S.W.A.L.K.

1 9 8 3 (UK)
6 x 25 minute episodes

This Thames Television series for Channel 4 revolved around thirteen-year-old Amanda (Nicola Cowper), whose head is full of daydreams fueled by her daily diet of romantic teenage magazines.

At home, though, there is only secrecy and silence surrounding her elder sister Katherine (Gerry Cowper), who is pregnant and being pushed into marriage.

Katherine is growing increasingly uneasy about the direction her life is taking (she does not want the child she is carrying), but she is powerless to prevent the plans her family are making on her behalf.

When Amanda’s questions go unanswered, she turns to Aunt Patti (Prunella Scales), agony aunt and problem page pundit, who has an answer for everything – if you’re young and gullible enough to believe her.

Though surrounded by a radical feminist group at school, Amanda feels increasingly pressured by Patti to aspire to the rosy romance depicted in her teenage magazine (Love Life).

Her fantasies are visualised by graphics in the cartoon style of the magazine she reads as she is forced to compare the reality of life within her own family with the unreal, glamorised images portrayed in the magazines.

The series was written by Paula Milne.

Amanda
Nicola Cowper
Katherine
Gerry Cowper
June
Shirley Stelfox
Frank
Davyd Harries
Aunt Patti
Prunella Scales
Polly
Katy Newell
Michael
Russell Lewis
Terry
Glyn Grimstead
Gary
Marcus D’Amico

Episodes

Introducing Amanda | Happy Ever After | And Baby Makes Three | Saturday Night Fever | Dem Old Dreams Are Only in Your Head | Shaping Up

Video