Press Gang

Steven Moffat’s BAFTA-winning 80s teen drama about a youth newspaper

Entertainment & Reality

Steven Moffat’s BAFTA-winning 80s teen drama. Julia Sawalha stars as an ambitious adolescence running a local paper. Follow her through the highs and lows of the news cycle.

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The first ever episode from 1989 based on the activities of a children's newspaper.

Page One

The first ever episode from 1989, based on the activities of a children's newspaper, the Junior Gazette, produced by pupils at their local comprehensive school.

The Junior Gazette may have its lead story.

Photo Finish

Following Spike's hunch that a local disco is to be closed and turned into a supermarket, Lynda senses that the Junior Gazette may have its lead story. However, the paper publishes without having all the facts.

What is Colin going to do with one hundred thousand defective half ping-pong balls?

One Easy Lesson

Sarah's cousin is a new teacher at Norbridge High who is having difficulties in controlling his classes and is in danger of losing his job. Meanwhile, what is Colin going to do with one hundred thousand defective half ping-pong balls?

A printing dispute means the Gazette staff have little time to produce the next issue.

Deadline

A printing dispute means that the Junior Gazette staff have precisely three hours to produce the issue for the following week. This results in Colin attempting to get a celebrity to open a shop the day before it is due to open.

It's Saturday night, and Kenny, Spike and Tiddler have been volunteered to do late duty.

A Night In

It's Saturday night, and Kenny, Spike and Tiddler have been volunteered to spend the evening on late duty. Spike doesn't want to be there and Lynda has been dumped by her boyfriend so tensions are running high.

Colin wins a computer for the newsroom in a creative writing competition.

Interface

When Colin wins a computer for the newsroom in a creative writing competition, things seem a little too easy. Then the Junior Gazette starts to receive anonymous articles via the computer modem.

Kenny sets out to find out why a girl draws the outline of a body on the ground outside.

How To Make a Killing 1

Kenny sets out to find out why a girl draws the outline of a body on the ground outside Highpoint flats on the 15th day of each month and finds himself interested in her for reasons other than the story.

Kenny returns, having solved the mystery over the death of Jenny Eliot's brother.

How To Make a Killing 2

Kenny returns, having solved the mystery over the death of Jenny Eliot's brother and prompting the Junior Gazette's first undercover campaign.

Lynda must cope with the presence of a radio DJ in the newsroom.

Both Sides of the Paper

Lynda must cope with the presence of a radio DJ in the newsroom as well as the headmaster's demands that the Junior Gazette closes down to allow its staff to concentrate on revision for their forthcoming exams.

Sarah and Billy investigate the case of Bobby Tweed who's been accused of stealing money.

Money, Love and Birdseed

Sarah and Billy investigate the case of Bobby Tweed, who has been accused of stealing money during a school judo club session. Meanwhile, the newsroom has been invaded by birds and Tiddler is attempting some matchmaking.

During a sombre meeting, the team look back on the events of the previous day.

Monday, Tuesday

During a sombre meeting, the team look back on the events of the previous day when David Jefford, a newcomer to the paper, attempted to blackmail his way onto the writing team.

Lynda has resigned as editor of the Junior Gazette.

Shouldn't I Be Taller?

Lynda has resigned as editor of the Junior Gazette and there is an election to choose her replacement. Kenny is persuaded to stand but his opponent is one Colin Mathews who has his own distinct ideas for the future of the paper.

The team have to scrap an issue concerning the Community Centre closure.

Breakfast at Czar's

When it is revealed that Wellside Community Centre is actually closing, the team must scrap an issue of the Junior Gazette concerning how they saved it.

It appears that Spike is in danger of returning to his old ways.

Picking Up the Pieces

Colin turns his attention to Suzy Norton, a brilliant schoolgirl chessplayer, with a plan which makes use of an unwitting Frazz. Meanwhile, it appears that Spike is in danger of returning to his old ways.

A grotesque wooden figure brings back memories for Lynda.

Going Back To Jasper Street

A grotesque wooden figure brings back memories for Lynda of the events of Kenny's birthday ten years previously. Meanwhile, Ruby Grogan has a crush on Spike, much to the disgust of Colin who is interested in her.

The news team face many problems in a typical week on the Junior Gazette.

The Week and Pizza

It's a typical week in the life of the Junior Gazette. Spike and Tiddler have got to interview a local children's author, Sam wants to fire a member of her news team and Colin is looking for something with which to blackmail Lynda.

Lynda needs to find someone to take to an important cocktail party.

Love and the Junior Gazette

Lynda needs to take someone to an important cocktail party at the home of the owner of the Junior Gazette, and the rest of the news team seem to have decided who is going with her.

Lynda is getting nervous about attending the cocktail party.

At Last a Dragon

Lynda is nervous about attending the cocktail party, since she will be meeting lots of very important people and it may be the launchpad for her career. Also at the party is a very familiar looking Arab...

Colin is worried about something Cindy wants to tell him.

Something Terrible 1

While Lynda tries to keep her relationship with Spike a secret, Colin has gained an admirer in the shape of an 11 year old girl called Cindy. Colin has a feeling that she is trying to tell him something, and he has a nasty suspicion what it is.

Colin suspects that Cindy is being abused by her father.

Something Terrible 2

Colin suspects that Cindy is being abused by her father, but his attempts to help are hampered by everyone believing he is just involved in another of his schemes. However, help comes from an unexpected direction.

Sarah is the only suitable person to interview Jason Wood but has just resigned.

Friends Like These

Jason Wood, a pop star renowned for his dislike of journalists, is stuck at Norbridge station. Sarah is the only person suitable to conduct an interview. However, she has just resigned from the Junior Gazette.

There is an explosion at a record shop and Lynda learns Spike is missing.

The Rest of My Life

The team learn that there has been an explosion at a local record shop and immediately mobilise to cover this important story. However, the scale of the disaster soon starts to hit home, especially when Lynda learns that Spike is missing.

Spike and Lynda compete in a reporting contest.

Yesterday's News

A feud develops between Spike and Lynda, and they end up competing in a reporting contest. Spike appears to be his usual cheerful self, but it soon becomes obvious he's been deeply affected by his experiences after the explosion.

Colin has discovered that Kenny writes and performs songs and has plans for him.

Rock Solid

Spike has quit the paper and Lynda is upsetting more people than usual, leaving Kenny to clear up after her. However, Colin has discovered that Kenny writes and performs songs and has plans for him.

It looks as if things will never be the same again at the Junior Gazette.

The Big Finish?

It looks as if things will never be the same again at the Junior Gazette. Spike is returning to America and Sullivan is going to replace the staff with new people. Things only come to a head on the day of Kenny's concert.

An investigation into a property developer leads Lynda into trouble.

The Big Hello

The Junior Gazette is now running commercially, but without Spike who has returned to America. An investigation into a property developer leads Lynda into trouble with the paper's owner, as well as a reunion with a certain visitor from the USA.

The newsroom receives a series of worrying phone calls.

Killer on the Line

The newsroom receives a series of phone calls from someone who wants to speak to Rod whilst insisting that he hasn't got the wrong number.

Colin has been asked out on date but is not sure what to do.

Chance Is a Fine Thing

Kenny is in a philosophical mood when he discovers that he owes his existence to chance. Meanwhile, Colin has been asked out by Judy Wellman, a new and desirable member of the news team, and he isn't quite sure what to do.

The newsroom is invaded by a masked gunman who holds the team hostage.

The Last Word Part 1

The newsroom is invaded by a masked gunman who holds the team hostage to protest about a story concerning gun clubs. As a siege develops it becomes clear that one member of the team is not going to make it out alive.

It is the aftermath of the siege and questions are being asked by the police.

The Last Word Part 2

It is the aftermath of the siege and questions are being asked by the police about how the gunman was able to escape.

Spike and Lynda find themselves unexpectedly attached.

Holding on

Spike and Lynda find themselves unexpectedly attached when they investigate a stage hypnotist with a cruel sense of humour. This is inconvenient, as Spike is due to return to America with his girlfriend.

Lynda is reunited with Spike on a live children's television show.

Bad News

Lynda is reunited with Spike on a live children's television show called Crazy Stuff, leading to them becoming celebrities. It takes Colin to turn this to their advantage when the Junior Gazette's future is in danger due to poor sales.

Frazz is disturbed when he is visited by an old TV show hero.

Unexpected

Frazz is somewhat disturbed when he is visited by Colonel X, the eponymous hero of an old TV show that was axed when its star was killed in a car crash.  In order to win a bet with Spike, Lynda is looking for someone to have dinner with.

Archie has to get hold of Sarah's tape recorder at any cost.

She's Got It Taped

Archie Pressman is involved with a gang who bombed a Norbridge restaurant, and Sarah Jackson's tape recorder contains some information that would incriminate him. Archie needs to get hold of it at any cost.

Late one night Spike and Lynda are persuaded to deliver a suitcase.

Love and War

Late one night Spike and Lynda are persuaded by Colin to deliver a talking suitcase to an associate of his uncle. Spike doesn't seem his usual self, and he keeps talking to his father's telephone answering machine.

Colin goes undercover as a hotel workman in order to help get some candid photographs.

In the Picture

Colin goes undercover as a hotel workman in order to help get some candid photographs of John Hartwood, a visiting actor who is very protective of his privacy.

Lynda gets a visit from a guardian angel.

Day Dreams

Confused over her feelings for Spike, Lynda is sleeping overnight at the newsroom when she is visited by Mr Sullivan. He is revealed to be her guardian angel, with the power to give her a glimpse of the future.

Colin discovers that his headmaster is having an affair.

Head and Heart

Colin's latest infatuation leads to the discovery that Norbridge High's headmaster is having an affair. Lynda has a moral dilemma over whether to run it as a story and destroy the career of a man who was instrumental in setting up the Junior Gazette.

Sarah reads Spike a letter about her relationship with Lynda.

Friendly Fire

Late one night in the newsroom Sarah reads Spike a letter. It tells of Sarah's relationship with Lynda over the years; a relationship that is now reaching a turning point.

While investigating a story, Lynda is inadvertently trapped in an airtight vault.

A Quarter To Midnight

One Friday night, while investigating a story, Lynda is inadvertently trapped in an airtight vault, with only a broken mobile phone to help save her, unless luck plays a part.

How will Lynda react to seeing Spike with another woman?

Food, Love and Insecurity

In order to break a story, Spike must get close to an old girlfriend over a romantic dinner. But how will Lynda react to seeing Spike with another woman, especially since she is undercover as their waitress.

Colin's date with Julie doesn't get off to a great start.

Windfall

Colin's date with Julie doesn't get off to a great start when he loses her three pets trying to retrieve a hundred pound note that is blowing in the wind.

Lynda and Spike find a body in the toilets.

There Are Crocodiles

Football, drugs and bad dreams appear to spell the end when the Junior Gazette finds itself on the other end of investigative journalism.

Press Gang

Press Gang

Series 1

1. Page One

1. Page One

2. Photo Finish

2. Photo Finish

3. One Easy Lesson

3. One Easy Lesson

4. Deadline

4. Deadline

5. A Night In

5. A Night In

6. Interface

6. Interface

7. How To Make a Killing 1

7. How To Make a Killing 1

8. How To Make a Killing 2

8. How To Make a Killing 2

9. Both Sides of the Paper

9. Both Sides of the Paper

10. Money, Love and Birdseed

10. Money, Love and Birdseed

11. Monday, Tuesday

11. Monday, Tuesday

12. Shouldn't I Be Taller?

12. Shouldn't I Be Taller?