A long time ago on November 4th (that’s a very prestigious date!) in the year 1985 the BBC broadcast the first episode of a TV series called Edge of Darkness*. The series was written by Troy Kennedy Martin (Z-Cars, The Italian Job, Kelly’s Heroes, Redcap, Reilly, Ace Of Spies, Bravo Two Zero), and starred Bob Peck, Joe Don Baker, and Joanne Whalley (later Whalley-Kilmer). I watched every one of the six 50-minute episodes, transfixed by the slowly strung-out story, the character – and acting – dynamics, the undercurrent of menace, and the accurately unglamorous portrayal of Thatcher’s Britain.
Yesterday evening on a moderately geeky website (alright, I’ll admit it, a tremendously five-star wholly, concentrated and completely undiluted website of magnificent geekery) someone posted that Edge of Darkness was on iPlayer. This morning I have investigated and can confirm this is true. The series has been edited into one long film drama (c. 150 minutes). I watched the first 5 minutes, just to make sure the passage of time hasn’t turned it into something awful. I’m very pleased to report that it hasn’t, and it remains eminently watchable.
So there is a strong chance that at some time over the coming weekend I may be enjoying a revisit to a TV show I haven’t seen for 38 years (Ye Gods, was 1985 really that long ago?).
*absolutely not to be confused with the most appalling 2010 film of the same name, starring Mel Gibson
Ahh, nostalgia for Thatcher’s Britain.
I’d keep that to yerself.
I’ve heard of Edge of Darkness, but I think it must have Mel Gibson’s effort.
I was being discrete with ‘accurately unglamorous’