[Spoiler alert! This series is almost 50 years old but we will be revealing - around 90 minutes - in who spectacularly dies in the literal cliffhanger to episode 7. You have been warned!]
Hey sis, it's Christmas, but this month Andy and Martin are visiting sunny Elounda on Crete for Michael J. Bird's classic revenge drama Who Pays the Ferryman? Featuring Jack Hedley, Betty Arvaniti, Neil McCarty and Patience Collier the series gripped the British public in 1977 and after its BBC2 transmission was immediately repeated on BBC1. The following year it became an even huger hit in the Netherlands.
The series also features prominent guest star roles for Lalla Ward, Gareth Thomas and Sally Knyvette, just before the roles that would make all three sci-fi icons.
As they review this 8-part series the pair consider the birth of the package holiday, influence on Howards Way, and the inherent dangers of tiny tartan swim shorts.
There are also lots of behind-the-scenes facts, many of which are admittedly lifted from the research of Dave Rice - do visit his website and buy his book. Patience Collier's biography by Vanessa Morton is also worthy of your attention.
Oh you daughters of Themis!
Next Time: 'X' (and yes we're going to be cheating)
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[Spoiler alert! This series is almost 50 years old but we will be revealing - around 90 minutes - in who spectacularly dies in the literal cliffhanger to episode 7. You have been warned!]
Hey sis, it's Christmas, but this month Andy and Martin are visiting sunny Elounda on Crete for Michael J. Bird's classic revenge drama Who Pays the Ferryman? Featuring Jack Hedley, Betty Arvaniti, Neil McCarty and Patience Collier the series gripped the British public in 1977 and after its BBC2 transmission was immediately repeated on BBC1. The following year it became an even huger hit in the Netherlands.
The series also features prominent guest star roles for Lalla Ward, Gareth Thomas and Sally Knyvette, just before the roles that would make all three sci-fi icons.
As they review this 8-part series the pair consider the birth of the package holiday, influence on Howards Way, and the inherent dangers of tiny tartan swim shorts.
There are also lots of behind-the-scenes facts, many of which are admittedly lifted from the research of Dave Rice - do visit his website and buy his book. Patience Collier's biography by Vanessa Morton is also worthy of your attention.
Oh you daughters of Themis!
Next Time: 'X' (and yes we're going to be cheating)
This month Andy and Martin review the 1989 adaptation of Oswald Wynd's novel The Ginger Tree, a 4-million pound co-production with NHK Tokyo and WGBH Boston. Starring Samantha Bond and Daisuke Ryu, this 4-part series tells the tale of Mary Mackenzie's experiences in Manchuria and Japan in the first half of the 20th Century, first as an unhappy wife and then, effectively, as a concubine to a Japanese Count. After her son is taken from her Mary finds some self-worth as a dress designer but the Second World War is about to change Japan forever...
Andy is rather surprised not to get on with this series despite having watched it on first broadcast and first-time viewer Martin too has misgivings. They agree that the subject matter is interesting but also that the way it is presented is not always compelling despite beautiful cinematography and several good acting performances, particularly by Samantha Bond.
Still they find more than enough here to encourage discussion of its key themes: the patriarchy and oppression of women; colonialism and nationalism; and suicide and death. Yes, not always the cheeriest series!
If you want to find out why its called The Ginger Tree you like the viewers of the series you have to wait some way into the podcast, but only you can decide if the wait is worth it.
Next Time: Harry's Game
An A to Z of UK Television Drama
[Spoiler alert! This series is almost 50 years old but we will be revealing - around 90 minutes - in who spectacularly dies in the literal cliffhanger to episode 7. You have been warned!]
Hey sis, it's Christmas, but this month Andy and Martin are visiting sunny Elounda on Crete for Michael J. Bird's classic revenge drama Who Pays the Ferryman? Featuring Jack Hedley, Betty Arvaniti, Neil McCarty and Patience Collier the series gripped the British public in 1977 and after its BBC2 transmission was immediately repeated on BBC1. The following year it became an even huger hit in the Netherlands.
The series also features prominent guest star roles for Lalla Ward, Gareth Thomas and Sally Knyvette, just before the roles that would make all three sci-fi icons.
As they review this 8-part series the pair consider the birth of the package holiday, influence on Howards Way, and the inherent dangers of tiny tartan swim shorts.
There are also lots of behind-the-scenes facts, many of which are admittedly lifted from the research of Dave Rice - do visit his website and buy his book. Patience Collier's biography by Vanessa Morton is also worthy of your attention.
Oh you daughters of Themis!
Next Time: 'X' (and yes we're going to be cheating)
