4 January 1994(1994-01-04)– 8 September 1997(1997-09-08)
All Quiet on the Preston Front was a British comedy-drama series that aired on BBC One from 1994 to 1997. Created by Tim Firth, it followed the lives, misadventures, and relationships of a close-knit group of friends in the fictional Lancashire town of Roker Bridge. The first series used the full title All Quiet on the Preston Front, for series two and three, the title was shortened to Preston Front, with more of a focus on the characters' personal lives.
Most of the show's characters are members of their local Territorial Army (TA)platoon. The narrative blends the characters’ military commitments with their everyday lives, exploring romantic entanglements, family struggles, career dilemmas, and social lives. While the TA setting initially provided the premise, the series gradually shifted focus to the personal challenges faced by the cast, including the affable Hodge, his best friend Eric, trainee teacher Dawn, and the ever-optimistic Lloydy.
Over its three-series run, the show evolved from using TA enlistment as a vehicle for bringing the characters together to a broader portrayal of life in a Northern town. Noted for its dry humour and well-drawn characters, All Quiet on the Preston Front received multiple award nominations for its depiction of English working-class life and its social commentary. Its mix of gentle satire and heartfelt drama struck a chord with audiences, making it a standout example of 1990s British comedy-drama.[1]
Episodes
Series One
"Hodge's Girlfriend" (4 January 1994); director: Brian Farnham
"Ally's Husband" (11 January 1994); director: Brian Farnham
"Eric's Job" (18 January 1994); director: Brian Farnham
"Lloydy's Fish" (25 January 1994); director: Brian Farnham
"Diesel's Garage" (1 February 1994); director: Brian Farnham
"Kirsty's Biscuit" (8 February 1994); director: Brian Farnham
Series Two
"Dawn's Ball" (16 July 1995); director: Marcus Mortimer
"Laura's Mousse" (23 July 1995); director: Marcus Mortimer
"Spock's Leg" (30 July 1995); director: Marcus Mortimer
"Polson's Lilo" (6 August 1995); director: Betsan Morris Evans
"Diesel's Out of Body Experience" (13 August 1995); director: Betsan Morris Evans
"Lloydy's Ark" (27 August 1995); director: Betsan Morris Evans
Series Three
"Hodge's Driving Test" (21 July 1997); director: Chris Bernard
"Eric's Won Ton" (28 July 1997); director: Chris Bernard
"Lloydy's House Warming" (4 August 1997); director: Chris Bernard
"Spock's Dilated Pupil" (11 August 1997); director: Chris Bernard
"Polson's Mess" (18 August 1997); director: Rick Stroud
"Diesel's Ostrich" (1 September 1997); director: Rick Stroud
"Jeanetta's Marijuana" (8 September 1997); director: Rick Stroud
Locations
The series is mainly set in Lancashire, with various local locations used. Key filming took place on Mill Street, Padiham, and Manchester Road, Hapton, which both stood in for the fictional town of Roker Bridge. The scenes set at the TA centre were filmed on Bury Road, Haslingden, and the site is still used as an Army Cadet Centre. The Black Country Museum in Dudley appeared in the series two episode "Spock's Leg".
Principal characters
Private David 'Hodge' Gadd, a garden centre assistant (Colin Buchanan)
Private Wayne 'Eric' Disley, Hodge's best friend, an underachieving delivery driver (Paul Haigh)
Private Dawn Lomax, a trainee teacher (though she later leaves college) and a new recruit to the transport section, Eric's girlfriend (later wife) (Caroline Catz)
Corporal (later Officer Cadet) Alison 'Ally' Minshull, NCO in charge of the transport section, Spock's sister, unhappily married to a local solicitor (Kate Gartside)
Corporal (later Sergeant) Peter 'Pete' Polson, the friends' section commander, a former regular NCO, now manager of a hotel leisure centre (David MacCreedy)
The theme music was a re-recorded version of "Here I Stand" by Milltown Brothers.
Books
In 1997, to coincide with the broadcast of Series 3, two tie-in novels were published by Chameleon Books, both written by Ed Jones.[3] The first, Liberty, Equality and Virginity, is a prequel set in 1989, five years prior to the events of the television series and focuses on Hodge’s affair with Jeanetta. The second, Preston Front: Ostriches and Marijuana, is a novelisation of the third series and adds that Laura is pregnant by Greg.[4]
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