"Girls on Top" (1985) TV series 1985-1986

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

23 October 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Four women who are nothing alike end up living together in a flat in England.

Plot Keywords:

Alternative Comedy | Friendship | Landlord | Comedy Team | Roommate

Cast

Dawn French	...	Amanda Ripley (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jennifer Saunders	...	Jennifer Marsh (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ruby Wax	...	Shelley DuPont (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tracey Ullman	...	Candice Valentine (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Joan Greenwood	...	Lady Chloe Carlton (13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Directed by
Paul Jackson		(5 episodes, 1985)
Ed Bye		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Writing credits
Dawn French		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jennifer Saunders		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ruby Wax		(7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tracey Ullman		(2 episodes, 1985)

Series Produced by
Paul Jackson	....	producer (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Allan McKeown	....	executive producer (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Trevor Walton	....	producer / executive producer (5 episodes, 1985)

Series Original Music by
Chris Difford		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Glenn Tilbrook		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Film Editing by
Gordon Hunt		(5 episodes, 1985)
John Hawkins		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Casting by
Rebecca Howard		(5 episodes, 1985)
Sally Fincher		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Production Design by
Lynda Harris		(5 episodes, 1985)
Colin Andrews		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Costume Design by
James Dark		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Makeup Department
Dianne Joyce	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1985)
Sheila Mann	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1985)
Shirley Muslin	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Art Department
Graham Garside	....	graphics (5 episodes, 1985)
Tex Uwins	....	production buyer (3 episodes, 1985)
Tod Davies	....	graphics / production buyer (2 episodes, 1986)
Ted High	....	graphics / production buyer (2 episodes, 1986)

Series Sound Department
Paul Crichton	....	sound (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Martyn Gillman	....	sound (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Ray Wilson	....	lighting technician (6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernard Saunders	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1985)
Geoff Joyce	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheelagh Killeen	....	costumes (5 episodes, 1985)

Series Editorial Department
Endel Beinlo	....	vision control (6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tracy Myers	....	vision mixer (4 episodes, 1985)
Jenny Hawkins	....	vision mixer (3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Jay Brown	....	vision control (2 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Other crew
Ben Elton	....	script editor (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Blanchard	....	floor manager (5 episodes, 1985)
Joyce Lewsey	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1985)
Sue Palmer	....	stage manager (5 episodes, 1985)
Ron Brown	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1985)
Eunice Bird	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1986)
Tara Fernando	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1986)
Richard Jones	....	floor manager (2 episodes, 1986)
Ken Whitton	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1986)

Production Companies

• Central Independent Television

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV) (1985-1986) (UK) (TV)
• Network (2007) (UK) (DVD)

Runtime:

30 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Company:

Central Independent Television

Quotes:

Candice:I just want you to know that I'll never get in your way, I'll never hang 'round your neck. And, like, when we go to Rome or Paris and you're busy, just say to me, "Cand, here's the keys to your car, here's your gold American Express card, now go back to the hotel, sweet, and stay there!"

Movie Connections:

Featured in Comedy Classics of the 80's (1991) (V)

Soundtrack:

Girls on Top

Superb

I hadn't seen this series since it was first shown in the eighties, so what an absolute joy it has been to rediscover it. Although recorded in the mid-80s, the humour hasn't dated one jot - there are few contemporary references which has helped the show stand the test of time remarkably well.

For me the star of the show was Tracey Ullman though. It wasn't long after this series that she defected to the US and it shows what a sad loss to British TV comedy she was.

Its also interesting to see Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders so early in their careers, although they seem to play "second fiddle" to Tracey Ullman and Ruby Wax in series one.

All in all, this show comes highly recommended.