"G.B.H." (1991) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

6 June 1991 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Michael Murray is an ambitious and charismatic politician, Jim Nelson is a much loved headmaster of a local school for disturbed children...

Plot Keywords:

School | Headmaster | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym | Strike | Politics

Awards:

3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Robert Lindsay	...	Michael Murray (7 episodes, 1991)
Michael Palin	...	Jim Nelson (7 episodes, 1991)
Dearbhla Molloy	...	Laura Nelson (7 episodes, 1991)
Alan Igbon	...	Teddy (7 episodes, 1991)
Andrew Schofield	...	Peter (7 episodes, 1991)
Philip Whitchurch	...	Franky Murray (7 episodes, 1991)
Julie Walters	...	Mrs. Murray (7 episodes, 1991)
Paul Oldham	...	Joey Thug (7 episodes, 1991)
Tom Georgeson	...	Lou Barnes (7 episodes, 1991)
Chris Hargreaves	...	Scrawny Thug (7 episodes, 1991)
Gary Mavers	...	Billy Thug (7 episodes, 1991)
Wayne Foskett	...	Macker Thug (7 episodes, 1991)
Karl Barry	...	Fifth Thug (7 episodes, 1991)
Paul Daneman	...	Mervyn Sloan (7 episodes, 1991)
Peter-Hugo Daly	...	Bubbles (7 episodes, 1991)
Jane Danson	...	Eileen Critchley (7 episodes, 1991)
Lindsay Duncan	...	Barbara Douglas (6 episodes, 1991)
Edward Mallon	...	Mark Nelson (6 episodes, 1991)
Hayley Fairclough	...	Jessica Nelson (6 episodes, 1991)
Michael Angelis	...	Martin Niarchos (6 episodes, 1991)
Anna Friel	...	Susan Nelson (6 episodes, 1991)
David Ross	...	Mr Weller (6 episodes, 1991)
Jimmy Mulville	...	Researcher (6 episodes, 1991)
Stephen Hall	...	Young Michael Murray (6 episodes, 1991)
Bill Stewart	...	Geoff (5 episodes, 1991)
Gareth Tudor Price	...	Richard Grenville (5 episodes, 1991)
Michelle Atkinson	...	Young Barbara (5 episodes, 1991)
John Henshaw	...	Minder 1 (4 episodes, 1991)
Al Brierley	...	Minder 2 (4 episodes, 1991)
Sean Naughton	...	Minder 3 (4 episodes, 1991)
Paul Butterworth	...	Terry - Director of Education (4 episodes, 1991)
Ayesa Toure	...	Monica (4 episodes, 1991)
Julia St. John	...	Diane Niarchos (4 episodes, 1991)
Colin Douglas	...	Frank Twist (4 episodes, 1991)
Clifford Rose	...	Judge Critchley (4 episodes, 1991)
Ian Hartley	...	Joel (4 episodes, 1991)
Christopher Halliday	...	McKenzie (4 episodes, 1991)
Daniel Massey	...	Grosvenor (3 episodes, 1991)
Judith Barker	...	Margie (3 episodes, 1991)
Kelvin Jordon	...	Tommy (3 episodes, 1991)
Paula Bartlett	...	Rachel (3 episodes, 1991)
Michael Fernandez	...	Jake (3 episodes, 1991)
Debra Gillett	...	Sylvia (3 episodes, 1991)
John Shrapnel	...	Dr Jacobs (3 episodes, 1991)
Norman Mills	...	Red Neck Councillor (3 episodes, 1991)
Peter Armitage	...	Mr Burns (3 episodes, 1991)
Arthur Spreckley	...	Grandfather Burns (3 episodes, 1991)
Jean Anderson	...	Dr. Goldup (3 episodes, 1991)
Rachel Laurence	...	Hotel Receptionist (3 episodes, 1991)
Jake Abraham	...	Black Waiter (3 episodes, 1991)
William Franklyn	...	Distinguished Gent (3 episodes, 1991)
Noreen Kershaw	...	Maureen Murray (3 episodes, 1991)
Jim Pope	...	Presenter (3 episodes, 1991)
Daniel Street-Brown	...	Robby Burns (2 episodes, 1991)
Serena Harragin	...	Miss Hutchinson (2 episodes, 1991)
Chris Darwin	...	Barry (2 episodes, 1991)
Ken Kitson	...	Vince (2 episodes, 1991)
James Tomlinson	...	Stan (2 episodes, 1991)
Amanda Mealing	...	Beth (2 episodes, 1991)
Dee Orr	...	Schoolmistress (2 episodes, 1991)
Cliff Howells	...	Cartwright / ... (2 episodes, 1991)
Anthony Benson	...	Norman - Treasurer (2 episodes, 1991)
Phil Rowlands	...	Bluff Policeman (2 episodes, 1991)
Kulvinder Ghir	...	Ravi (2 episodes, 1991)
Ray Emmet Brown	...	West Indian (2 episodes, 1991)
David Scase	...	Caretaker 2 (2 episodes, 1991)
Edward Clayton	...	Chief Constable (2 episodes, 1991)
Peter Faulkner	...	Radio Journalist (2 episodes, 1991)

Runtime:

567 min (7 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15

Filming Locations:

Fleetwood, Lancashire, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

The title "GBH" is never properly explained. In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of Grievous Bodily Harm (ie beating someone up). However Alan Bleasdale hinted that in this case, they might stand for "Great British Holiday".

Quotes:

Jim Nelson: Don't ever use that word to me. Don't ever, ever claim that what you're doing, Murray, has anything at all to do with socialism.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Extras: Jonathan Ross (#2.6)" (2006)

engrossing, wonderful, powerful etc etc

I dont know what it was in the 90's but UK TV produced GBH, Our Friends in the North and Prime Suspect.

My favourite was GBH, it is so substantially long that all characters receive the fleshing out they deserve, some episodes are hard hitting drama, others are on a smaller more personal level and others are out and out hilarious (one commentator mentions the daleks scene which was verging on slapstick in the midst of high drama and yet it worked perfectly).

Simple to follow yet complicated plot, great all round performances cemented by towering contributions from Robert Lynsey and Michael Palin, while the script wears its heart on its sleeve it does not become too sentimental, nor does it lecture.

Perfect television, and criminally unreleased on dvd, Channel 4 would make a packet if they repeated it then released a spec edition.