Front Line, The

1 9 8 4 – 1 9 8 5 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This short-lived prime-time BBC comedy series starred Paul Barber and Alan Igbon as a pair of half-brothers forced to share a house after the sudden death of their mother, Martha.

Initially working as a security guard before making the leap to a police constable, Malcolm (Paul Barber) – who was born in Jamaica – was a strait-laced individual at the opposite end of the social scale to his layabout half-brother Sheldon (Alan Igbon).

Sheldon – who was born in Bristol and had a Scottish father – had decided to return to his roots and was strongly committed to the Rastafarian faith (he sported a healthy set of dreadlocks).

He was just as determined to stick it to the man.

This chalk and cheese dynamic provided plenty of conflict, such as Malcolm arresting local small-time crook Biff Martins (Ruddy L. Davis) who is also one of Sheldon’s heroes, and Sheldon testing out his new speakers during Malcolm’s sophisticated dinner party, intended to impress his fellow constable Maria (Julie Brennon).

Sheldon even suggested they turn their home into a black culture club, complete with reggae bands.

The six-part series – filmed in Bristol and Cardiff – was written by Alex Shearer, who created Sink or Swim and Chalk and Cheese.

Alan Igbon died of pneumonia on 9 December 2020, aged 68.

Malcolm Jennings
Paul Barber
Sheldon Jennings
Alan Igbon
Earl
Ronny Cush
Maria
Julie Brennon
Louise
Jenni George
Hos
T-Bone Wilson
Biff Martins
Ruddy L. Davis

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