Fear, The

1 9 8 8 (UK)
5 x 60 minute episodes

Set in the high-energy style-conscious London of the 1980s, The Fear depicts the rise and fall of ambitious young Armani-clad thug Carl Galton (Iain Glen) as he leads a group of young criminals from Islington, North London, to move in on the territory of some old-school East End gangsters.

Carl’s philosophy is simple. He does not mean to end up a lachrymose drunk like his father. He does not intend to whinge and sign on. He intends to take what he wants – and one of the things he wants is revenge for the death of his brother, who was killed by the son of Chalker, an ageing crime baron.

He uses violence with heartless precision to achieve his desired ends.

Carl’s abused wife Linda was played by Susannah Harker, and Anthony Valentine appeared as Tony Slater, the Mr Big.

The five-part gangster serial was produced by Euston Films for Thames Television. The company took a lease on a building – formerly a furniture factory – on Holloway Road as its production base.

With approximately 65 people in the crew – not counting the cast – The Fear required a large amount of night filming. With a London summer only offering five hours of darkness a night, a 7.00 pm call was not unusual, with a 5.00 am wrap.

Carl Galton
Iain Glen
Linda
Susannah Harker
Marty
Jesse Birdsall
Tony Slater
Anthony Valentine
Freddie
Jerome Flynn
Nicky
Fergus Brazier
Mario
Mario Kalli
George Klein
Denis Lill
Russell
Stephen Persaud
Karen
Ruth Seager
Jo-Jo
Sam Smart
Con
Adrian Dunbar
Kathy
Karen Frawley
Bill
Ben Howard
Pat Klein
Linda Marlowe
Chris
Simon Templeman
Glo
Claudette Barnard
Alan
Jon Cartwright
Connie
Helen Gemmell
Broderick
Prentis Hancock
Dot Fleming
Leslie Lyon
Bridie
Phyllis MacMahon
Stan
Patrick Marley
Motty
Willie Ross
Bobby Chalker
Paul Rogers
Jimmy Chalker
Rick Stone