestigious Radio Times cover for the week of it’s premiere episode.
production details
UK / BBC One / 6×75 minute episodes / Broadcast 1 February – 8 March 1977
Writer: John Hopkins / Script Editor: Richard Broke / Producer: Mark Shivas / Co-Producer: Stella Richman / Director: Christopher Morahan
cast
Dinsdale Landen as John Malory
THE EPISODES
1. NOTHING TO LOSE (1 Feb 1977)
2. MOTHER SONG (8 Feb 1977)
3. WINTER SHAPES (15 Feb 1977)
4. ANCIENT SCARS (22 Feb 1977)
5. LEFT FOR DEAD (1 Mar 1977)
6. FAMILY PARTY (8 Mar 1977)
