press gang

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Press Gang

Published: Tuesday, 1 May 2007, 10:41AM

First broadcast: 1989

Stars:  Julia Sawalha, Dexter Fletcher, Paul Reynolds, Lee Ross, Lucy Benjamin

Creator and writer: Steven Moffat

The lowdown: This BAFTA-award-winning teen drama centres on the trials and tribulations of those running a school newspaper, the Junior Gazette, and launched the careers of many of its young stars. Julia Sawalha plays the bossy editor Lynda who has a love-hate relationship with the rebellious American Spike (Dexter Fletcher), while Lee Ross stars as unlucky-in-love assistant editor Kenny and Paul Reynolds as the over-bearing Thatcherite Colin, who is in charge of advertising and finances. Despite its sharp humour, the show also tackles serious issues such as solvent misuse and child abuse.

Memorable moments: Look out for a guest appearance from Sadie Frost as Kenny’s girlfriend and also the episode where Colin accidentally turns up at a funeral... dressed as a giant pink rabbit.

Trivia: Steven Moffat also created the BBC2 sitcom Coupling.
Many fans of the show were surprised to discover Dexter Fletcher’s American accent in the series isn’t authentic, as he’s actually from London. He and Julia Sawalha became a couple off-screen for several years.
More than half of the Press Gang episodes were shot by acclaimed British comedy director Bob Spiers, who worked on many hit shows such as Fawlty Towers.
The series won a Royal Television Society (RTS) award and a BAFTA in 1991 for Best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama). Julia Sawalha also won a Best Actress RTS award in 1993.

WATCH SERIES ONE

• Episode one
  Photo Finish
• Episode two
  One Easy Lesson
• Episode three
  Deadline
• Episode four
  A Night In
• Episode five
  Interface
• Episode six
  How to Make a Killing - Pt 1
• Episode seven
  How to Make a Killing - Pt2
• Episode eight
  Both Sides of the Paper
• Episode nine
  Money Love and Birdseed
• Episode 10
  Monday, Tuesday
• Episode 11
  Shouldn't I Be Taller?

FAMOUS FANS

• 

  Ben Shepherd

  “The cast was fantastic… I used to sit there and watch Press Gang and think “I want to work for a teenage newspaper”. I actually wanted to be Dexter Fletcher’s character as he was American and he was cool"

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  Genevieve O'Reilly

  “Press Gang would have to be up there because it’s part of my childhood, and those shows kind of stay with you. They are fun at the time, like a Secret Seven or Famous Five, but are much cooler because they are on TV”

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