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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Shows by Decade»1980s Television
    1980s Television Drama Shows J 2 Mins Read

    Johnny Jarvis

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    1 9 8 3 (UK)
    6 x 50/55 minute episodes

    An uneasy Hackney-based hybrid between West Side Story and Tucker’s Luck, this six-part BBC series presented the surprisingly eventful story of Johnny Jarvis (Mark Farmer), a young East End lad growing up in the early years of Thatcher‘s Britain, told from the perspective of his best friend Alan Lipton (Ian Sears).

    Episodes follow their relationship from its beginnings in 1977 – when introverted Alan makes it his mission to befriend class clown, Johnny – through their final year at school, exams and into early adulthood, ending up in 1983.

    johnnyjarvis4

    Jake (Maurice Colbourne), is Alan’s mysterious father, and Stella (Johanna Hargreaves) is the purple-haired love interest of both lads.

    Their relationships are set against classic British eighties themes such as unemployment, racism, drugs, gang violence, and Alan’s growing lack of compassion for those around him.

    Jarvis is ultimately left poverty-stricken and relatively friendless, whilst Lipton blossoms from a bookish character into a popular New Wave performer in a band, with the lyrics of his songs based on Johnny’s downward spiral and terrible existence.

    The storyline also had an almost surreal tangential subplot concerning a mysterious drug peddler known as “The Colonel” (Nick Stringer) holding Lipton to ransom in his mother’s tower block council flat.

    Johnny Jarvis
    Mark Farmer
    Alan Lipton
    Ian Sears
    Mrs Lipton
    Diana Davies
    Mrs Jarvis
    Catherine Harding
    Mr Jarvis
    John Bardon
    Manning
    Jamie Foreman
    Jake
    Maurice Colbourne
    Paul Turner
    Alrick Riley
    Mrs Turner
    Nadia Cattouse
    Mr Turner
    Tommy Eytle
    Kenny
    Jim Findley
    Stella
    Johanna Hargreaves
    The Colonel
    Nick Stringer
    Rev. David Sales
    Neil Cunningham
    Spud
    Dorian Healy
    Guy
    Gary Shail

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