Boys From the Black Stuff followed on from a little mentioned Alan Bleasdale Wednesday Play called 'The Black Stuff'. That was made in 1976 but not broadcast until 1980 for some reason. There is quite an ironic juxtaposition between the original play and the brilliant series that followed. The original was about the great British workman doing a naughty to lay tarmac in Middlesbrough on their bosses time and expense, but as an extra bit of bunce paid in cash on a version of the black economy. The guys were themselves subsequently ripped off by members of the travelling community who exploited their effort. Boys From the Blackstuff followed those same duckers and divers when the Thatcher regime created mass unemployment, and it became an anthemic series about the tragedy of unemployment. The irony is that the guys were originally portrayed as lovable rip off merchants, scallys if you like, then when economic reality bit deep they became figures of the deepest tragedy. The notion that they were portrayed as cowboys originally, ripping off ordinary folk, has never been discussed much.
Boys From the Black Stuff followed on from a little mentioned Alan Bleasdale Wednesday Play called 'The Black Stuff'. That was made in 1976 but not broadcast until 1980 for some reason. There is quite an ironic juxtaposition between the original play and the brilliant series that followed. The original was about the great British workman doing a naughty to lay tarmac in Middlesbrough on their bosses time and expense, but as an extra bit of bunce paid in cash on a version of the black economy. The guys were themselves subsequently ripped off by members of the travelling community who exploited their effort. Boys From the Blackstuff followed those same duckers and divers when the Thatcher regime created mass unemployment, and it became an anthemic series about the tragedy of unemployment. The irony is that the guys were originally portrayed as lovable rip off merchants, scallys if you like, then when economic reality bit deep they became figures of the deepest tragedy. The notion that they were portrayed as cowboys originally, ripping off ordinary folk, has never been discussed much.
Yosser Hughes says 'gissa job' I'm pretty sure. The character is one of the greatest in modern British drama. There are so many visceral moments throughout the series, for me it is 'fight back Chrissy'. I imagine it might seem dated now, or at least 'technically dated', but the series remains one of the great achievements of British Television before the population was dispersed and diluted by the internet.
Yosser Hughes says 'gissa job' I'm pretty sure. The character is one of the greatest in modern British drama. There are so many visceral moments throughout the series, for me it is 'fight back Chrissy'. I imagine it might seem dated now, or at least 'technically dated', but the series remains one of the great achievements of British Television before the population was dispersed and diluted by the internet.
Yes he does. Gissa job, I can do that. Then proceeds to stuff up some bricklaying.
Yosser Hughes says 'gissa job' I'm pretty sure. The character is one of the greatest in modern British drama. There are so many visceral moments throughout the series, for me it is 'fight back Chrissy'. I imagine it might seem dated now, or at least 'technically dated', but the series remains one of the great achievements of British Television before the population was dispersed and diluted by the internet.
Spot on mate. Julie Walters and Michael Angelis in an acting masterclass. Me and my dad were obsessed with the humour, reality and humanity of the play and the series. So many moving moments at a time when a lot of people needed something like this because of what that thing was doing to our country.
igot my dad the DVD not long before he died and we had chance to re visit it with a tear in our eye.
Comments
That was made in 1976 but not broadcast until 1980 for some reason.
There is quite an ironic juxtaposition between the original play and the brilliant series that followed.
The original was about the great British workman doing a naughty to lay tarmac in Middlesbrough on their bosses time and expense, but as an extra bit of bunce paid in cash on a version of the black economy. The guys were themselves subsequently ripped off by members of the travelling community who exploited their effort.
Boys From the Blackstuff followed those same duckers and divers when the Thatcher regime created mass unemployment, and it became an anthemic series about the tragedy of unemployment.
The irony is that the guys were originally portrayed as lovable rip off merchants, scallys if you like, then when economic reality bit deep they became figures of the deepest tragedy. The notion that they were portrayed as cowboys originally, ripping off ordinary folk, has never been discussed much.
Best line ever
The character is one of the greatest in modern British drama.
There are so many visceral moments throughout the series, for me it is 'fight back Chrissy'.
I imagine it might seem dated now, or at least 'technically dated', but the series remains one of the great achievements of British Television before the population was dispersed and diluted by the internet.
A nice journey back in time.
igot my dad the DVD not long before he died and we had chance to re visit it with a tear in our eye.