Shoestring 

Lighthearted detective series set in the West Country, about Eddie Shoestring, a radio-phone-in detective

Creators:

Robert Banks Stewart, Richard Harris

Stars:

Trevor Eve, Michael Medwin, Doran Godwin

3 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Trevor Eve	...	Eddie Shoestring 21 episodes, 1979-1980
Michael Medwin	...	Don Satchley 21 episodes, 1979-1980
Doran Godwin	...	Erica Bayliss 21 episodes, 1979-1980
Liz Crowther	...	Sonia 21 episodes, 1979-1980

Storyline

Lighthearted detective series set in the West Country, about Eddie Shoestring, a radio-phone-in detective

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Plot Keywords:

character name as series title | one word series title | surname as series title | detective | moustache | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The radio station was called Radio West. In 1981, shortly after the series had finished, a real-life radio station of the same name was launched in Bristol. It used a picture of Trevor Eve as Eddie Shoestring in the publicity information announcing its launch. The real-life Radio West was not very successful, but merged in 1985 with Wiltshire Radio to form the station "GWR". GWR became very successful, and has now grown into a large company whose portfolio includes stations such as CLASSIC FM

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Connections

Referenced in Top Gear: Isle of Man Shootout - V8 Vantage vs. M6 vs. Carrera S (2005)

User Reviews

Intense Gripping Crime Show

Shoestring was a unique series, a ratings winner for the BBC it was perhaps the most popular thing around at the time and spurned a fashion for loud pyjama style shirts! At the core of the show was Trevor Eve, a superb actor who played Eddie Shoestring with power and frightening intensity. Always on edge, you never knew how Eddie, the former mental patient turned Private Eye would react, and you kind of guessed another breakdown was always on the cards (none more so than in Mocking Bird). There wasnt a bad episode in this show, and Eve quit after two series leaving us with a show whose legacy was untarnished, giving a good lesson to other series that carry on long past their time. The show gave us some superb cameos too. Toyah Wilcox turns up as a wannabe pop star long before she was one and Christopher Biggins, Peter Dean, Michael Elphick, Eric Richard, Sean Arnold not forgetting Bert Kwouk

(better knowk as Peter Seller's sidekick Cato) all turn up in this series. The last episode The Dangerous Game is like a roll call of the future stars of The Bill, Boon, Dear John and I am sure many others besides. Eddie went out on a high and there are rumours that the eagle may fly again, Trevor Eve's wife dropping a less than subtle hint in a recent interview. I must mention Michael Medwin & Liz Crowther as the radio station stalwarts and of course Erica Bayliss, Eddie's long suffering girlfriend without whom this series would have missed something. Despite this, the glory of this show beloged to one man, Trevor Eve.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 September 1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

Radioetsivä

Filming Locations:

Royal York Crescent, Clifton, Bristol, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (21 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1