Pennies From Heaven had an even greater effect on me. Still think about it and its masterly use of music. Nostalgic for the days of bold, uncompromising tv drama, most of today’s formulaic box ticking output is just so much superficial froth
Sui generis. Genuinely transgressive and disturbing, but also thrilling, in the way that only really good drama can be. Little old ladies lip synching to incongrous popular songs, unforgettable. Must have taken a real leap of faith to make it. Today’s commissioners think wall to wall drag queens are edgy
What a wonderful read, takes be back to these plays which were a work of art, and how I wish we could get back to the freedom of expression in the form of the performing arts as we once did.
Bless you Andrew for reminding me of joys I remember watching Potter's plays.
I truly hope your collaboration with Graham L can conjure up sitcoms which this political correctness had deprived us of for so many years
I feel I am an Orwell/Potter Leftie - I just want to live in a civilised country where everyone has decent housing, health, education guaranteed - as was envisaged in 1945 - a land fit for heroes - not this woke madness that poisons everything and the terrible decision to "wipe the Right's face in diversity" has almost destroyed our indigenous working classes - I don't recognise myself in any current Left party - I just believe in fundamental decency - nobody homeless or living in slums, nobody hungry or desperate - when I was growing up in South London nobody was homeless except three alcoholic tramps who refused to be housed - most of my school friends lived in good quality council housing before it was ruined by the loony left - none of the mentally ill were expected to fend for themselves - they were cared for - my friend worked in Tooting Mental Hospital and saw no abuse at all - occasionally an inmate would go for a wander on the common and be gently retrieved by the staff mainly for their own safety.
That world no longer exists.
The BBC was excellent in those days - you are right Andrew - poor Mr Potter would not get his plays broadcast now - he was a genuine British genius - The Singing Detective is a masterpiece.
So well said. The BBC helped to educate me in the arts, politics and foreign affairs. Radio 4 was on all day even in my little lorry as I delivered parcels all day around London. Now they despise the likes of me.
In 2000 the British Film Institute polled industry professionals to compile a list of 100 best British TV programs (or series) that had been shown up to that date. The list contains two of Potter’s works (and one documentary) and what’s notable is that about 68% are productions from the BBC.
If a similar poll were compiled today – say for best 100 British TV programs over the past 25 years- I wonder how many of them would be produced by the BBC.
In the IMDb ratings for The Singing Detective, although the averaged rating of 8.5/10 does not places it in the stratosphere, it is interesting how the viewer enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the ratings distribution being almost monotonically rising -- there are a lot more 10s than 9s, more 9s than 8s, etc.
Pennies From Heaven had an even greater effect on me. Still think about it and its masterly use of music. Nostalgic for the days of bold, uncompromising tv drama, most of today’s formulaic box ticking output is just so much superficial froth
It's such an excellent series, fearless and innovative. No such drama would ever be commissioned now.
Sui generis. Genuinely transgressive and disturbing, but also thrilling, in the way that only really good drama can be. Little old ladies lip synching to incongrous popular songs, unforgettable. Must have taken a real leap of faith to make it. Today’s commissioners think wall to wall drag queens are edgy
Yes! I loved Pennies - it made a star of Bob Hoskins who was superb!
What a wonderful read, takes be back to these plays which were a work of art, and how I wish we could get back to the freedom of expression in the form of the performing arts as we once did.
Bless you Andrew for reminding me of joys I remember watching Potter's plays.
I truly hope your collaboration with Graham L can conjure up sitcoms which this political correctness had deprived us of for so many years
Collaboration with Graham L?! I can't wait!
Thank you for this wonderful essay.
I feel I am an Orwell/Potter Leftie - I just want to live in a civilised country where everyone has decent housing, health, education guaranteed - as was envisaged in 1945 - a land fit for heroes - not this woke madness that poisons everything and the terrible decision to "wipe the Right's face in diversity" has almost destroyed our indigenous working classes - I don't recognise myself in any current Left party - I just believe in fundamental decency - nobody homeless or living in slums, nobody hungry or desperate - when I was growing up in South London nobody was homeless except three alcoholic tramps who refused to be housed - most of my school friends lived in good quality council housing before it was ruined by the loony left - none of the mentally ill were expected to fend for themselves - they were cared for - my friend worked in Tooting Mental Hospital and saw no abuse at all - occasionally an inmate would go for a wander on the common and be gently retrieved by the staff mainly for their own safety.
That world no longer exists.
The BBC was excellent in those days - you are right Andrew - poor Mr Potter would not get his plays broadcast now - he was a genuine British genius - The Singing Detective is a masterpiece.
So well said. The BBC helped to educate me in the arts, politics and foreign affairs. Radio 4 was on all day even in my little lorry as I delivered parcels all day around London. Now they despise the likes of me.
Yes! I used to have it on all day back in the good old days! And back then the comedy was also excellent.
In 2000 the British Film Institute polled industry professionals to compile a list of 100 best British TV programs (or series) that had been shown up to that date. The list contains two of Potter’s works (and one documentary) and what’s notable is that about 68% are productions from the BBC.
If a similar poll were compiled today – say for best 100 British TV programs over the past 25 years- I wonder how many of them would be produced by the BBC.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BFI_TV_100
In the IMDb ratings for The Singing Detective, although the averaged rating of 8.5/10 does not places it in the stratosphere, it is interesting how the viewer enthusiasm for the work is reflected in the ratings distribution being almost monotonically rising -- there are a lot more 10s than 9s, more 9s than 8s, etc.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090521/ratings/
https://i.postimg.cc/L9Szx1WZ/screenshot-2025-05-17.png