Bill Brand (ITV series, 1976)

[Conchis]

Anyone remember this series, shown - unbelievably - on ITV during the long, hot summer of 1976?

It tells the story of a 'radical Labour MP' (or 'entryist meddler' depending on your pov) struggling to represent his industrial constituency and reconcile his principles with being part of a right-wing Labour government with no overall majority.

The writing - by Trevor Griffiths, who ought not to have been so easily forgotten - is superb, rising to exhilarating heights at times. It's almost unheard of these days for a writer to make such demands on the concentration of his audience (or to show such respect for their intelligence).

Sadly, there was only one series but Griffiths was eerily prescient about the fate of the left in the UK - the series ends with Brand contemplating a move to South America, where the struggle seems (or seemed then) to have a future.

All in all, brilliant - but not for those who don't remember or understand the politics of the period.


Anyone else seen it?

[Bryn]

Anyone remember this series, shown - unbelievably - on ITV during the long, hot summer of 1976?

It tells the story of a 'radical Labour MP' (or 'entryist meddler' depending on your pov) struggling to represent his industrial constituency and reconcile his principles with being part of a right-wing Labour government with no overall majority.

The writing - by Trevor Griffiths, who ought not to have been so easily forgotten - is superb, rising to exhilarating heights at times. It's almost unheard of these days for a writer to make such demands on the concentration of his audience (or to show such respect for their intelligence).

Sadly, there was only one series but Griffiths was eerily prescient about the fate of the left in the UK - the series ends with Brand contemplating a move to South America, where the struggle seems (or seemed then) to have a future.

All in all, brilliant - but not for those who don't remember or understand the politics of the period.


Anyone else seen it?

Remember it well. I might just order the DVD set:

[Conchis]

Remember it well. I might just order the DVD set:

I'd definitely go for it: it's very absorbing and repays repeating viewings. I'm currently on my second.

Unbelievable that television drama was once so dialogue-driven.

[Serial_Apologist]

I don't remember that series, being as I couldn't afford a telly at that time. (Everyone now: aaaaah!)

By a sort of half-coincidence I picked up from RT Simply Home Entertainment the 3-CD set of the 1996 BBC series "Our Friends in the North", outlining the politicisation of a group of Geordie families and friends alongside the top-down corruption and enforced de-radicalisation of grass-roots Labour from the early 1960s T Dan Smith era to 1995 and the rise of Bliarism, starring Christopher Ecclestone, Gina McKee, Daniel Craig and Mark Strong - all of course destined for lesser things. I find myself drawn more and more to historical representations of events and developments I lived through, as a kind of evidence of what the ruling class did and still does to mislead, as well as of our dreams and hopes for a better world, to pass on when we're gone. £17.98 in all including P&P, which I thought reasonable, though I dare say would have costed me less on Amazing.

Sorry to sound so pessimistic but it is a wet Monday in August.

[Stanley Stewart]

Many thanks for the tip, Conchis. I've jumped on the bandwagon before any price increase may be applied. I've worked with Jack Shepherd on a TV production and he was always a most stimulating and articulate colleague. My DVD set is due to be delivered before the Bank Holiday weekend and will make enjoyable viewing for 3 hours.

[jean]

Can we mention Jeremy Corbyn on this thread?

[Serial_Apologist]

Can we mention Jeremy Corbyn on this thread?

Shhh! - they may be waiting to pounce.

We can mention Boys from the Blackstuff but not The Liver Birds.

[jean]

If it's political content we're supposed to be avoiding, surely that should be the other way round?

[Serial_Apologist]

If it's political content we're supposed to be avoiding, surely that should be the other way round?

Perhaps it's time The Liver Birds was re-shown - just to demonstrate how far we've (not) come.

[Conchis]

I don't remember that series, being as I couldn't afford a telly at that time. (Everyone now: aaaaah!)

By a sort of half-coincidence I picked up from RT Simply Home Entertainment the 3-CD set of the 1996 BBC series "Our Friends in the North", outlining the politicisation of a group of Geordie families and friends alongside the top-down corruption and enforced de-radicalisation of grass-roots Labour from the early 1960s T Dan Smith era to 1995 and the rise of Bliarism, starring Christopher Ecclestone, Gina McKee, Daniel Craig and Mark Strong - all of course destined for lesser things. I find myself drawn more and more to historical representations of events and developments I lived through, as a kind of evidence of what the ruling class did and still does to mislead, as well as of our dreams and hopes for a better world, to pass on when we're gone. £17.98 in all including P&P, which I thought reasonable, though I dare say would have costed me less on Amazing.

Sorry to sound so pessimistic but it is a wet Monday in August.

Another excellent series, which held me spellbound during its original transmission.

A LOT less demanding than Bill Brand but that's hardly a criticism. Very moving in parts and no worse for taking an unapologetically biased view of events.

Unfortunately, the current DVD cuts out the use of an Oasis song at the end of the final episode: although I dislike Oasis, this was the only time I'd been pleased to hear one of their songs as it went so well with the final images of Geordie pacing, lost, along the Tyne Bridge.

[Conchis]

Can we mention Jeremy Corbyn on this thread?

Inevitably, it made me think of Jeremy Corbyn and current events may even have prompted me to take a second viewing. uple

There are a couple of irritating factors to the series: one is that it's clearly set in the UK in 1976, two years into a Labour government with a very small majority. Contemporary (or near-contemporary) politicians like Gaitskell and Crosland are referred to by name; and a current, centrist leader/PM is about to resign. Yet this is clearly a different world - there's a charismatic rightist contender for the leadership who is nothing like Roy Jenkins and a leftist contender, played by Alan Badel, who is nothing like Michael Foot (if only, eh?)

For all that, it's still a great series. Cherie Lunghi turns up, too - looking all of 12!