"Our Friends in the North" (1996) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Directors:

Simon Cellan Jones
Pedr James

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

30 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A nine part series depicting the varying fortunes of four friends - Nicky, Geordie, Mary and Tosker...

Plot Keywords:

Political | Newcastle | TV Mini-Series | Human Relationship

Awards:

7 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Christopher Eccleston	...	Nicky Hutchinson (9 episodes, 1996)
Mark Strong	...	Tosker Cox (9 episodes, 1996)
Gina McKee	...	Mary Cox / ... (9 episodes, 1996)
Daniel Craig	...	Geordie Peacock / ... (8 episodes, 1996)
Peter Vaughan	...	Felix Hutchinson (8 episodes, 1996)
David Bradley	...	Eddie Wells (8 episodes, 1996)
Freda Dowie	...	Florrie Hutchinson (7 episodes, 1996)
Alun Armstrong	...	Austin Donohue (5 episodes, 1996)
Malcolm McDowell	...	Benny Barrett (5 episodes, 1996)
Danny Webb	...	Detective Inspector Ron Conrad / ... (4 episodes, 1996)
David Schofield	...	DCI John Salway / ... (4 episodes, 1996)
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	John Edwards (4 episodes, 1996)
Donald Sumpter	...	Commander Harold Chapple (4 episodes, 1996)
Frank Couchman	...	Patrick Soulsby (4 episodes, 1996)
Daniel Casey	...	Anthony Cox (3 episodes, 1996)
Rod Culbertson	...	Bede Connor (3 episodes, 1996)
Tony Haygarth	...	Roy Johnson (3 episodes, 1996)
Tracey Wilkinson	...	Elaine Cox / ... (3 episodes, 1996)
Peter Jeffrey	...	Commisioner Colin Blamire / ... (3 episodes, 1996)
John Dair	...	Charlie Dawson (3 episodes, 1996)
Mark Drewry	...	Michael Frisch (3 episodes, 1996)
Louise Salter	...	Julia Allen (3 episodes, 1996)
Anne Orwin	...	Mrs Weightman (3 episodes, 1996)
Saskia Wickham	...	Claudia Seabrook (3 episodes, 1996)
Val McLane	...	Rita Cox (3 episodes, 1996)
Tony Hodge	...	Brian Cox (3 episodes, 1996)
Julian Fellowes	...	Claud Seabrook (3 episodes, 1996)
David Begg	...	Billy Shaughnessy (2 episodes, 1996)
Terence Rigby	...	Berger (2 episodes, 1996)
Trevor Fox	...	Harry (2 episodes, 1996)
Harriet Keevil	...	Helen Windsor (2 episodes, 1996)
Craig Conway	...	Christopher Collins (2 episodes, 1996)
Granville Saxton	...	Commissioner Jellicoe (2 episodes, 1996)
Larry Lamb	...	Alan Roe (2 episodes, 1996)
Leon Lissek	...	Walensky (2 episodes, 1996)
Chris Walker	...	DCI Paul Boyd (2 episodes, 1996)
Andrew Grainger	...	Detective Constable Fred Black (2 episodes, 1996)
Gavin Muir	...	Father Kyle (2 episodes, 1996)
Siobhan Burke	...	Lucille (2 episodes, 1996)
Pete Lee-Wilson	...	Colin Butler (2 episodes, 1996)
Elspeth Charlton	...	Mrs Soulsby (2 episodes, 1996)
Jack McBride	...	Mr Soulsby (2 episodes, 1996)
Harry Herring	...	Arthur Watson (2 episodes, 1996)
Sam Latham	...	Bouncer / ... (2 episodes, 1996)
Mark Pegg	...	Detective Constable Tony Weir / ... (2 episodes, 1996)

Runtime:

623 min (9 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

The episode titles "1964", "1966", "1967", "1970", "1974", "1979", "1984", "1987" and "1995" were the years in which the action took place. Many of these (1964, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1979 and 1987) were years in which General Elections took place in the UK, against which the events of the episodes were set.

Quotes:

Benny Barratt: Women are rubbish, Geordie. Most people are rubbish, but all women are.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Becoming Bond (2006) (TV)

Best British drama of the 90's

This is one of the very few programs in British TV that actually lived up to the hype. It was billed as one of the best TV drama's we would see and it delivered. It is the story about a group of friends from Newcastle and how they grow up from being angry young teenagers to mild middle aged parents. It starts off in the 60's and finished in the 90's. In that time it documents the change that they themselves have and the change that the north east had during the 30 years. The rebellious 60's to the 70's strikes and power shortages and the 80's hard times for working class families dished out by thatcher.

The series culminates in one of the most unforgettable endings in British dramatic history. Never has and Oasis song been more appropriate. I also have to admit that i cried at the end. This truly was top quality drama from the writing to the acting..