"Howards' Way" (1985) TV series 1985-1990

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Creators:

Gerard Glaister
Allan Prior

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Release Date:

1 September 1985 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Stormy waters lie ahead...

Plot:

Tom Howard is made redundant from his job as a senior aircraft designer and decides to invest his skill...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Boat Building | Sailing | Family Relationships | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Jan Harvey	...	Jan Howard (78 episodes, 1985-1990)
Stephen Yardley	...	Ken Masters (78 episodes, 1985-1990)
Glyn Owen	...	Jack Rolfe (78 episodes, 1985-1990)
Susan Gilmore	...	Avril Rolfe (78 episodes, 1985-1990)
Edward Highmore	...	Leo Howard (78 episodes, 1985-1990)
Robert Vahey	...	Bill Sayers (75 episodes, 1985-1990)
Ivor Danvers	...	Gerald Urquhart (73 episodes, 1985-1990)
Tony Anholt	...	Charles Frere (72 episodes, 1985-1990)
Dulcie Gray	...	Kate Harvey (69 episodes, 1985-1990)
Cindy Shelley	...	Abby Hudson / ... (65 episodes, 1985-1990)
Maurice Colbourne	...	Tom Howard (61 episodes, 1985-1989)
Patricia Shakesby	...	Polly Urquhart (55 episodes, 1985-1989)
Willoughby Gray	...	Sir John Stevens (41 episodes, 1985-1990)
Tracey Childs	...	Lynne Howard / ... (38 episodes, 1985-1990)

Runtime:

50 min (78 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Bursledon, Hampshire, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Gerard Glaister revealed that he cast Maurice Colbourne in the lead role of Tom Howard because he wanted an actor who had rugged, outdoor looks.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Britain's 50 Greatest Comedy Sketches (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Howards Way Theme

Magnificently Awful !!

Curerently being re-run on UK Drama, this was the BBC's answer to "Dallas" and "Dynasty".

Totally implausible plots, big shoulder pads, badly acted, intrusive syrupy incidental music and characters with no redeeming features whatsoever (aside possibly from Avril Rolfe, played by Susan Gilmore). It made for unmissable TV. I don't think it was meant to be a comedy, but it certainly made me laugh.

The ridiculous notion that Southampton was a financial hub and the focus of the fashion world beggared belief. I cannot believe that anyone of the viewing millions actually understood anything Charles Frere, Gerald Urquhart and Edward Frere were talking about when it came to "big" business. And how did Jan Howard go from bored housewife to top fashion house proprietor in about three weeks ?!

I was obviously not alone in my assertion of the appalling manner of the acting as I cannot remember any of the cast being in anything after Howard's Way. Top of the "they should never work again" list was the oily fashion victim Ken Masters (Stephen Yardley) closely followed by Kate "Dahhhhling" Howard (Dulcie Gray) and the over-the-top-meistress, Kate O'Mara.

They don't make them like this anymore.... amen to that !!!