An A to Z of UK Television Drama

Andy and Martin find themselves in their new slot of the 14th day of every month and thankfully (workload-wise) an episode with no extras to edit! This time we explore the culty 1998 6-part Channel 4 drama, Ultraviolet, written and directed by Doctor Who legend Joe Ahearne. Although they definitely didn't hate it, they are both struck by how serious and po-faced it is and question what might be missing. Humour? Engaging characters? The word vampire? Be nice.

As they critique the series they inevitably touch on This Life, Buffy and Being Human. They also consider whether a second series was expected and how they feel about the fact that Ahearne had to get this series commissioned as police procedural first and a supernatural drama second.

Also Andy would like to know if you went to that big Brazilian conference in Rio in 1992, because everyone who was 'green' was there.

Next Time: A Very Peculiar Practice.

Andy is excited to be speaking to none other than the creator of Tenko about her memories of creating the series while in her Twenties. She recalls how an edition of This is Your Life and a subsequent documentary 'Women in Captivity' brought many women who had formerly been prisoners of the Japanese into her life, leading her to conceive of Tenko. She shares how she feels about the drama today and how the women of the camps and the actors in the series are still important to her.

Andy and Martin stutter a bit at 'T' in their alphabetical journey through archive TV, following up last time's Tenko episode with the Christmas finale to the popular series, first shown 35 years ago today. They decide that the Reunion special is not only perfectly crafted, but also a fitting end to Tenko as a whole.

Elsewhere, Andy shares his adventures in Singapore: visiting both the Jefferson residence and Dominica and Teddy's plantation house. Meanwhile Martin asks important questions about the narrative's treatment of Chinese characters and the communist pursuit of independence. And he and Andy inevitably also end up discussing the state of democracy as a result.

Elsewhere the pair agree that Jill Hyem should have scripted The Five Doctors given her genius for juggling characters and her subtlety.

All this and an interview with Tim (of the Doctor Who Missing Episodes podcast) about his 2020 binge on all of Tenko in one week!

An A to Z of UK TV Drama will return on 14 Jan with an episode exploring Ultraviolet.

Happy Christmas!

Andy interviews Louise Jameson about her favourite television role - Blanche Simmons - over two series of Tenko. She recalls the sisterhood that formed, her affection for and gratitude to Pennant Roberts, missing out on Tenko's final series, and why it was such a different prospect to most of the drama that had gone before it.

An exclusive new interview with Claire Oberman who played Aussie nurse Kate Norris in all three series of Tenko as well as the Reunion Special. In addition to reminiscences of her Tenko years, Claire recalls playing Mortimer in Fortunes of War.

Andy interviews Veronica 'Ronnie' Roberts about playing Dorothy Bennett over three series of Tenko. She recalls filming adventures overseas and here in the UK writer Anne Valery's connection with her character, her friendships with the other regulars, and the place Tenko holds in her heart today.

What else could it be for the letter T than Tenko? Once again, Andy wrote a comprehensive book on the series ‘Remembering Tenko’ and considers the series to be one of the greatest ever made. Martin likes it too, but perhaps not so rabidly as his co-host. Together they explore this drama which charted the fortunes of women prisoners of the Japanese during World War II over 3 series and 30 episodes from 1981 to 1984 and became a runaway success for the BBC. As well as covering its creation and the crucial roles of Lavinia Warner, Jill Hyem and Anne Valery, they examine three episodes in particular, picking out key performances, action and themes: the aftermath of Blanche’s escape from Series 1, the events leading up to Sally’s suicide in Series 2, and Dorothy coming to terms with all that has happened to her and who she is in her final episode in Series 3.

They also talk about shopping channels, Martin's radio show and how Tenko passes three important tests with flying colours: Bechdel, Makomori, and Sexy Lamp. Find out more in today's episode.

Next Time (35 years on since its first broadcast to the day): Tenko Reunion.

Andy interviews Clifford Rose about playing Kessler in Secret Army and its sequel Kessler. This is the third and final extra accompanying Andy and Martin's regular episode exploring Secret Army.

Andy interviews Juliet Hammond-Hill about her memories of playing Natalie Chantrens in Secret Army. This is the second of three extras accompanying Andy and Martin's regular episode exploring Secret Army.

Andy interviews Angela Richards about playing Monique in Secret Army. This is the first of three extras accompanying Andy and Martin's regular episode exploring Secret Army.