"The Beiderbecke Affair" (1985) TV series

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Directors:

David Reynolds
Frank W. Smith

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 January 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Trevor Chaplin teaches woodwork and likes to listen to jazz. Jill Swinburne teaches English and wants to help save the planet...

Plot Keywords:

Jazz | Corruption | Police | School Teacher | Leeds

Cast

James Bolam	...	Trevor Chaplin (6 episodes, 1985)
Barbara Flynn	...	Jill Swinburne (6 episodes, 1985)
Dominic Jephcott	...	Det. Sgt. Hobson (6 episodes, 1985)
Terence Rigby	...	Big Al (6 episodes, 1985)
Dudley Sutton	...	Mr. Carter (6 episodes, 1985)
Keith Smith	...	Mr. Wheeler (6 episodes, 1985)
Danny Schiller	...	Little Norm (5 episodes, 1985)
Colin Blakely	...	Chief Supt. Forrest (4 episodes, 1985)
Keith Marsh	...	Harry (4 episodes, 1985)
Alison Skilbeck	...	Helen / ... (3 episodes, 1985)
Sue Jenkins	...	Janey (3 episodes, 1985)

Runtime:

320 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Belmont level crossing, Forest Lane, Starbeck, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company:

Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Trivia:

The episode titles "What I don't understand is this...", "Can anybody join in?", "We call it the white economy", "Um... I know what you're thinking", "That was a very funny evening" and "We are on the brink of a new era, if only..." are the opening lines of each episode.

Quotes:

Trevor Chaplin: It's two years exactly...
Jill Swinburne: Two years exactly since I dragged you into bed for the first time and slaked my lust on your body.
Mr Carter: Education is wonderful, isn't it?
Jill Swinburne: Yes. I wonder why we're all teachers - seems such a waste.

Movie Connections:

Followed by "The Beiderbecke Connection" (1988)

Soundtrack:

Cryin' All Day

Brilliantly original work from the pen of Alan Plater

Set in and around Leeds in the North of England, Trevor Chaplin and Jill Swinburne are teachers in a typical secondary school. Trevor is a jazz freak whilst Jill is an eco-activist. They stumble across some nefarious goings on in the local community and with the help of some unlikely characters solve a tangled web of corruption.

The humor in this show is absolutely top notch both in situations and dialog and although I have seen it a couple of times, it never seems to get stale. I love this show.