I have very vague memories of this series being like a serious version of a sitcom in which Mark Farmer also starred, called Relative Strangers. In both, Farmer portrays a disaffected youth who tries to return to his roots and rediscover his family and identity. He is not always successful in this endeavour, and seems to meet various characters of differing quality along the way. It was made by the BBC on an obviously low budget, and filmed on location around various parts of inner city London. I have to say that the main reason I do recall it though, is because every week a teacher at my school would show us recordings of it "...because it's a waste of my time trying to teach you lot R.E. for half an hour a week!".
How Ironic.
How Ironic.