this is quite simply the greatest single series period drama ever made John Duttine Frank Middlemass Charles Kay Neil Stacy all superb but Alan Mcnaughtan IMO took the acting honours for his wonderful portrayal of Howarth, the worldly wise been there seen it all teacher
This is so BRILLIANT! Thankyou. Earlier this year I visited the grave in Devon of Ernest Charles Harries, on whom the headmaster Algie Herries is based, and saw the real-life Bamfylde (West Buckland School).
Thank you for this. I was 18 when the series was shown and I've never forgotten it over thirty years later. The BBC was something to be proud of then. Now, Strictly Come Dancing is its most watched programme. Thank you again for uploading this.
One of the very best dramas produced by the BBC. I vividly recall watching it every Friday night at 8.10pm in the autumn of 1980. A saga of the style no longer produced, sadly. For me, one of the best dramas to deal with one of the most tragic consequences of war, those still living with their physical and mental injuries. Interesting to see a young Nick Lyndhurst, exactly a year before he would star as Rodney Trotter in the nascent series of Only Fools and Horses. This part was his last as a juvenile, having appeared in Heidi, Anne of Avonlea, The Prince and the Pauper, Going Straight and Butterflies. It was Going Straight, the underrated sequel to Porridge, where he played Norman Fletcher's somewhat lethargic son, Raymond, that alerted his acting chops to one viewer, John Sullivan, then casting for Rodney Trotter and spotting just the right level of nieve charm from Lyndhurst, in a repeat run of the series. The rest is history.
I can't thank you enough for uploading this series. I remember enjoying it back in the '80's and thought I'd have a look to see if any of it was here. I was surprised to see that the whole thing was here. I ended up watching the whole thing again. It really is wonderful. Thank you again.
I first discovered/watched this 5 or 6 years ago on your channel. 13 hours non-stop, watched all night, I had to see it all! Wonderful series! I've watched it more than a few times since then. Thank you!!!
I was glued to this series as I struggled through my EARLY years as a teacher in Los Angeles..... Not quite the same experience, but it helped all the same.....
A wonderful week-long adaptation repeated on the BBC radio online this week. Appreciate this upload…. truly a forgotten gem and a book worth reading. Thank you.
Like this BBC production, and "Upstairs, Downstairs," "Brideshead Revisited," "The Duchess of Duke Street," "The Ginger Tree," and many, many others.......they just don't make 'em like this anymore. Thanks for posting this "gem."
its such a shame that r.f. delderfield seems to be the forgotten writer ,its so hard to find his books these days, if there is any justice he will soon be discovered again .and this was a great tv series.thank you .
Simon Gipps-Kent. I googled him to find out whatever happened and all that. And he died in 1987 from a morphine OD! Nice to see Nicholas Lindhurst pre-Rodney days! Loved this series. One of the few programmes my Dad and I enjoyed!
Ta-taah! I just recognized old "Merriman" from the "Duchess of Duke Street" - and I'm very proud to have him found only by his voice first ;-) (The actor who was writing at his desk in front of the office scene, as the new headmaster was coming over the hills).
My son is right this moment at the 'real' Bamfylde school - West Buckland in North Devon. It is a great book about a unique school and the series presented the story well although filmed further up country nearer to London for budgetary reasons (and Exmoor weather!!) I watched it as a young teenager in Surrey wishing I could have gone there and never dreamt that my Son would actually be there one day!
It's the school song and was composed for the series by Kenyon Emrys-Roberts. U can look him up on IMDB. He did several other famous themes - like Poldark.
I love the episode of Game On in which Martin decides to be a teacher, and has roseate visions of a posh school that reminded me of To Serve Them All My Days...and he gets sent to a dreadful sink school instead!
A great series. Great to see again. Another famous one from around the same time, "The Word", from 1978 USA. This starred David Janssen and James Whitmore but appears unavailable. Can you help? Ta.
70 years ago I attended a prep school in the U.S. which was fashioned after the English public school model, with the exception of hide-thrashings. The faculty contained the same flint-hearted old grouches whose very existence was dedicated to making our lives miserable with rigid, silly rules. In this series I find similar academic backstabbers and turncoats with a few saving masters like David Powlett-Jones and Algy, the avuncular headmaster. I still have nightmares about Alcott, his fascist replacement. A fascinating series indeed.
@generalravon Thank you so much for uploading this! Would it be possible for you (or anyone else) to upload the series A Horseman Riding By? (also R.F. Delderfield and televised in the 1970s or 80s).
What other RFD books have you read. I loved the Swann trilogy, The Avenue Goes to War books were good (Duttine was in the TV version of that as well) and Too Few For Drums. I've never read A Horseman Riding By, I was put off by the rather dreary TV series
Sorry I shouldn't have used the word clumped. Have a look at the Davies interview. I think it helped to speed the series up a bit, but she was a good character in the book. It's been some years since I read it. Go to howlingwooolf's channel to find the interview.
There is an interview with Andrew Davies on here in which he said he didn't like the idea of the Grace character clumping along behind David for the rest of the series. I think they did right to drop her, as it was I felt that they rushed the last bit of the series. It really could have have have done with one more episode.
Does anyone know where the theme music comes from? I grew up in the Episcopal church in the American South and it sounds vaguely familiar, which isn't surprising since the program opens with what I assume is an Anglican service. But I've been chasing the music for years and can't find a reference anywhere. Any help out there would be appreciated.
My only criticism of the series (apart from the canary yellow skies on the scenes where PJ meets Beth and later mets her off the train - limitations of early tube video cameras used outdoors!) is that the final episode mangled the story terribly concerning Howarth, depriving us of scenes in the novel where an old boy reveals that Howarth had paid the boy's tutition after the boy's father had died, and Howarth had left his life's savings to the school, and the final scene where PJ as headmaster welcomes a new teacher invalided out of WWII, just as Herries had done 20 years earlier to PJ when he was invaslided out of WWI. An extra episode should have been made to expand those storylines. And the casting of Chrsitine was poor - even allowing for the politics that she shared with PJ, I simply don;t think he'd have found her attractive, comapred with Beth and Julia.
It's the polar opposite of the trash dribbled out by contemporary British programme makers ...'spose we can thank our lucky stars that the BBC hasn't re-made it & stuffed it full with 'actors' from Eastenders & ex-weather girls! Long live Algy Herries!!
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
this is quite simply the greatest single series period drama ever made
John Duttine
Frank Middlemass
Charles Kay
Neil Stacy
all superb
but Alan Mcnaughtan IMO took the acting honours for his wonderful portrayal of Howarth, the worldly wise been there seen it all teacher
This is so BRILLIANT! Thankyou.
Earlier this year I visited the grave in Devon of Ernest Charles Harries, on whom the headmaster Algie Herries is based, and saw the real-life Bamfylde (West Buckland School).
Thank you for this. I was 18 when the series was shown and I've never forgotten it over thirty years later. The BBC was something to be proud of then. Now, Strictly Come Dancing is its most watched programme. Thank you again for uploading this.
One of my favorite series of all times. This can never be repeated. My how I loved Algy, such a dear man. Thanks so much for posting!
One of the very best dramas produced by the BBC. I vividly recall watching it every Friday night at 8.10pm in the autumn of 1980. A saga of the style no longer produced, sadly.
For me, one of the best dramas to deal with one of the most tragic consequences of war, those still living with their physical and mental injuries.
Interesting to see a young Nick Lyndhurst, exactly a year before he would star as Rodney Trotter in the nascent series of Only Fools and Horses. This part was his last as a juvenile, having appeared in Heidi, Anne of Avonlea, The Prince and the Pauper, Going Straight and Butterflies.
It was Going Straight, the underrated sequel to Porridge, where he played Norman Fletcher's somewhat lethargic son, Raymond, that alerted his acting chops to one viewer, John Sullivan, then casting for Rodney Trotter and spotting just the right level of nieve charm from Lyndhurst, in a repeat run of the series. The rest is history.
I remember watching this Sunday nights on PBS. Looked forward to every episode. A true classic.
I can't thank you enough for uploading this series. I remember enjoying it back in the '80's and thought I'd have a look to see if any of it was here. I was surprised to see that the whole thing was here. I ended up watching the whole thing again. It really is wonderful. Thank you again.
wonderful series !!!!! I watched itmany years ago and have watched it all over again and it's still the best !! Thank you sooo much for posting
I first discovered/watched this 5 or 6 years ago on your channel. 13 hours non-stop, watched all night, I had to see it all! Wonderful series! I've watched it more than a few times since then. Thank you!!!
My favorite mini-series of all time, resonates so strongly w/ me.
Thank you for this! Delderfield is one of my favourite authors and this was a wonderful series.
I really need to go visit the UK. For comedy, one cannot beat the Vicar of Dibley, Keeping Up Appearances and Are You Being Served?
I loved this series as a teenager and love it still. It inspired me to read all the RFD books.
I was glued to this series as I struggled through my EARLY years as a teacher in Los Angeles..... Not quite the same experience, but it helped all the same.....
A wonderful week-long adaptation repeated on the BBC radio online this week. Appreciate this upload…. truly a forgotten gem and a book worth reading. Thank you.
Jenny Hirschowitz Yes, I'm listening to the BBC radio version now - very moving.
I watched this is high school with my whole dorm. Great series.
Like this BBC production, and "Upstairs, Downstairs," "Brideshead Revisited," "The Duchess of Duke Street," "The Ginger Tree," and many, many others.......they just don't make 'em like this anymore. Thanks for posting this "gem."
Thanks so much!! I used to watch this with my Granny who was from Richmond Yorkshire. Miss you Gran :(
OMG -I watched this when I was 12 and was totally smitten with the series and the book-cant believe you have it!! Fantasic
its such a shame that r.f. delderfield seems to be the forgotten writer ,its so hard to find his books these days, if there is any justice he will soon be discovered again .and this was a great tv series.thank you .
never forgotten! - I watched this just as I began to teach
Simon Gipps-Kent. I googled him to find out whatever happened and all that. And he died in 1987 from a morphine OD! Nice to see Nicholas Lindhurst pre-Rodney days! Loved this series. One of the few programmes my Dad and I enjoyed!
Thanks so much for this gem!
thank you very much excellent
this is really great viewing.
Thank you very much for sharing, I loved it.
Great series! Thanks for posting!
Ta-taah! I just recognized old "Merriman" from the "Duchess of Duke Street" - and I'm very proud to have him found only by his voice first ;-) (The actor who was writing at his desk in front of the office scene, as the new headmaster was coming over the hills).
I got a lot of Mr.Delderfield's books from Amazon. I buy only hardcovers with dust jackets. This is my favorite.
My son is right this moment at the 'real' Bamfylde school - West Buckland in North Devon. It is a great book about a unique school and the series presented the story well although filmed further up country nearer to London for budgetary reasons (and Exmoor weather!!) I watched it as a young teenager in Surrey wishing I could have gone there and never dreamt that my Son would actually be there one day!
Loved the book. I will try to watch the video.
I'd forgotten about this one, silly me its a classic.
It's the school song and was composed for the series by Kenyon Emrys-Roberts. U can look him up on IMDB. He did several other famous themes - like Poldark.
Only by virtue of PBS in America am I familiar with this .. thanks
Simon's impish grin. God I miss that up to no good look
I love the episode of Game On in which Martin decides to be a teacher, and has roseate visions of a posh school that reminded me of To Serve Them All My Days...and he gets sent to a dreadful sink school instead!
A great series. Great to see again. Another famous one from around the same time, "The Word", from 1978 USA. This starred David Janssen and James Whitmore but appears unavailable. Can you help? Ta.
70 years ago I attended a prep school in the U.S. which was fashioned after the English public school model, with the exception of hide-thrashings. The faculty contained the same flint-hearted old grouches whose very existence was dedicated to making our lives miserable with rigid, silly rules. In this series I find similar academic backstabbers and turncoats with a few saving masters like David Powlett-Jones and Algy, the avuncular headmaster. I still have nightmares about Alcott, his fascist replacement. A fascinating series indeed.
I cant find the name of the composer i love the entry music so much
@generalravon Thank you so much for uploading this! Would it be possible for you (or anyone else) to upload the series A Horseman Riding By? (also R.F. Delderfield and televised in the 1970s or 80s).
What other RFD books have you read. I loved the Swann trilogy, The Avenue Goes to War books were good (Duttine was in the TV version of that as well) and Too Few For Drums. I've never read A Horseman Riding By, I was put off by the rather dreary TV series
BBC shop has Horseman Riding By DVD - reasonable price. Stars Nigel Havers
Sorry I shouldn't have used the word clumped. Have a look at the Davies interview. I think it helped to speed the series up a bit, but she was a good character in the book. It's been some years since I read it. Go to howlingwooolf's channel to find the interview.
Grace only has a slight limp in hte book
There is an interview with Andrew Davies on here in which he said he didn't like the idea of the Grace character clumping along behind David for the rest of the series. I think they did right to drop her, as it was I felt that they rushed the last bit of the series. It really could have have have done with one more episode.
Somewhat ironic the headmaster's wife describes Powlett-Jones as a "lame duck", given John Duttine would later star in the BBC2 sitcom, Lame Ducks!
Does anyone know where the theme music comes from? I grew up in the Episcopal church in the American South and it sounds vaguely familiar, which isn't surprising since the program opens with what I assume is an Anglican service. But I've been chasing the music for years and can't find a reference anywhere. Any help out there would be appreciated.
If I remember Howarth is much more of a cold fish in the book. Doesn't his relationship with David cool somewhat during the Alcock years?
its rodney from only fools and horses in the school uniform
All very leftist as a story. Nonetheless.....I still like it and very gripping. Thanks for uploading.
My only criticism of the series (apart from the canary yellow skies on the scenes where PJ meets Beth and later mets her off the train - limitations of early tube video cameras used outdoors!) is that the final episode mangled the story terribly concerning Howarth, depriving us of scenes in the novel where an old boy reveals that Howarth had paid the boy's tutition after the boy's father had died, and Howarth had left his life's savings to the school, and the final scene where PJ as headmaster welcomes a new teacher invalided out of WWII, just as Herries had done 20 years earlier to PJ when he was invaslided out of WWI. An extra episode should have been made to expand those storylines.
And the casting of Chrsitine was poor - even allowing for the politics that she shared with PJ, I simply don;t think he'd have found her attractive, comapred with Beth and Julia.
It's the polar opposite of the trash dribbled out by contemporary British programme makers ...'spose we can thank our lucky stars that the BBC hasn't re-made it & stuffed it full with 'actors' from Eastenders & ex-weather girls! Long live Algy Herries!!