Shownotes Transcript
Alan Bleasdale, the Liverpudlian screenwriter and playwright, is in the spotlight this week as a stage version of his iconic 1980's TV series 'Boys from the Blackstuff' opened at the National Theatre. Born in Liverpool, an only child who first went into teaching, his first public work was 'Scully' for Radio Merseyside, a kind of Liverpudlian Adrian Mole, which he wrote whilst he was still teaching.
But it was 'Boys from the Blackstuff' that made him a household name with one of the characters, Yosser Hughes' line 'Gissa job' providing a chant on the stands of his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
His work has courted controversy with successive governments, although he says he's not political, only voting for the first time at the age of 38. Now in his late 70's and 40 years on from the original television series, he's back in the spotlight. Stephen Smith talks to friends and colleagues about his work, phobias and how to tell if you're having a heart attack.
Presenter: Stephen Smith
PRODUCTION TEAM
Producers: Julie Ball and Diane Richardson Researcher: Marianna Brain Editor: Bridget Harney Sound: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Maria Ogundele and Sabine Schereck
Contributors
Peter Ansorge, former Script Producer, BBC Drama and Commissioning Editor, Drama C4
James Graham, Playwright and Screenwriter
Robert Lindsay, Actor
Sir Michael Palin, Actor and Author
Tony Schumacher, Author and Screenwriter
Trevor Stent, former teaching colleague
CREDITS
Boys from the Blackstuff, BBC Drama
Desert Island Discs, BBC R4
GBH - Channel 4
Scully's New Years Eve, BBC