An A to Z of UK Television Drama

Dennis Potter's Karaoke was the first of two linked dramas written as he was dying and produced posthumously after his death. Starring Albert Finney as dying writer Daniel Feeld, the series is a kind of Dennis Potter's greatest hits with references aplenty to his previous works and a self-aware storyline that reflects on the blurring of lines between reality and fiction when people starting behaving like Feeld's characters and speaking the lines he has written.

A stellar guest cast includes Hywel Bennett, Richard E. Grant, Alison Steadman, Roy Hudd, Liz Smith, Saffron Burrows and Keeley Hawes.

Martin also watched and reflects upon its sequel Cold Lazarus and its links with Karaoke.

Is this Dennis Potter at its finest or simply one of his last works? Join Andy and Martin as they go back to examine a TV series that had been long-awaited when it debuted in 1996.

Next Time: London's Burning (the Jack Rosenthal pilot not the more run-of-the-mill TV series that followed it!)

In this tenth edition of the podcast Andy and Martin go back to the late Nineties and the Noughties when Jonathan Creek was one of the most popular dramas on TV with its mix of the macabre, murder and magic. Created and written by David Renwick the series was more of a 'Howdunnit' than a 'Whodunnit' and starred Alan Davies in the title role.

Over 5 series and several memorable feature-length specials Jonathan Creek aired between 1997 and 2016. At first Davies was joined by Caroline Quentin as Maddy Magellan. After the first two series she was replaced by Julia Sawalha as Carla Borrego, then Sheridan Smith as Joey Ross, and finally Sarah Alexander as his wife Polly Creek.

In order to explore and review the world of Jonathan Creek, Andy and Martin watched 5 of the series 32 episodes including the opening two episodes: The Wrestler's Tomb and Jack in the Box, the final episode of series two: Mother Redcap (or as Martin prefers: Mother Redknapp!), and two of the most memorable specials: Satan's Chimney and The Grinning Man.

Along the way they appraise the difficult genre of the comedy drama, rail against the series terrible sexism and homophobia, and complain about the tackiness of Adam Klaus. However, they still find much to enjoy, especially the terrifying bath sequence in The Grinning Man and the many excellent guest appearances by Doctor Who actors.

Next time: Karaoke

Quinctilius Varus, where are my eagles?!?!?

Andy and Martin celebrate the BBC's classic 12-part Roman epic I, Claudius, which first aired in the UK in 1976 and starred Derek Jacobi, Sian Phillips, Brian Blessed, John Hurt and George Baker.

Dramatised by Jack Pulman, from two award-winning novels by Robert Graves, I Claudius has quite rightly wowed audiences for over 40 years. The series secured Jacobi and Phillips and designer Tim Harvey BAFTAs and has been shown all over the world gaining particular appreciation in the US where it was shown as part of the 'Masterpiece Theatre' strand.

A tale of love, murder and intrigue, the series charts the tempestuous reigns of four Roman Emperors and the dawn of a fifth, via the writings of the most unlikely man ever to become one himself, the lame, stammering, stuttering Claudius.

Andy and Martin choose their favourite scenes and performances, go back to Graves' novels to see what Pulman missed out and even dig out some 1st Century quotes from Roman historians Tacitus and Suetonius. They also inevitably discuss that one legendary missing clip that everyone is convinced they've seen.

Get that thar toga on and get yersel down t'Forum!

Next Time: Jonathan Creek

Andy and Martin don their tank tops and kipper ties to go back to The University of Watermouth in 1972 where progressive sociology lecturer Howard Kirk (Antony Sher) eagerly awaits the new academic year with all its promise of conquests, protests and political shenanigans.

Malcolm Bradbury's 1975 novel was adapted for TV by Christopher Hampton in 1981 finding a 10pm slot on BBC2 where it shocked, provoked and possibly titillated a newly Conservative Britain.

They find much to enjoy therein as they consider the fading socialist dream of the 70s, the lens of a 1981 perspective on a 1975 novel (which itself is a lens on a 1972-set narrative), its treatment of sexuality and gender politics, and the glorious accuracy of what might just be the most perfect committee meeting ever filmed,

A fantastic supporting cast included Geraldine James, Sir Michael Hordern, Isla Blair, Paul Brooke and Miriam Margolyes.

Next time: I Claudius

Our 7th episode finds us at G and Channel 4's acclaimed Alan Bleasdale drama GBH. The series is about political machinations in a nameless northern city in the early 90s, centred on two men: sharp-suited Labour council leader Michael Murray (a BAFTA award-winning performance from Robert Lindsay) and a mentally disturbed headmaster of a special school Jim Nelson (BAFTA-nominated Michael Palin). Supporting characters include Michael's Irish mother (Julie Walters) and the mysterious Barbara (Lindsay Duncan, who also won a BAFTA nomination).

Along the the way you'll hear how Andy discovered the status button button on his DVD remote, and how Martin, who thought he knew what he's getting, finds some of the content a struggle. Unless GBH happens to be your favourite TV series of all time and you cannot cope with any criticism of it, join Andy and Martin as they traverse the highs(Andy: There were highs?!?!)and lows of this 1991 drama which was executive produced by Verity Lambert.

Next Time: The History Man

Our sixth episode focuses on the criminally overlooked wartime saga Fortunes of War, starring Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh as newlyweds Harriet and Guy Pringle who find themselves continually evaded the German advance across Europe, from Romania, to Greece to Egypt. Directed by James Cellan Jones and adapted by Alan Plater, from as many as six books by Olivia Manning, Fortunes of War offers an epic treatise on love, commitment and the human spirit and a stunning guest cast of memorable supporting characters played by Ronald Pickup, Charles Kay, Philip Madoc, Clifford Rose, Ciaran Madden, Robert Stephens and Alan Bennett.

Despite several BAFTA awards for Thompson, it's design and costumes, Fortunes rarely, if ever, makes it into books on TV drama or onto lists of the best British TV series and Andy in particular, who is a big fan of the series, wants answers!

Next episode: GBH

Episode 5 sees us reach the letter E as we tackle the dramatic behemoth that is the 1985 BBC thriller Edge of Darkness! Starring Bob Peck, Joe Don Baker, Joanne Whalley and Charles Kay, the series was so popular on its first BBC2 transmission that it was immediately repeated on BBC1. Andy and Martin discuss how they feel this story of nuclear shenanigans stands up today and whether it truly deserves the accolades that have been heaped on it over the years. Get it while it's hot!

Next time: Fortunes of War

In which we reach the letter 'D' and explore that prescient beast Doomwatch, devised by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davis, which aired for 3 series between 1970 and 1972. We take a close look at the series 2 episode Web of Fear with Glyn Owen, Stephanie Bidmead and the least threatening spiders in a drama ever, and the famously untransmitted episode Sex and Violence featuring June Brown and Bernard Horsfall. Underwhelmed by the former, the latter, on the other hand, feels startlingly relevant to the present day.

Next Time: Edge of Darkness

Our third episode finds us in the world of Margery Allingham's famous detective Albert Campion starring Peter Davison and Brian Glover. Specifically we explore the first story of Campion's second run, a two-part mystery entitled Sweet Danger also featuring Lysette Anthony, Iain Cuthbertson and David Haig, which was adapted for television by Jill Hyem.

There are various TV crime drama themes along the way and even a startling TV-AM interview with Peter Davison about a possible pop career.

Next time: Doomwatch

Our second episode see us enter the lives of Trevor Chaplin and Jill Swinburne, two apparently ordinary teachers from Leeds whose pursuit of some missing records by jazz legend Bix Beiderbecke plunges them into a world of dodgy businessmen, underground economies and police corruption. This Alan Plater-scripted classic from 1985 quickly won the hearts of viewers and spawned two sequels.

Next time: Campion