Our Friends in the North - Complete on DVD
On three DVD's
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JUST 18 REMAINING
Our Friends In The North Complete Series on DVD
Our Friends in the North was a highly acclaimed nine-part BBC TV series about the lives and loves of four individuals from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne between 1963 and 1995. The series also examined sociological and political changes in England over the thirty year period. The principal characters were Nicky (Christopher Eccleston), Mary (Gina McKee), Tosker (Mark Strong) and Geordie (Daniel Craig). Other notable characters were Nicky's parents, Florrie and Felix (Freda Dowie and Peter Vaughan) and the ruthless Benny Barratt (Malcolm McDowell).
"Our Friends" was the biggest and most ambitious contemporary serial ever produced for BBC2. They spent all of their 1996 drama budget on the series. The eleven hours took forty weeks to film and features a cast of thousands, with 160 speaking parts and 3000 extras. The series was written by Peter Flannery and directed by Stuart Urban, Pedr James and Simon Cellan-Jones. Flannery adapted the series from a play he had written.
The programme won many awards, including BAFTAs for Best Drama Serial and Best Actress (Gina McKee).
Producer Charles Pattinson said of the series: 'The heart of this magnificent tale is a simple story of four friends who grow up and apart and - albeit briefly - together again. It is the story of parents and their children, of families and generations torn apart. And it is the story of a passionate thirty year relationship between a man who dreams of changing the world and the woman he loves
• Season 1, Episode 1 – Aired: 1/15/1996
1964
The year is 1964. Nick Hutchinson returns from America, where he has been involved in civil rights movements, to his parent's home in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. There he catches up with his girlfriend Mary Soulsby and his best mate Geordie Peacock. Geordie is keen that Nicky forms a band with him and his friend Tosker Cox. However, Nicky is more interested in taking part in the run-up to the 1964 General Election, helping one of his father's old friends, Eddie Wells. Mary tires of Nicky's lack of attention and becomes involved with Tosker. Geordie meanwhile gets a girl pregnant and decides to leave Newcastle for London...
Season 1, Episode 2 – Aired: 1/15/1996
1966
The year is 1966. Nicky is now working as Austin Donohue's PR man, but is unhappy with his work duties and Austin's ethics. Mary and Tosker are living in a hastily made tower block development built by John Edwards, a friend of Austin. Mary is unhappy in her marriage, whilst Tosker is trying his hand at a music career. Meanwhile in London, Geordie is working for Benny Barratt, a nightclub manager who also runs some sex shops. Barratt is having difficulties with the Metropolitan Police...
Season 1, Episode 3 – Aired: 1/29/1996
1967
The year is 1967. In Newcastle, Mary and Tosker are having further difficulties with their marriage and life in the poorly made Willow Lane flats. Whilst Nicky has become a photographer and started dating a woman called Helen Windsor. In London, Geordie has become Benny Barratt's right hand man as he expands his nightclub and porn empire. Benny is involved in various deals with corrupt Met officers to keep the police off his back. Geordie is also living dangerously as he is sleeping with Benny's girlfriend Julia...
Season 1, Episode 4 – Aired: 2/5/1996
1970
The year is 1970. Tosker visits Geordie in London and is given a loan by Benny. On his return to Newcastle he buys a shop. Geordie is becoming unhappy working for Benny. Nicky is also in London where he is living with Helen and their anarchist friends. They are busy planning some terrorist activities...
Season 1, Episode 5 – Aired: 2/12/1996
1974
The year is 1974. Geordie is released from prison having served a four year sentence. He tries to hunt down Benny but does not succeed in exacting his revenge. Meanwhile Nicky is back in Newcastle living with his parents. Whilst Tosker's business is becoming successful but his marriage to Mary is falling apart, especially now she that she is training to be a lawyer...
Season 1, Episode 6 – Aired: 2/19/1996
1979
The year is 1979. Nicky has put himself forward as the Labour candidate in the general election but he faces tough opposition from Tory candidate Claudia Seabrook (Saskia Wickham) and her team, who intend Nicky's past actions to catch up with him. Nicky is living in the Willow Lane flats as is Geordie who has finally returned to Newcastle. Anthony, Tosker and Mary's son, is displaying behavioural difficulties whilst Tosker falls for a woman called Elaine...
Season 1, Episode 7 – Aired: 2/26/1996
1984
The year is 1984. The miner's strike is in full swing and Anthony (Daniel Casey), who is now a policeman, is fully involved in the struggle. Felix has started to develop Alzheimers, whilst Nicky is working as a photographer again. Tosker is now married to Elaine and his business ventures are doing well. Mary, who is now a qualified lawyer and Deputy Leader of the council, and Nicky become close again...
Season 1, Episode 8 – Aired: 3/4/1996
1987
The year is 1987. Nicky and Mary are now married and living in Newcastle. However, whilst on a trip to London, Nicky has a brief affair with a young woman. Whilst there he is amazed when he bumps into Geordie, who is now living rough on the streets of London. Felix is admitted to a home. Meanwhile, Tosker and Elaine's lifestyle is under serious threat when the stock market collapses...
Season 1, Episode 9 – Aired: 3/11/1996
1995
The year is 1995. Tosker and Elaine are opening a nightclub boat on the Tyne. When Tosker is reunited with Geordie, who has escaped from prison, he gives him a job helping them to set up for the opening night. Nicky and Mary are now long since separated and the latter has become an MP. When Nicky's mother, Florrie, dies, the four friends are reunited once again...