All Quiet on the Preston Front


All Quiet on the Preston Front was a British comedy-drama series broadcast on BBC One between 4 January 1994 and 8 September 1997. Conceived by Tim Firth, the programme charted the lives, misadventures and relationships of a group of friends in the fictitious Lancashire town of Roker Bridge. The first series used the full title, All Quiet on the Preston Front, highlighting the military facet that initially united some of the characters. For the second and third series, the title was abridged to Preston Front, with a focus on the characters’ personal lives. Throughout its run, the series delivered a moving portrayal of small-town existence, capturing the tension between youthful idealism ans the responsibilities of adulthood.

Plot

Set in the fictional Lancashire town of Roker Bridge, the series follows the lives of a group of young adults whose membership in the local Territorial Army (TA) platoon serves as a common thread throughout the series. Initially, TA enlistment acts as the vehicle that brings the individuals together, but as the narrative unfolds over the three series, the focus shifts towards their personal challenges and relationships.
Central to the storyline is Hodge, an affable yet somewhat directionless character who grapples with romantic complications. His best friend, Eric, provides a more introspective and balanced perspective, serving as the moral centre of the group. Trainee teacher Dawn faces the dual challenges of professional development and personal growth, while the ever-optimistic Lloydy injects humour into even the most trying situations. The character Spock, is noted for his commitment to the TA, and his ambition to be a good teacher, while Diesel provides a working-class perspective on the events unfolding around him.

Seasons and Episodes

Series One (1994)

The opening series introduces the cast and setting of Roker Bridge, framed around their everyday lives linked by service in the TA. The military element provides a backdrop for the humour, while everyday issues such as first romances, job struggles, and small-town life form the heart of the narrative.
;Episodes
  1. "Hodge's Girlfriend" ; director: Brian Farnham
  2. "Ally's Husband" ; director: Brian Farnham
  3. "Eric's Job" ; director: Brian Farnham
  4. "Lloydy's Fish" ; director: Brian Farnham
  5. "Diesel's Garage" ; director: Brian Farnham
  6. "Kirsty's Biscuit" ; director: Brian Farnham

Series Two (1995)

For the second series, the title was shortened to Preston Front, reflecting a shift in focus away from the TA. This series deepens characterisation and explores the lives of some of the supporting cast while maintaining its gentle, observational humour.
;Episodes
  1. "Dawn's Ball" ; director: Marcus Mortimer
  2. "Laura's Mousse" ; director: Marcus Mortimer
  3. "Spock's Leg" ; director: Marcus Mortimer
  4. "Polson's Lilo" ; director: Betsan Morris Evans
  5. "Diesel's Out of Body Experience" ; director: Betsan Morris Evans
  6. "Lloydy's Ark" ; director: Betsan Morris Evans

Series Three (1997)

The final series marks a shift in both tone and theme. With significantly less focus on the military backdrop, the narrative centres on the complexities of the characters' lives as they face issues like career changes, relationship breakdowns, and personal ambitions. The comedy adopts a more mature, reflective quality, providing a nuanced portrayal of friendship. Episodes in the third series are 10 minutes shorter than those in the first and second series.
;Episodes
  1. "Hodge's Driving Test" ; director: Chris Bernard
  2. "Eric's Won Ton" ; director: Chris Bernard
  3. "Lloydy's House Warming" ; director: Chris Bernard
  4. "Spock's Dilated Pupil" ; director: Chris Bernard
  5. "Polson's Mess" ; director: Rick Stroud
  6. "Diesel's Ostrich" ; director: Rick Stroud
  7. "Jeanetta's Marijuana" ; director: Rick Stroud

Principal characters

  • Private David 'Hodge' Gadd, a garden centre assistant
  • Private Wayne 'Eric' Disley, Hodge's best friend, an underachieving delivery driver
  • Private Dawn Lomax, a trainee teacher and a new recruit to the transport section, Eric's girlfriend
  • Private Simon 'Spock' Matlock, a history teacher and intellectual
  • Private Tony 'Lloydy' Lloyd, a farm labourer, the platoon clown
  • Private Derek 'Diesel' Moyle, a garage owner
  • Corporal Alison 'Ally' Minshull, NCO in charge of the transport section, Spock's sister, unhappily married to a local solicitor
  • Corporal Peter 'Pete' Polson, the friends' section commander, a former regular NCO, now manager of a hotel leisure centre
  • Jeanetta Scarry, an older woman with whom Hodge had a one-night stand five years earlier
  • Kirsty, Jeanetta's and Hodge's young daughter
  • Lieutenant Carl Rundle, the platoon commander, a junior hotel manager, in love with Ally
  • Laura Delooze, a singer and waitress, and Hodge's girlfriend in the first two series
  • Peter Wang, owner of the local Chinese restaurant
  • Melanie 'Mel' Polson, Polson's younger sister, later Hodge's girlfriend
  • Mrs Ruddock, owner of the garden centre where Hodge works
  • Declan Caine, a plastic surgeon, later Jeanetta's boyfriend

Guest stars and Cameos

Locations

The series is mainly set in Lancashire, with various local locations used. Key filming took place on Mill Street, Padiham, and Manchester Road, Hapton, which both stood in for the fictional town of Roker Bridge. The scenes set at the TA centre were filmed on Bury Road, Haslingden, and the site is still used as an Army Cadet Centre. The former RAF Laarbruch in Germany was used for the series one episode "Kirsty's Biscuit" and the Black Country Museum in Dudley appeared in the series two episode "Spock's Leg".

Theme Music

The theme music was a re-recorded version of "Here I Stand" by Milltown Brothers, as an instrumental for the opening sequence, and the full version with lyrics during the end credits.

Books

In 1997, to coincide with the broadcast of Series 3, two tie-in novels were published by Chameleon Books, both written by Ed Jones. The first, Liberty, Equality and Virginity, is a prequel set in 1989, five years prior to the events of the television series and focuses on Hodge’s affair with Jeanetta. The second, Preston Front: Ostriches and Marijuana, is a novelisation of the third series and adds that Laura is pregnant by Greg.
  • Liberty, Equality, Virginity –
  • Preston Front: Ostriches and Marijuana –

Awards

  • Best Comedy Drama, Comedy awards
  • RTS Award for Best Series
  • Best Series Award at the San Francisco Television Festival
  • Nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Series
  • Writer's Guild of Great Britain Best Original Drama Series Award
  • RTS Midlands Best Drama Series
  • Nominated for British Comedy Awards