Trading Standards

[Alf Roberts]

I actually used to hear/watch this whilst gelling my mullet, rolling up my linen jacket sleeves and generally getting ready for a night out!

It was well acted, and some of the characters were great - especially the brilliantly fiery Lynne Harrison. The trouble was it suffered from 80s disease - scriptwriters shoving as many social ills into the programme as possible, and hinting that none of them had existed before Thatcher's government. Even I, a confirmed socialist, laughed at this.

This concentration on misery did not make compulsive viewing, so Granada glitzed it up a bit with wonderful Helen Shapiro and a continental outdoor cafe on the quayside. Shoulder pads and blonde highlights came in, and a dash of business intrigue, but the programme had been so juggled around in the time slots by this time that most people had given up on it.

I still have fond memories of some of the characters!

[RitaLittlewood]

I remember this. It wasn't too bad but it didn't rally have much going for it. Didn't they hire Tony Booth as well?

[Alf Roberts]

I think his character was called something Pilkington. I know he ran the pub.

I believe the show had potential - the characters and acting were great, but it didn't have a lot going for it in the setting or storyline departments!

It coincided with a very happy time in my life - I suppose that's part of the reason I remember it fondly!
;D

[RitaLittlewood]

I thought so.

I enjoyed it. Maybe if it had been given a bit longer to develop it would have been successful.

[KathysSister]

I loved this show and Lyn Harrison played by the wonderful Noreen Kershaw.
I lived 10 mins from the warehouse where this was filmed and was so lucky to meet some of the cast including Noreen, who is lovely.
Did you know Noreen was the daughter-in-law of the actress who played Lizzie Birdsword in PCBH.