James Bolam
When The Boat Comes In.
When the boat comes in is, in my opinion, not only James Bolam’s finest work, but also the greatest TV series ever shown on TV.
It is the story of Sgt Jack Ford who returns home to the North East of England from The Great War, with a determination never to starve again, and to get on in life. He also has the brains, cunning and will to succeed, to match his determination.
He soon falls in with the Seaton family, in particular Jesse (played by his real life wife Susan Jameson) who he becomes engaged to.
Jack and Jessie's first drink
As the series progresses Jack does whatever it takes to put food on his table, and drag him self out of poverty. Each episode is a complete story on it’s own, but also contains stories that run throughout the series. In each episode Jack somehow makes himself better off, or climbs another rung of the social ladder. In doing this he always helps one of his friends too, although they usually never know it was him.
If you like TV shows with no swearing and very little violence (Jack does belt a couple of bullies) and characters that do what is right, no matter how hard it is, then this show is for you.
It was made in the mid 1970’s and all the characters have Geordie accents, but it is an epic story of poor, down trodden people who have nothing but there self respect and their will to survive and help each other.
More than that, it is a great insight into the people of the north east. I know, I was born in Newcastle in 1959 and grew up in the 1960’s but still watch this series and think “yes, my mother would have said/done that” or “My granddad would have done that too”.