The Outsider (1983 TV series)

The Outsider
Written byMichael J. Bird
Directed byRoger Cheveley
Frank W. Smith
StarringJohn Duttine
Theme music composerAlan Hawkshaw
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producerDavid Cunliffe
ProducerMichael Glynn
Running time60 minutes
Production companyYorkshire Television
Original release
NetworkITV
Release30 September (1983-09-30) –
4 November 1983 (1983-11-04)

The Outsider is a British television drama series produced by Yorkshire Television and screened on the ITV in late 1983.[1]

Plot

Successful journalist Frank Scully (John Duttine) is visiting old friends, the Harpers (Joanna Dunham and Norman Eshley), in the Yorkshire country town of Micklethorpe. Deciding to stay on, he takes the job of editor of the local newspaper, the Messenger. Fiona Neave (Carol Royle), who runs the local print works, becomes Scully's love interest, as he soon becomes embroiled in local affairs.

Background

The Outsider was the brainchild of writer Michael J. Bird, who researched the series by visiting Jim McTaggart, the editor of the Teesdale Mercury newspaper in County Durham. The series was commissioned by David Cunliffe, who had previously worked with Bird on the BBC drama series The Lotus Eaters, at Yorkshire Television for a run of six episodes. The Leeds YTV studio was used for interior scenes, whilst on location, the North Yorkshire town of Knaresborough doubled for the fictional Micklethorpe.

A paperback novelisation by Hugh Miller was published by Granada to tie in with the transmission of the series.

Plans for a second series of The Outsider were abandoned due to the lead actor John Duttine being unavailable, having signed with the BBC to star in the sitcom Lame Ducks.[2]

Cast

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date (UK)
1"A Death in the Family[3]"Roger CheveleyMichael J. Bird30 September 1983 (1983-09-30)

Journalist Frank Scully is visiting old friends, Sylvia and Donald Harper, in Yorkshire and becomes involved in local matters.

Guest cast: Geoffrey Banks (Dr. Collett), David Ross (Ted Bishop), Peter Ellis (Jack Stoddart)
2"The Legacy"Frank W. SmithMichael J. Bird7 October 1983 (1983-10-07)

Fiona Neave is the subject of gossip when she receives a large inheritance.

Guest cast: Stanley Page (Oliver Prescott), David Fleeshman (Jack Dyson)
3"A Question of Judgement"Roger CheveleyMichael J. Bird14 October 1983 (1983-10-14)

The Messenger's new column makes waves in Micklethorpe.

Guest cast: Morgan Shepperd (Jack Jefford), Rosalie Williams (Irene Jefford), Richard Warner (Alan Metcalfe)
4"Vacant Possession"Frank W. SmithMichael J. Bird21 October 1983 (1983-10-21)

Fiona comes across some disturbing photographs and confides in Scully.

Guest cast: James Tomlinson (Arthur Fowler)
5"The Homecoming"Roger CheveleyMichael J. Bird28 October 1983 (1983-10-28)

Lord Wrathdale receives a visit from his eccentric mother.

Guest cast: Joan Hickson (Lillian), Mark Colleano (Sergio), David Ross (Ted Bishop), Gerry Cowan (Councillor Mayhew), Tom Harrison (Roy Sumner)
6"Wound for Wound"Frank W. SmithMichael J. Bird4 November 1983 (1983-11-04)
Sylvia Harper lays down the law to Scully.

References

  1. ^ Evans, Jeff (2011). The Penguin TV Companion (4th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 726. ISBN 9780241952917.
  2. ^ "The Outsider". Michael J. Bird tribute site. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. ^ "The Outsider". BFI Collections Database. British Film Institute. Retrieved 23 April 2017.