482:
the steering wheel. He finds a can of petrol in the back of the van, partly refuels and sets off in vain to find the pair, before giving up on a roundabout, bringing traffic on it to a halt and breaking down in tears, ignoring the tailback and horns being blown behind him. He returns to the group after stopping by where he had abandoned a number of items from the van, headbutting a man he believes to be an Irish gypsy and kicking his companion to the ground, who protests he is neither a gypsy nor Irish and was "just hitching a lift". Yosser is clearly distressed upon his return to the group and begins to smash the tarmac they had laid with a pickaxe, but is restrained by Loggo and
Chrissie before knocking Chrissie to the ground for his optimistic outlook despite what has happened. Yosser launches an emotional monologue about wanting to be rich, noticed and seen, and is clearly close to breaking point, to the extent that Loggo and George continue to restrain him from further attacking Chrissie who is on the floor with a bleeding nose. George reassures Yosser and gently advises him to grow up, but Yosser is unconvinced and kicks the grille of the van. The episode ends with the group, almost penniless, arriving at the
478:
own tarmac laying business, agree to invest vast amounts of their own savings to undertake the 'foreign' job. The group manager, McKenna, later discovers this and fires them all. However, despite being convinced that they had made the right decision, the group are nonetheless outsmarted by the gypsies who pretend they have been given a cheque (when in fact they had been paid cash) and claiming they would get the cheque cashed at a bank. Chrissie agrees to accompany
Brendan in Brendan's van (who later manages to lose Chrissie by tricking him into pushing the van so as to jump-start it after pretending it had broken down), while Yosser decides to hold Dominic hostage until they return. Yosser soon discovers that cash had in fact been handed over, but Dominic manages to escape to Brendan who is waiting for him – Loggo tripping and tumbling over as he gives chase through a farmer's field.
33:
299:. Set in Bleasdale's home city of Liverpool, and reflecting many of his own experiences of life in the city, each episode focuses on a different member of the group. The series was highly acclaimed for its powerful and emotional depiction of the desperation wrought by high unemployment and a subsequent lack of social support. Although Bleasdale wrote most of the scripts before
523:) in his new position as a security guard, where he is strongarmed into accepting bribes for allowing the removal of goods under his charge in a docked ship. Apart from Dixie's son Kevin this episode also features Chrissie, Loggo and George, the other members of the original gang, during a scene prior to Malone's funeral.
481:
Yosser speeds off in the group's own van and gives chase to
Brendan and Dominic, who attempts to puncture Yosser's tyres by smashing empty milk bottles on the road from the back of the van. Yosser swerves and avoids them, but runs out of petrol, shouting and venting his anger by bashing his head on
477:
gypsies, Brendan and
Dominic, who offer them the chance of a side job, claiming that they had been laid off. Although initially uneasy with the idea of working with them, the group (except group leader, Dixie, and his son, Kevin), spurred by Yosser's dream of fleecing the gypsies and starting their
590:
This episode reveals something of George's (Peter
Kerrigan) politically active past. His trip (Chrissie wheeling him in his chair through the docks) leads him and them to reminisce about his younger days, the contrast between his recalled hopeful youth with the abandoned industrial infrastructure
315:
was widely discussed. He was a man driven to the edge of his sanity by the loss of his job, his wife, the authorities' continued attempts to take his children away from him and his constant attempts at salvaging his male pride (often being the main give-away of his insecurity). His catchphrases,
555:
This is the most widely discussed episode of the series, following Yosser's struggle to avoid losing his children (who are played by Alan
Bleasdale's own children) to the authorities as his mental health disintegrates. It is also the only one of the series shot on
576:, make cameo appearances. The episode contains the often repeated scene in which Yosser goes to confession looking for help, and tells the priest he is desperate. The priest, trying to comfort Yosser, tells him "Call me Dan – Dan"; to which Yosser replies "I'm
545:), who is least affected by the social climate. At the end of the episode, in an act of desperation, lacking money and food, Chrissie is driven to strangle and shoot his geese in an attempt to provide dinner. He also worries about his children's rabbits.
473:. Part of the group (particularly Yosser) mocks her, but Yosser's insecurity and unwillingness to be dominated by women is especially manifested after she taunts him when she is dropped off. In Middlesbrough the group are approached by two
490:
to undertake a casual job there, and Loggo promptly chooses to join him. The episode finishes with a long-distance shot of the Tees
Transporter Bridge and the opening theme song, sung by the cast, is played over the end credits.
509:. They are followed by the authorities and Snowy Malone (Chris Darwin), a plasterer, falls to his death trying to flee during a subsequent raid by the "sniffers" (social security officers working undercover).
316:"Gizza' job!" ("give us a job") and "I can do that!" became part of the popular consciousness of the 1980s, summing up the mood of many who sought desperately for work during the era. Hughes was played by
303:
came to power, the series was noted by many reviewers as a critique of the early
Thatcher era, which was seen as being responsible for the fate of many of the unemployed working-class, particularly in the
409:
magazine's chief television writer Alison Graham. In March 2007, Channel 4 broadcast a "Top 50 Dramas" programme, based on input from industry professionals rather than the public, which had
387:
The series was so successful upon its original broadcast that only nine weeks after it had finished transmission, it was re-shown on the higher-profile BBC1. It was also transmitted again on
308:. The show was launched at a time when unemployment had reached 3 million as a result of economic recession and restructuring of industry, having topped 1 million for most of the 1970s.
916:
227:
described it as a "seminal drama series... a warm, humorous but ultimately tragic look at the way economics affect ordinary people… TV's most complete dramatic response to the
591:
around him is marked. The death of George causes the main characters to be reunited if, in some cases, only briefly. The episode concludes with a surreal scene at the
1467:
347:, who was based at Birmingham with a specific remit to make "regional drama", and who would later be instrumental in bringing the BBC's drama serials
279:
received on its eventual transmission led to the commissioning of the sequel serial, of which
Bleasdale had already written a considerable amount.
1457:
759:
1452:
1427:
1121:
1462:
1097:
1447:
733:
636:
994:
859:
501:
Featuring most of the characters from the initial drama. They take a cash-in-hand job on a building site whilst still claiming
261:
anthology series in 1978. After filming however, the play was not transmitted until 2 January 1980. It concerned a group of
537:) and the domestic pressure that unemployment and the attentions of the benefit fraud officers place on him and his wife (
1432:
680:
1041:
454:, Loggo, Chrissie, George, Dixie and his son, Kevin, were introduced in it. It follows the group as they set off from
1477:
815:
392:
1193:
1017:
807:
228:
505:. Typical of the show's humour, it is later revealed that the building being renovated is going to be used by the
417:
295:
follows the stories of the five now-unemployed men who lost their jobs following the events of the original play
1437:
1081:
1361:
1345:
932:
1209:
1185:
1089:
987:
852:
1472:
1353:
1153:
1025:
198:
940:
1337:
1225:
1057:
828:
421:
1049:
924:
506:
355:
1442:
1065:
980:
845:
483:
1385:
640:
569:
396:
224:
403:. It was also named as one of the 40 greatest television shows in a 2003 list compiled by the
1377:
1297:
1289:
1177:
1161:
1145:
900:
365:
1313:
644:
502:
8:
1233:
1129:
959:
754:
706:
268:
layers (hence the title, 'the black stuff' being a slang term for tarmac) on a job near
1321:
1249:
1073:
908:
892:
486:. A man whom they met earlier (when he delivered tarmac to the site) is on his way to
332:, who played the most prominent female role as Angie, the wife of Chrissie, played by
1404:
1265:
1241:
794:
778:
371:
300:
1305:
666:
465:
Along the way at a motorway service station, the group encounter a female student (
349:
305:
265:
1369:
1217:
534:
466:
344:
333:
201:
128:
78:
1257:
1113:
1004:
869:
573:
565:
360:
340:
257:
216:
111:
64:
54:
837:
734:"Boys from the Blackstuff review – powerful portrayals of working-class pride"
391:
as part of that station's 25th anniversary season in 1989. In 1983 it won the
1421:
608:
577:
538:
520:
459:
451:
329:
312:
269:
88:
1273:
1201:
1169:
1137:
1105:
317:
74:
1281:
1033:
443:
405:
248:
788:
772:
458:
to undertake a casual tarmac laying job on a new housing development in
32:
564:, although the original play was also shot on this format. Footballers
542:
400:
321:
82:
231:
and as a lament to the end of a male, working class
British culture."
592:
561:
557:
462:. The episode was produced in 1978 but was not broadcast until 1980.
455:
376:
339:
The serial was made by the English regions drama department based at
262:
212:
328:
vocal mannerisms. The serial also helped to establish the career of
487:
767:
972:
681:"BBC ON THIS DAY – 26 – 1982: UK unemployment tops three million"
474:
388:
252:
205:
159:
325:
204:, originally transmitted from 10 October to 7 November 1982 on
470:
395:
for Best Drama Serial, and in 2000 was placed seventh in a
343:
and was shot on location in Liverpool. The producer was
247:
was originally written by Bleasdale and directed by
1419:
616:Boys from the Blackstuff, the making of TV drama
867:
541:). It also features his closest friend, Loggo (
1122:The Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, Black Oil
401:best television programmes of the 20th century
37:The opening of the first episode of the series
988:
853:
442:was the original television play directed by
607:was released on DVD as a three-disc set by
282:
995:
981:
860:
846:
637:"BFI TV 100 – 7: Boys from the Blackstuff"
219:, as a sequel to a television play titled
31:
1468:British English-language television shows
667:"The Black Stuff (TV Movie 1980) – IMDb"
603:The series, including the original play
634:
1458:1982 British television series endings
1420:
731:
618:, by Bob Millington and Robin Nelson.
614:A companion to the series is the book
418:live theatrical adaptation of the show
399:poll of industry professionals on the
1453:1982 British television series debuts
1428:1980s British drama television series
976:
841:
583:
526:
1329:
755:British Film Institute Screen Online
494:
432:
16:1982 British television drama series
1463:1980s British television miniseries
707:"Channel 4's 50 Greatest TV Dramas"
13:
1002:
768:TV Cream review of The Black Stuff
732:Fisher, Mark (22 September 2023).
635:Wickham, Phil (4 September 2006).
359:(1996) to the screens. The writer
234:
14:
1489:
1448:Television shows set in Liverpool
816:British Academy Television Awards
748:
548:
446:and is the precursor to the 1982
363:went on to write the scripts for
393:British Academy Television Award
725:
699:
673:
659:
628:
598:
512:
103:
1:
1346:The Flipside of Dominick Hide
1098:Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont
621:
819:Best Drama Series or Serial
469:) who hitch-hikes a lift to
450:series. The main characters
382:
7:
427:
10:
1494:
1433:BBC Birmingham productions
941:The Sinking of the Laconia
764:Review of the DVD release.
533:Concentrates on Chrissie (
211:The serial was written by
197:is a five episode British
1396:
1362:Another Flip For Dominick
1058:Edna, the Inebriate Woman
1012:
951:
876:
824:
813:
803:
165:
155:
150:
142:
134:
124:
119:
102:
94:
70:
60:
50:
42:
30:
23:
1478:Works about social class
885:Boys from the Blackstuff
790:Boys from the Blackstuff
507:Department of Employment
448:Boys from the Blackstuff
411:Boys from the Blackstuff
356:Our Friends in the North
292:Boys from the Blackstuff
284:Boys from the Blackstuff
194:Boys from the Blackstuff
25:Boys from the Blackstuff
484:Tees Transporter Bridge
1389:(1991, completed 1977)
1381:(1987, completed 1976)
641:British Film Institute
397:British Film Institute
225:British Film Institute
109:6 (including original
1438:BBC television dramas
1378:Brimstone and Treacle
1298:Blue Remembered Hills
1290:The After-Dinner Joke
1178:Rumpole of the Bailey
1162:Just Another Saturday
901:The Monocled Mutineer
366:The Monocled Mutineer
808:Brideshead Revisited
519:Follows Dixie Dean (
503:unemployment benefit
324:accent, with slight
241:The television play
146:BBC (BBC Birmingham)
1234:Spend, Spend, Spend
424:, debuted in 2023.
1473:Welfare in England
1338:The Imitation Game
1322:A Gift from Nessus
877:Television serials
595:pub in Liverpool.
585:George's Last Ride
528:Shop Thy Neighbour
143:Production company
1415:
1414:
1405:Play for Tomorrow
1314:Just a Boys' Game
1242:The Price of Coal
1042:The Rank and File
970:
969:
836:
835:
825:Succeeded by
713:. 3 November 2013
687:. 26 January 1982
496:Jobs for the Boys
369:(BBC1, 1986) and
311:The character of
301:Margaret Thatcher
275:The acclaim that
202:television series
190:
189:
95:Country of origin
1485:
1354:Home, Sweet Home
997:
990:
983:
974:
973:
862:
855:
848:
839:
838:
804:Preceded by
801:
800:
742:
741:
729:
723:
722:
720:
718:
703:
697:
696:
694:
692:
677:
671:
670:
663:
657:
656:
654:
652:
647:on 14 March 2007
643:. Archived from
632:
560:, as opposed to
350:Edge of Darkness
306:North of England
186:
184:
176:
174:
151:Original release
105:
35:
21:
20:
1493:
1492:
1488:
1487:
1486:
1484:
1483:
1482:
1418:
1417:
1416:
1411:
1392:
1370:Z for Zachariah
1330:The Black Stuff
1250:Abigail's Party
1218:Bar Mitzvah Boy
1194:The Other Woman
1130:Leeds — United!
1018:Robin Redbreast
1008:
1001:
971:
966:
947:
917:Jake's Progress
872:
866:
832:
821:
818:
811:
774:The Black Stuff
751:
746:
745:
730:
726:
716:
714:
705:
704:
700:
690:
688:
679:
678:
674:
665:
664:
660:
650:
648:
633:
629:
624:
605:The Black Stuff
601:
588:
553:
535:Michael Angelis
531:
517:
499:
467:Janine Duvitski
440:The Black Stuff
437:
434:The Black Stuff
430:
413:at number two.
385:
345:Michael Wearing
334:Michael Angelis
320:, who uses his
297:The Black Stuff
287:
277:The Black Stuff
244:The Black Stuff
239:
236:The Black Stuff
221:The Black Stuff
183:7 November 1982
182:
180:
179:7 November 1982
178:
173:10 October 1982
172:
170:
129:Michael Wearing
87:
86:Peter Kerrigan
85:
81:
79:Michael Angelis
77:
38:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1491:
1481:
1480:
1475:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1443:Social realism
1440:
1435:
1430:
1413:
1412:
1410:
1409:
1400:
1398:
1394:
1393:
1391:
1390:
1382:
1374:
1366:
1358:
1350:
1342:
1334:
1326:
1318:
1310:
1302:
1294:
1286:
1278:
1270:
1262:
1258:Licking Hitler
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1222:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1174:
1166:
1158:
1150:
1142:
1134:
1126:
1118:
1110:
1102:
1094:
1086:
1078:
1070:
1062:
1054:
1046:
1038:
1030:
1022:
1013:
1010:
1009:
1005:Play for Today
1000:
999:
992:
985:
977:
968:
967:
965:
964:
955:
953:
949:
948:
946:
945:
937:
929:
921:
913:
905:
897:
889:
880:
878:
874:
873:
870:Alan Bleasdale
865:
864:
857:
850:
842:
834:
833:
826:
823:
812:
805:
799:
798:
786:
783:Play for Today
781:(the original
770:
765:
757:
750:
749:External links
747:
744:
743:
724:
698:
672:
658:
626:
625:
623:
620:
600:
597:
587:
582:
578:desperate, Dan
574:Liverpool F.C.
566:Graeme Souness
552:
550:Yosser's Story
547:
530:
525:
516:
511:
498:
493:
436:
431:
429:
426:
420:, directed by
384:
381:
361:Alan Bleasdale
341:BBC Birmingham
286:
281:
258:Play for Today
238:
233:
217:Alan Bleasdale
188:
187:
167:
163:
162:
157:
153:
152:
148:
147:
144:
140:
139:
138:65 mins approx
136:
132:
131:
126:
122:
121:
117:
116:
112:Play for Today
107:
100:
99:
98:United Kingdom
96:
92:
91:
72:
68:
67:
65:Philip Saville
62:
58:
57:
55:Alan Bleasdale
52:
48:
47:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1490:
1479:
1476:
1474:
1471:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1425:
1423:
1408:(1982 series)
1407:
1406:
1402:
1401:
1399:
1395:
1388:
1387:
1383:
1380:
1379:
1375:
1372:
1371:
1367:
1364:
1363:
1359:
1356:
1355:
1351:
1348:
1347:
1343:
1340:
1339:
1335:
1332:
1331:
1327:
1324:
1323:
1319:
1316:
1315:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1303:
1300:
1299:
1295:
1292:
1291:
1287:
1284:
1283:
1279:
1276:
1275:
1271:
1268:
1267:
1263:
1260:
1259:
1255:
1252:
1251:
1247:
1244:
1243:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1231:
1228:
1227:
1226:Kiss of Death
1223:
1220:
1219:
1215:
1212:
1211:
1207:
1204:
1203:
1199:
1196:
1195:
1191:
1188:
1187:
1183:
1180:
1179:
1175:
1172:
1171:
1167:
1164:
1163:
1159:
1156:
1155:
1151:
1148:
1147:
1143:
1140:
1139:
1135:
1132:
1131:
1127:
1124:
1123:
1119:
1116:
1115:
1111:
1108:
1107:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1095:
1092:
1091:
1087:
1084:
1083:
1082:The Operation
1079:
1076:
1075:
1071:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1055:
1052:
1051:
1047:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1028:
1027:
1023:
1020:
1019:
1015:
1014:
1011:
1007:
1006:
998:
993:
991:
986:
984:
979:
978:
975:
962:
961:
957:
956:
954:
950:
943:
942:
938:
935:
934:
930:
927:
926:
922:
919:
918:
914:
911:
910:
906:
903:
902:
898:
895:
894:
890:
887:
886:
882:
881:
879:
875:
871:
868:The works of
863:
858:
856:
851:
849:
844:
843:
840:
831:
830:
820:
817:
810:
809:
802:
796:
792:
791:
787:
784:
780:
776:
775:
771:
769:
766:
763:
762:
758:
756:
753:
752:
739:
735:
728:
712:
708:
702:
686:
682:
676:
668:
662:
646:
642:
638:
631:
627:
619:
617:
612:
610:
609:BBC Worldwide
606:
596:
594:
586:
581:
579:
575:
571:
567:
563:
559:
551:
546:
544:
540:
539:Julie Walters
536:
529:
524:
522:
521:Tom Georgeson
515:
510:
508:
504:
497:
492:
489:
485:
479:
476:
472:
468:
463:
461:
460:Middlesbrough
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
435:
425:
423:
419:
414:
412:
408:
407:
402:
398:
394:
390:
380:
378:
374:
373:
368:
367:
362:
358:
357:
352:
351:
346:
342:
337:
335:
331:
330:Julie Walters
327:
323:
319:
314:
313:Yosser Hughes
309:
307:
302:
298:
294:
293:
285:
280:
278:
273:
271:
270:Middlesbrough
267:
264:
260:
259:
254:
250:
246:
245:
237:
232:
230:
226:
222:
218:
214:
209:
207:
203:
200:
196:
195:
168:
164:
161:
158:
154:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
130:
127:
123:
118:
114:
113:
108:
101:
97:
93:
90:
89:Tom Georgeson
84:
80:
76:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
56:
53:
49:
45:
41:
34:
29:
26:
22:
19:
1403:
1384:
1376:
1368:
1360:
1352:
1344:
1336:
1328:
1320:
1312:
1304:
1296:
1288:
1280:
1274:The Spongers
1272:
1264:
1256:
1248:
1240:
1232:
1224:
1216:
1208:
1202:Willie Rough
1200:
1192:
1184:
1176:
1170:Days of Hope
1168:
1160:
1152:
1144:
1138:The Evacuees
1136:
1128:
1120:
1112:
1104:
1096:
1088:
1080:
1072:
1064:
1056:
1048:
1040:
1032:
1024:
1016:
1003:
960:No Surrender
958:
939:
933:Oliver Twist
931:
923:
915:
907:
899:
891:
884:
883:
827:
814:
806:
797:(the series)
789:
782:
773:
760:
738:The Guardian
737:
727:
715:. Retrieved
710:
701:
689:. Retrieved
684:
675:
661:
649:. Retrieved
645:the original
630:
615:
613:
604:
602:
589:
584:
554:
549:
532:
527:
518:
513:
500:
495:
480:
464:
447:
439:
438:
433:
422:James Graham
415:
410:
404:
386:
370:
364:
354:
348:
338:
318:Bernard Hill
310:
296:
291:
290:
288:
283:
276:
274:
263:Liverpudlian
256:
243:
242:
240:
235:
229:Thatcher era
220:
213:Liverpudlian
210:
193:
192:
191:
135:Running time
110:
75:Bernard Hill
24:
18:
1282:Our Day Out
1210:Double Dare
1186:Nuts in May
1114:Penda's Fen
1090:Hard Labour
1034:The Foxtrot
599:DVD release
514:Moonlighter
444:Jim Goddard
406:Radio Times
353:(1985) and
289:The series
249:Jim Goddard
215:playwright
106:of episodes
61:Directed by
1422:Categories
1397:Associated
1154:Funny Farm
1026:Alma Mater
622:References
572:, then of
543:Alan Igbon
169:10 October
120:Production
83:Alan Igbon
51:Created by
1306:Comedians
1266:Red Shift
1146:Gangsters
1106:Joe's Ark
685:bbc.co.uk
651:2 October
611:in 2003.
593:Green Man
570:Sammy Lee
562:videotape
558:16mm film
456:Liverpool
383:Reception
379:, 1991).
377:Channel 4
322:Mancunian
691:20 March
488:Shetland
428:Episodes
125:Producer
115:episode)
71:Starring
1050:Traitor
925:Melissa
829:Kennedy
717:20 June
669:. IMDb.
181: (
177: –
171: (
166:Release
156:Network
1373:(1984)
1365:(1982)
1357:(1982)
1349:(1980)
1341:(1980)
1333:(1980)
1325:(1980)
1317:(1979)
1309:(1979)
1301:(1979)
1293:(1978)
1285:(1978)
1277:(1978)
1269:(1978)
1261:(1978)
1253:(1977)
1245:(1977)
1237:(1977)
1229:(1977)
1221:(1976)
1213:(1976)
1205:(1976)
1197:(1976)
1189:(1976)
1181:(1975)
1173:(1975)
1165:(1975)
1157:(1975)
1149:(1975)
1141:(1975)
1133:(1974)
1125:(1974)
1117:(1974)
1109:(1974)
1101:(1973)
1093:(1973)
1085:(1973)
1077:(1972)
1069:(1971)
1066:Evelyn
1061:(1971)
1053:(1971)
1045:(1971)
1037:(1971)
1029:(1971)
1021:(1970)
963:(1985)
944:(2010)
936:(1999)
928:(1997)
920:(1995)
912:(1991)
904:(1986)
896:(1984)
893:Scully
888:(1982)
761:Kamera
711:Listal
452:Yosser
372:G.B.H.
326:Scouse
266:tarmac
223:. The
952:Films
909:G.B.H
822:1983
785:play)
475:Irish
471:Leeds
199:drama
46:Drama
43:Genre
1386:Scum
1074:Home
795:IMDb
779:IMDb
719:2021
693:2015
653:2006
568:and
389:BBC2
253:BBC1
251:for
206:BBC2
160:BBC2
793:at
777:at
580:".
255:'s
104:No.
1424::
736:.
709:.
683:.
639:.
416:A
336:.
272:.
208:.
996:e
989:t
982:v
861:e
854:t
847:v
740:.
721:.
695:.
655:.
375:(
185:)
175:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
