| Programme: |
Brass |
| Broadcast: |
1983 - 1990
(ITV / C4) |
| Episodes: |
32 (3 series) |
| Starring: |
Timothy West, Caroline Blakiston, Barbara Ewing |
| Written by: |
John Stevenson, Julian Roach |
| Produced by: |
Bill Podmore, Gareth Jones, Mark Robson |
| Directed by: |
Gareth Jones, Les Chatfield |
| Production: |
Granada
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| Location Details: |
Ramsbottom, near Manchester |
| Synopsis: |
The Hardacres are the wealthy family living in the big house at the top of the hill. The Fairchilds are some of their employees, living in a tiny back-to-back terraced house at the bottom.
Mine, mill, shipyard (and more) owner Bradley Hardacre is self-made, coming from the very working class background which he now despises and abuses the members of. Despite that, much mingling goes on between the classes - and in particular between the two families - much of it sexual.
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| Notes: |
Although probably more of a soap-come-drama than true sitcom, Brass was filled with the kind of straight-faced seriousness in ridiculous situations that are the fertile bedding from which comedy often grows. Further, ridiculous character names added to the amusement; Hardacre's two sons were named Austin and Morris, for example. Notable other characters included Schickelgruber (the birth name of Hitler), Lords Mountfast, Sgt. Pepper, Young Scargill, Hattersley and Heseltine.
Series three, set slightly later than the first two series (World War II, as opposed to early 1930s), was broadcast on Channel 4. Amongst other changes it saw Austin and Morris Hardacre become an MP and Russian spy, respectively.
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