Bust (TV Series)
{{Infobox television
| image = Bust Title Screen.png
| genre = Comedy drama
| creator = Philip Hinchcliffe
Simon Passmore
| starring = Paul Nicholas
Phyllis Logan
Belinda Lang
Ron Emslie
Geraldine Alexander
Sarah Neville
John Vine
Shirin Taylor
| language = English
| country = United Kingdom
| producer = Philip Hinchcliffe
| executive_producer = Nick Elliott
| num_seasons = 2
| num_episodes = 12
| runtime = 60 minutes
(including commercials)
| company = LWT
| network = ITV
| first_aired = {{Start date|1987|09|04|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1988|11|12|df=y}}
}}
Bust is a British comedy-drama television series created by Philip Hinchcliffe and Simon Passmore, starring Paul Nicholas as bankrupted businessman Neil Walsh. The cast includes Phyllis Logan, Belinda Lang, Ron Emslie, Geraldine Alexander and Sarah Neville. Two series were produced by LWT and broadcast on ITV between 4 September 1987 and 12 November 1988.
Plot Summary
The series focuses on Neil Walsh, a businessman who is declared bankrupt and tries to organise or get involved in investment schemes to overcome his finanical problems and rebuild his life. Concurrently, his marriage to his wife Sheila is already on the rocks when she walks out on him; Neil tries to rebuild their relationship, but his business dealings and financial problems frequently get in the way.{{Cite news |last=Marshall |first=William |date=September 5, 1987 |title=Going bust pays off for Paul |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19870905/052/0013 |work=Daily Mirror |pages=13}} Following his bankruptcy hearing, Walsh is appointed a succession of trustees to handle his finances and monitor his affairs, Janet Summers (Series 1) and Carol Chapman (Series 2).{{Cite news |date=October 8, 1988 |title=Your next week TV highlights |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19881008/106/0016 |work=Derby Evening Telegraph |pages=16}} He frequently ropes in his lawyer Adam Freeman to assist him with his various schemes, in order to recover his financial position.
Background
The series was conceived by Philip Hinchcliffe and Simon Passmore, who collaborated on a number of episodes; they were assisted by Michael Aitkens, who wrote eight episodes for the series.{{Cite web |title=Michael Aitkens - Writer |url=https://www.unitedagents.co.uk/michael-aitkens |website=United Agents}} Hinchcliffe had recently moved to LWT, after unsuccessfully trying to get the series produced at the BBC.BBC DVD documentary "Life After Who – Philip Hinchcliffe", released as a special feature of the DVD of The Android Invasion. The series was developed as part of LWT's drive to make their programmes more appealing to a wide audience and beat the BBC in the ratings.{{Cite news |last=Gibson |first=John |date=September 1, 1987 |title=Hands Off Our Shows! |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000740/19870901/116/0007 |work=Edinburgh Evening News |pages=7}} This was part of a network-wide effort by ITV at the time to boost the quality and appeal of their output, investing £80 million into their autumn schedule, commissioning new programmes like The New Statesman, The Bretts, The Dame Edna Experience and The Charmer, the latter also produced by Hinchcliffe.{{Cite news |date=August 18, 1987 |title=Comedy stars' Autumn switch: ITV lines up £80m package |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000271/19870818/004/0002 |work=Liverpool Echo |pages=2}}
A tie-in novel written by Roger Morton was released on 3 September 1987.{{Cite news |date=August 21, 1987 |title=TV Tie-ins |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005089/19870821/02110/0061?browse%20=%20false |work=Bookseller |pages=61}} The series had incidental music composed by Peter Van Hooke and Rod Argent, who also wrote the theme tune "You Ain't Gonna Cry No More", which was sung by Nicholas.{{Cite news |last=Smurthwaite |first=Nick |date=September 17, 1987 |title=Pick of the Week: LWT, Bust |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001180/19870917/146/0021 |work=The Stage |pages=21}}
Cast
- Paul Nicholas as Neil Walsh
- Phyllis Logan as Sheila Walsh (Series 1)
- Belinda Lang as Sheila Walsh (Series 2)
- Ron Emslie as Adam Freeman
- Geraldine Alexander as Janet Summers
- Sarah Neville as Carol Chapman
- John Vine as Richard Graham
- Shirin Taylor as Sally McLaren
Episodes
=Series 1 (1987)=
{{Episode table |background=#3251AE|overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Write Off
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|9|4}}
| ShortSummary = A construction deal falls through, when the cement supplied turns out to be impure. As the creditors close in on Paul, his wife Sheila walks out on him and begins divorce proceedings.
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Hidden Assets
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|9|11}}
| ShortSummary = After being declared bankrupt, the court appoints a trustee, Janet Summers (Geraldine Alexander), to handle Paul's affairs. Having lost everything, Paul tries to rebuild his life before Hassoud's (Ravi Rawi) henchmen can take him apart over a £50,000 debt.
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Stag at Bay
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|9|18}}
| ShortSummary = Paul is asked to front a business deal and temporarily take charge of the funds. He finds that an enticing new share flotation is not the kind opportunity he would like to miss, despite not having any money of his own to invest.
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Selling a Dummy
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|9|25}}
| ShortSummary = Paul tries to trade secretly by setting up a company called Devenish Enterprises, which he sets up in Sheila's name. She increasingly gets dissatisfied with the setup as her teaching job is imperriled and seeks to make a business career of her own.
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Man of Property
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|10|2}}
| ShortSummary = Neil visits his mother Brenda (Liz Smith) and hears about a local farm that is on the market. Later, he buys the farm and uses his mother's cottage as collateral as tries to sell it for a profit to a property developer Alan Hardy (Gavin Richards).
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Family Business
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1987|10|9}}
| ShortSummary = Whilst waiting for his application for discharge from bankruptcy to be heard, his brother-in-law Willie (Ron Donachie) asks him to guard £50,000 of his company slush fund. Meanwhile, Sheila starts her own business, running a health boutique.
|LineColor=3251AE
}}
}}
=Series 2 (1988)=
{{Episode table |background=#B11030|overall=6 |series=6 |title=30 |airdate=20 |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
| Title = Cleaning Up
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|10|8}}
| ShortSummary = Whilst still owing £90,000, Neil attempts to mop up his debts by setting up a cleaning firm in his wife's name. Just as he attempts to try a reconcilliation with Sheila, he has been appointed a new trustee Carol Chapman (Sarah Neville) to handle his money problems.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
| Title = Love and Profit
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|10|15}}
| ShortSummary = Neil and Carol try to ignore the chemistry between them during their initial meeting. But when Neil discovers that Carol's private life is in mess, he decides to get involved.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 9
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
| Title = Weekend Break
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|10|22}}
| ShortSummary = Neil takes Sheila on a weekend break to the seaside, where they encounter Juliet, one of his old flames. Upon hearing that's he's in town, Neil's friend Barry Donovan (Trevor Byfield) offers him a business opportunity to sell berths to prospective buyers at a new marina development.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
| Title = Love Bait
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|10|29}}
| ShortSummary = When Sheila accidentally bumps her car into the Hon. Marcus Creighton (Jeremy Clyde), she expects a hefty bill for damages. Instead she is taken aback by his offer to support Neil in a business venture. But Neil is less than enthusiastic, much to the annoyance of Sheila.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
| Title = Concert Party
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|11|5}}
| ShortSummary = Whilst attending a welcome home party for one of his old pals, Neil is tempted to invest in a lucrative but risky shares scam. The problem is he needs a stake of £25,000.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
| Title = Round Up
| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|df=yes|1988|11|12}}
| ShortSummary = Carol surprises Neil when she tells him that he if he keeps out of trouble until the hearing, he should apply for a bankruptcy discharge.
|LineColor=B11030
}}
}}
Home Media
The first series was released on DVD on 29 June 2009 by Fabulous Films and Freemantle Home Media Entertainment.{{Cite web |title=Classic drama Bust arrives in June |url=https://www.myreviewer.com/Article/116253/Classic-drama-Bust-arrives-in-June |website=MyReviewer.com}}
References
External Links
- {{IMDb title|id=0092328|title=Bust}}
- {{British Comedy Guide|tv|bust}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bust (Tv Series)}}
Category:1987 British television series debuts
Category:1988 British television series endings
Category:1980s British comedy-drama television series
Category:British English-language television shows
Category:Television series by ITV Studios