Boys from the Blackstuff
1/5, Jobs for the Boys
BBC4 Sunday 26 September 9:35pm - 10:30pm We've come a long way since the slogan "Britain's bread hangs by Lancashire's thread" held any truth, as this first, textile-themed revisit to the 1984 series about working life in the 20th century highlights. We get the original broadcast complete with testimony from weavers, plus an equally well-researched update that focuses on the increase in imported clothing. Industrial decline is also the main concern of the uncompromising 1982 drama from Alan Bleasdale. The first episode serves as a reintroduction to wry but worn-out Chrissie and the dandyish Loggo, but is really the story of Snowy Malone, a lifelong socialist hanging on to his beliefs amid resignation from his workmates. There is still time, though, for a brief appearance from threatening loner Yosser (Bernard Hill) who uses his trademark head-butt when his bricklaying is mocked.
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Repeat, SubtitledCast * Chrissie Todd - Michael Angelis
* Loggo Logmond - Alan Igbon
* Yosser Hughes - Bernard Hill
* George Malone - Peter Kerrigan
* Dixie Dean - Tom Georgeson
* Moss - David Ross
* Lawton - David Neilson
* Malloy - Shay Gorman
* Snowy Malone - Chris Darwin
* Jimmy Johnson - Vince Earl
Directed by: Philip Saville
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