"Dear John" (1986) TV series 1986-1987

Director:

Sue Bysh

Seasons:

1 | 2 | unknown

Release Date:

17 February 1986 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

John Lacey comes home one evening to discover a letter from his wife (starting with "Dear John" - hence the title) telling him that she is leaving him...

Plot Keywords:

Character Name In Title

Cast

Ralph Bates	...	John Lacey (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Peter Blake	...	Kirk (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Peter Denyer	...	Ralph (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Rachel Bell	...	Louise (14 episodes, 1986-1987)
Belinda Lang	...	Kate (12 episodes, 1986-1987)
Lucinda Curtis	...	Sylvia (10 episodes, 1986-1987)
Jean Challis	...	Mrs. Arnott (8 episodes, 1986-1987)
Irene Prador	...	Mrs. Lemenski (8 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Directed by
Ray Butt		(1 episode, 1986)
Sue Bysh		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
John Sullivan		(14 episodes, 1986-1987)

Series Produced by
Ray Butt	....	producer (1 episode, 1986)

Series Original Music by
John Sullivan		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Ron Raddon		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Graham Lough		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Costume Design by
Joyce Mortlock		(1 episode, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Ann Ailes-Stevenson	....	makeup designer (1 episode, 1986)

Series Production Management
Tony Dow	....	production manager (1 episode, 1986)

Series Art Department
Paul Schrader	....	properties buyer (1 episode, 1986)
Andrew Smee	....	graphic designer (1 episode, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Derek Norman	....	film sound recordist (1 episode, 1986)
Alan Stokes	....	sound supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Clive Derbyshire	....	location sound recordist (unknown episodes)
John Taylor	....	boom operator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Don Babbage	....	lighting director (1 episode, 1986)
Roger Goss	....	camera supervisor (1 episode, 1986)
Mike Radford	....	film camera (1 episode, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Steve Eveleigh	....	editor: video tape (1 episode, 1986)
Heather Gilder	....	vision mixer (1 episode, 1986)

Series Music Department
Ronnie Hazlehurst	....	music arranger (1 episode, 1986)
John Sullivan	....	composer: title music (1 episode, 1986)

Series Other crew
Paul Thackray	....	studio resource manager (6 episodes, 1987)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Runtime:

30 min (14 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Quotes:

Sylvia: There was a woman sitting at my dressing table putting on make-up.
Ralph: How odd. Where was George?
Sylvia: Sitting at my dressing table putting on make-up.
Ralph: You mean they were both sitting at your dressing table?

Movie Connections:

Remade as "Dear John" (1988)

Entertaining sitcom

I remember seeing this when I was in my late teens and it is funny and sad at the same time. Great characters including, the sex-obsessed group leader and the equally sex-obsessed, 1970s type medallion-man, Kirk St. Moritz. There is a great episode which reveals Mr St. Moritz as not being all he claims to be. The BBC sold the show to the US who remade it and then sold it back to the BBC! The British version is the best.