The Beiderbecke Affair (1985– )

Trevor Chaplin teaches woodwork and likes to listen to jazz. Jill Swinburne teaches English and wants to help save the planet. Trevor tries to buy some jazz records but this leads to ... See full summary »

Stars:

James Bolam, Barbara Flynn, Dominic Jephcott

Cast

Series cast summary:
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)

Storyline

Trevor Chaplin teaches woodwork and likes to listen to jazz. Jill Swinburne teaches English and wants to help save the planet. Trevor tries to buy some jazz records but this leads to meeting a "dazzlingly beautiful platinum blond", a suspicious detective sergeant and a strange pair of men running a junior football team. Big Al and Little Norm agree to help Trevor and Jill with their school supplies problems. Jill decides to stand as a local councillor. A tale of "Black Economies", council corruption and many strange characters all set to a background of Bix Beiderbecke.

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Plot Keywords:

jazz | corruption | school teacher | england | tv mini series | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 1985 (UK)

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Yorkshire Television (YTV)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

320 min 320 min (6 parts)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The names of the leading characters were developed from the characters in Alan Plater's earlier series Get Lost!. When the actors had to be re-cast, Plater looked for new names for what were similar characters. Neville Keaton from 'Get Lost' was a woodwork teacher who liked jazz and football. For the Beiderbecke Trilogy, he became Trevor Chaplin, Keaton and Chaplin being two of Plater's comic heroes. Judy Threadgold from 'Get Lost' was an English teacher and an environmentalist who had been named in homage to Sunderland A.F.C. goalkeeper Harry Threadgold. For the Beiderbecke Trilogy, she became Jill Swinburne, named after Newcastle United F.C. goalkeeper Tom Swinburne.

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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.

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Connections

References Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

"Cryin' All Day"
Written by Frankie Trumbauer and Chauncey Morehouse
Performed by Bix Beiderbecke

User Reviews

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.