Together is a daytime soap opera made by the ITV franchise Southern Television. The two series were broadcast twice weekly for 13 weeks apiece in 1980 and 1981. One episode from each of the two series is considered "missing" and is not known to be held in the archives.
| Together | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Soap opera |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 53 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production company | Southern Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 24 January 1980 – 3 April 1981 |
The second series, in 1981, was transmitted live. Its theme song was written by John Dankworth[1] and sung by Cleo Laine.[2]
Synopsis
The series concerns the residents of a fictitious housing association block of flats named Rutherford Court. Actors featured include Carol Hawkins, Margaretta Scott, Kathleen Byron, Victor Maddern, and Sarah Greene. Episode writers include Rosemary Anne Sisson, Adele Rose, Phil Redmond and Alfred Shaughnessy. The series covers issues including abortion and homosexuality, and also contains some (mild) swearing, which may seem a surprise for modern viewers given its original lunchtime broadcast. Although no setting is made explicitly clear and no location work is used, the series appears to be set in Basingstoke.
Regular cast
- John Burgess as Duggie Webber
- Sheila Fay as Lynne Webber
- Kathleen Byron as Martha Finch
- Paul Hastings as Trevor Wallace
- Delena Kidd as Sarah Cunningham
- Stephen Churchett as Peter Hunt
- Raymond Francis as Edward Fuller
- Jonty Miller as Mike Gowers
- Carol Hawkins as Susi Powell
- Gillian Bailey as Julie Dunn
- Brian Jameson as Geoff Powell
- Hilda Fenemore as Dora Klein
- Victor Maddern as Harry Klein
- Margaretta Scott as Daphne Porter
- Richard Everett as Richard Dunn
- Christine Pollon as Mary Sutton
- Christopher Burgess as Leslie Shepherd
- Sarah Greene as Tricia Webber
- John Malcolm as Arthur Sutton
- Wally Thomas as Joe Fripp
- Gina Maher as Charlene Frisby
- Sheila Gill as Elsie Potts
- Annie Leake as Lily Marsden
- Ernest Hare as Derek Harding
Characters
- Duggie Webber (played by [[John Burgess (actor)|John Burgess] Duggie is the husband of Lynne, the manager of the flats, and he works as a general handyman and assistant. Early on it is clear he resents being seen as junior to his wife although he comes to terms with this. He is generally good-humoured but occasionally displays a more ascerbic side. Although friends with Mike Gowers he disapproves or his daughter's relationship with him. He sometimes displays conservative social attitudes including speaking in favour of Margaret Thatcher's views on self-reliance and showing hostilty to Trevor when his homosexuality is revealed.
- Lynne Webber (played by Sheila Fay). Lynne is the Liverpudlian wife of Duggie. She manages the flats very efficiently and is well-regarded by the residents.
- Martha Finch (played by Kathleen Byron Martha is an unmarried woman in her late fifties who lives with her much younger sister Sarah. Martha comes across as bitter, judgemental and very ready to find fault in others. She has a tense relationship with her sister whose drinking and relationships trouble her.
- Paul Hastings as Trevor Wallace
- Delena Kidd as Sarah Cunningham
- Stephen Churchett as Peter Hunt
- Raymond Francis as Edward Fuller
- Jonty Miller as Mike Gowers
- Carol Hawkins as Susi Powell
- Gillian Bailey as Julie Dunn
- Brian Jameson as Geoff Powell
- Hilda Fenemore as Dora Klein
- Victor Maddern as Harry Klein
- Margaretta Scott as Daphne Porter
- Richard Everett as Richard Dunn
- Christine Pollon as Mary Sutton
- Christopher Burgess as Leslie Shepherd
- Sarah Greene as Tricia Webber
- John Malcolm as Arthur Sutton
- Wally Thomas as Joe Fripp
- Gina Maher as Charlene Frisby
- Sheila Gill as Elsie Potts
- Annie Leake as Lily Marsden
- Ernest Hare as Derek Harding
Production
Significant changes were made to the series format between the first and second series: a number of characters from the first series are absent in the second, with no explanation given for most of them. A number of the characters that continue from the first series into the second have quite a different personality, and the layout of the Rutherford Court building is completely different.
Re-releases
Together has been shown again on Talking Pictures TV in 2016, 2020, and 2021, with captions explaining the action within the two missing episodes. Some language now considered offensive, especially with regard to homosexuality, was removed. In July 2020, the series was released - including the dialogue removed from the repeat transmissions - on DVD by Renown Pictures, the parent company of Talking Pictures and owner of much of the Southern Television archive.[3]
References
- ^ "John Dankworth (1927-2010)". IMDb. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ "Cleo Laine". IMDb. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Renown website
External links
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