When the Boat Comes In
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period drama produced by the BBC between 8 January 1976 and 21 April 1981. Across the whole series, events are set in the time period from 1919 to 1937. The series stars James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War veteran who returns to his poverty-stricken town of Gallowshield in the North East of England. The series dramatises 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.
Storyline
The story begins in 1919 with Sergeant Jack Ford proudly still wearing his British Army uniform in his home town and re-integrating with the local community, finding attitudes have changed since 1914. Sgt Ford has to tactfully steer conversations away from the horrors of the trenches, and lend an ear to his traumatised fellow soldiers.Production
The majority of episodes were written by creator James Mitchell, but in series 1 north-eastern writers Tom Hadaway, Sid Chaplin and Alex Glasgow contributed episodes, and in series 3 Jeremy Burnham and Colin Morris shared writing duties with Mitchell. Mitchell also wrote three tie-in books to the TV show: When the Boat Comes In, When the Boat Comes In: The Hungry Years and When the Boat Comes In: Upwards and Onwards. The final book brings the reader up to date with the end of the second series of the TV show.Series 1 of When the Boat Comes In was produced by Leonard Lewis, Series 2 and 3 were produced by Andrew Osborn, and Series 4 was produced by David Maloney.
The traditional tune "When the Boat Comes In" was adapted by David Fanshawe and sung by Alex Glasgow for the title theme of the series. Fanshawe also composed the incidental music. The BBC revived the series in 1981, with the fourth series telling the story of Jack Ford as he returns to Britain penniless, after six years spent bootlegging in the United States, and follows him as he sets up in London.
Series
- Series 1: 8 January to 1 April 1976
- Series 2: 29 October 1976 to 4 February 1977
- Series 3: 8 September to 15 December 1977
- Series 4: 17 February to 21 April 1981
Cast
Regular
- James Bolam as Jack Ford
- James Garbutt as Bill Seaton
- Jean Heywood as Bella Seaton
- John Nightingale as Tom Seaton
- Edward Wilson as Billy Seaton
- Malcolm Terris as Matt Headley
- Susan Jameson as Jessie Seaton/Ashton. Jameson is Bolam's wife off screen.
- Madelaine Newton as Dolly Mather/Ford/Seaton
- Basil Henson as Sir Horatio Manners
- Geoffrey Rose as Arthur Ashton
- William Fox as the Duke of Bedlington
- Isla Blair and Lois Baxter as Lady Caroline
- Rosalind Bailey as Sarah Lytton/Headley
Supporting
- Michelle Newell as Mary Seaton
- Noel O'Connell as Young Tommy
- Catherine Terris as Miss Laidlaw
- Vernon Drake as hotel porter
- Roger Avon as Stan Liddell
- Ian Cullen as Geordie Watson
- Bobby Pattinson as Eddy Morton
Episodes