Day: November 23, 2014

Cracker – Milner – tape 1875

The tape starts with a trailer for a documentary, The Visit, not the BBC version, but an ITV show.

Then a trailer for Finney, which features both Andy Serkis and David Morrissey.

Then, Cracker, Jimmy McGovern’s crime psychodrama, with episode 3 of Men Should Weep. Robbie Coltrane and the police are on the trail of a serial rapist. But Penhaligon has also been raped, and not by the suspect, but by one of her colleagues, leading to a huge cliffhanger in this, the final episode of the second series.

Recording switches to BBC1, and the end of South East news. There’s weather from Michael Fish, and a trailer for The Addams Family. There’s also a trailer for Devil’s Advocate, starring a young Lena Headey.

Lena Headey Devil's Advocate

Then, Mel Smith stars in a comedy drama about “a solicitor whose life appears to be a bit of a shambles”, Milner.

Rather oddly, John Hannah turns up early in what looks like a walk-on part. But he was a fairly established actor at the time, so does that mean he’ll be more important to the plot? Seems unlikely, as he’s credited as ‘Window Washer’.

John Hannah in Milner

It’s ‘based on a story by Peter Fincham’ who became the head of BBC1 until he had to resign over a controversy involving the Queen. At this time he was head of Talkback, the production company that made this programme. A company founded by Mel Smith.

There’s also a blink and you’ll miss it appearance from Catherine Tate.

Catherine Tate in Milner

It’s a pleasant enough show, with low level skullduggery being rooted out by the dogged solicitor. But didn’t really have anything much to distinguish it.

BBC Genome: BBC One London, 19 December 1994 21.30

After the programme, there’s a trailer for The Godfather part III. Then, a trailer for Boxing Day programmes on BBC1. Nice to see 2 point 4 Children getting a good Christmas slot.

Then, the recording continues into the Gene Wilder mid-life-crisis comedy The Woman in Red. There’s 30 minutes of this before the tape finishes.

BBC Genome: BBC One London, 19 December 1994 22.45

Adverts:

  • Obsession – Kate Moss
  • Sainsbury’s
  • Cockburns Special Reserve Port
  • Revlon
  • Labatt Ice
  • NEC
  • Cartier
  • Brut Aquatonic
  • Cadbury’s Roses
  • Energis – quite a funny advert for their telecommunications network, narrated by Hugh Laurie. Has a whiff of The Day Today about it

  • Piat D’Or
  • Malibu
  • Cellnet
  • VO5
  • Lynx Systeme
  • American Express – Anita Roddick
  • Accurist
  • Holsten Pils – Dennis Leary doing an ad about authenticity. Yeah.