A RU-vid Channel dedicated to When The Boat Comes In
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 1976 and 1981. The series stars James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War veteran who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. The series dramatizes the interwar political struggles of the 1920s and 1930s and explores the impact of national and international politics upon Ford and the people around him
It was interesting as the show progressed how Jack's chat-up line began to lose its power and descend into a cliché...much as Jack's way with women did.
I adored this series ,especially series 1 and 2,would it be possible to interview james bolam ,i know he is very old and a private man ,but would be an honour ,thanx for the appriciation of this brilliantly written drama when the beeb were good
Thanks for the video! Billy Seaton's hard-headed attitude to socialism was an accident waiting to happen. Like the GP in this episode, Billy seems to have ended-up living a comfortable existence in London, eventually. However, his unwavering commitment to the cause led to serious trouble for Jack..........
I loved this series when it was on TV many years ago but I can't remember what happens in the first two series so I was delighted to find your podcast talking about all the episodes. I'm enjoying listening.. Thanks for posting
Sadly many of the actors from When The Boat Comes In have passed away The saddest has to be John Nightingale who played Tom, he died from cancer at only 37
Hi there...huge "Boat" fan. If you like this series did you ever watch "The Duchess of Duke Street"? Another brilliant BBC period drama from the 70's, actually based (looseley!) on the real life of Edwardian cook-to-the-stars Rosa Lewis and her rags-to-riches rise through the ranks of society from parlour maid to Edward VIII's favourite chef. Highly recommended! Thanks for this series by the way - about time someone did it! Thanks again!
Lovely - I'm a WTBCI fanatic too. I love all the main characters, the Seatons are wonderful - I wonder why Bill and Bella weren't in the last series. Matt Headley was amazing - so decent and also so complex and therefore so interesting - I always thought the fight between him and Jack in series 3 was a terrible mistake. I love the way that the only person who 'defeated' Jack - over Jessie of course, by both marrying and keeping her - was the ostensibly feeble but really tough as they come Arthur Ashton. I'm throwing in random thoughts now. The Duke - sharp as a nail in the guise of an old eccentric - was riveting, as was the brutal yet somehow comedic Colefax (both actors!) There's also how perceptive Bill was - he understood Jack better than anyone, as indicated in the wonderful scene just before his back operation in Series 3 when he got to the root of everything - 'You're a damn fool you know. You should have married our Jessie', a remark so true it hit Jack for six. I think Jack has to be my favourite character of all, and I can't separate Series 2 and 3 as my favourite series (despite the Jack/Matt fight). There were some wonderful episodes in the other series of course, I loved the Series 4 episode about fascists and antisemitism for example. I hope to write some more!
I just did an episode on this show, I feel it is desperately under-rated and surely the best thing James Bolam ever did. You chose an absolutely classic clip here - thank you.
