First broadcast: 1984
Stars: Tim Healy, Timothy Spall, Jimmy Nail, Kevin Whately, Pat Roach, Christopher Fairbank and Gary Holton
Creators: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais
The lowdown: This much-loved 1980s drama follows the humorous misadventures of seven unemployed men from the UK, who end up working together on a building site in Germany. There’s Geordie brickies Oz (Jimmy Nail), Neville (Kevin Whately) and Dennis (Tim Healy), Brummie sparkie Barry (Timothy Spall), Cockney chippy Wayne (Gary Holton), Scouse plasterer Moxy (Christopher Fairbank), and Bristolian brickie-cum-giant Bomber (Pat Roach). Oz (Jimmy Nail) provides much of the comedy, thanks to his getting into various scrapes (often as a result of a big night out). The show provided a launch-pad to bigger things for many of the cast.
Memorable moments: When Oz wakes up after a heavy drinking session - and discovers he’s on a plane home. Also look out for Barry's many humorous theories on weighty subjects such as love, life and Kevin Keegan.
Trivia: The late Pat “Bomber“ Roach was a former professional wrestler, whose specialised in movie villains. He appeared in all three Indiana Jones movies, playing four different roles (giant Sherpa, mechanic, chief guard and a Nazi officer).
Among those who've gone on to bigger things is Timothy Spall, whose credits include Hollywood movies Vanilla Sky and The Last Samuri, both alongside Tom Cruise. Meanwhile, Kevin Whately is, of course, now better known as Lewis, Inspector Morse’s sidekick and now an inspector in his own right with a spin-off series.
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