Oranges and Lemons

1 9 7 3 (UK)
5 x 60 minute episodes

This short ITV Sunday night drama series from London Weekend Television centred around London’s dockland – an area traditionally prone to caricature: cockles and whelks, Pearly Kings and Queens, sparrers that can’t sing, Alf Garnett . . .

This series of new plays aimed to get beneath the image and look at people living in poor conditions in the East End with little hope of escape.

The debut play, “A Funny Kind of Joke” (4 November 1973), told the story of young and attractive June (Barbara Ferris), whose husband had been imprisoned for six years and would be 50 by the time he got out of prison. Meanwhile, June hoped she could be a faithful and loving wife. James Bolam co-starred.

“Brenda” (11 November 1973) starred Cheryl Hall as 20-year-old Brenda, who returned to her parent’s home for the first time since leaving home as a precocious 16-year-old to establish stability in her life and halt the downward spiral to prostitution. Her parents took different attitudes toward their prodigal daughter, with her docker father, Les (Leslie Dwyer) pleased to see her but her mother, Alice (June Brown), harbouring deep and lasting resentment of Brenda’s past rejection of an academic career.

Brenda found a stabilising influence in young docker Ralph (David Weston, pictured below), but her mother’s hostility increased when she learned that Ralph was married with two children.

“Brotherly Love” (18 November 1973) told the story of family and union loyalties between dock workers via conflict between two brothers – an upwardly mobile family man, Doug (Ray Brooks) and a wide-boy dock worker, Terry (a pre-Sweeney Dennis Waterman).

The theme of union loyalty reflected the times. It was transmitted against a backdrop of miners’ overtime bans, gloom over the oil crisis and Prime Minister Edward Heath‘s deteriorating relationship with the unions. The brothers’ parents were superbly played by Tony Melody and Jane Lapotaire.

In “The Trigger” (25 November 1973), young Vin (Peter Duncan) was tired of life at school in the East End and thinking seriously of going to sea. He found it difficult to keep up with his boastful friend Cassa (George Collis) and equally challenging to have conversations with girls like Ada (Lesley Dunlop) and Vicky (Amber Thomas). But when he offered to help 30-year-old Charlotte (Jill Gascoine) with some decorating, he found it surprisingly easy to talk to her.

“The Quiet Man” (9 December 1973) revolved around young Victor Selby (John Castle), who was something of a man of mystery. He lived in a luxury Mayfair-style flat and drove a Mercedes – but the flat was well-hidden behind a grubby East End newsagents shop, and the car was rarely seen (and he visited his widowed father on foot or by bus).

His girlfriend, Barabara (Sheila White), believed Victor was a services consultant but soon had cause to wonder how he really earned his money. James Cossins co-starred as the distinctly seedy Major Post.

Episodes

A Funny Kind of Joke | Brenda | Brotherly Love | The Trigger | The Quiet Man