When the Boat Comes In

The story begins in 1919 with Sergeant Jack Ford proudly still wearing his British Army uniform in his hometown and reintegrating with the local community, finding attitudes have changed since 1914. Sgt Ford has to tactfully steer conversations away from the horrors of the trenches and lend an ear to his traumatised fellow soldiers. == Production ==

The majority of episodes were written by creator James Mitchell, but in series 1 north-eastern writers Tom Hadaway, Sid Chaplin and Alex Glasgow contributed episodes, and in series 3 Jeremy Burnham and Colin Morris shared writing duties with Mitchell. Mitchell also wrote three tie-in books to the TV show: When the Boat Comes In, When the Boat Comes In: The Hungry Years and When the Boat Comes In: Upwards and Onwards. The final book brings the reader up to date with the end of the second series of the TV show. Series 1 of When the Boat Comes In was produced by Leonard Lewis, Series 2 and 3 were produced by Andrew Osborn, and Series 4 was produced by David Maloney. The traditional tune "When the Boat Comes In" was adapted by David Fanshawe and sung by Alex Glasgow for the title theme of the series. Fanshawe also composed the incidental music. The BBC revived the series in 1981, with the fourth series telling the story of Jack Ford as he returns to Britain penniless after six years spent bootlegging in the United States and follows him as he sets up in London. ==Series==

• Series 1: 8 January to 1 April 1976 (13 × 50-minute episodes) • Series 2: 29 October 1976 to 4 February 1977 (13 × 50-minute episodes) • Series 3: 8 September to 15 December 1977 (15 × 50-minute episodes) • Series 4: 17 February to 21 April 1981 (10 × 50-minute episodes) ==Cast==

Regular • James Bolam as Jack Ford (48 episodes; all series) • James Garbutt as Bill Seaton (39 episodes; series 1–3) • Jean Heywood as Bella Seaton (39 episodes; series 1–3) • John Nightingale as Tom Seaton (39 episodes; series 1–3) • Edward Wilson as Billy Seaton (35 episodes; all series) • Malcolm Terris as Matt Headley (34 episodes; series 1–3) • Susan Jameson as Jessie Seaton/Ashton (30 episodes; all series). Jameson is Bolam's wife off screen. • Madelaine Newton as Dolly Mather/Ford/Seaton (30 episodes; series 1–3) • Basil Henson as Sir Horatio Manners (25 episodes; series 1–3) • Geoffrey Rose as Arthur Ashton (18 episodes; series 1–3) • William Fox as the Duke of Bedlington (13 episodes; series 2–3) • Isla Blair (5 episodes, series 2) and Lois Baxter as Lady Caroline (15 episodes, series 3–4) • Rosalind Bailey as Sarah Lytton/Headley (24 episodes; series 2–4) Supporting • Michelle Newell as Mary Seaton (6 episodes; series 1) • Noel O'Connell as Young Tommy (6 episodes; series 2–3) • Catherine Terris as Miss Laidlaw (7 episodes; series 2–3) • Vernon Drake as hotel porter (7 episodes; series 2–3) • Roger Avon as Stan Liddell (5 episodes; series 2–4) • Ian Cullen as Geordie Watson (4 episodes; series 2–4) • Bobby Pattinson as Eddy Morton (4 episodes; series 2–3) ==Episodes==

Series One (1976) Series Two (1976–77) Series Three (1977) Series Four (1981) ==DVD releases==

All four series are available on DVD in the UK. ==Further reading==