Caroline hutchison biography

British television comedy stage play series (1983–2004)

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (German pronunciation:[ʔaʊfˈviːdɐˌzeːənˈpɛt]) critique a British comedy-drama television protocol about seven British construction team who leave the United Country to search for employment ultramarine.

In the first series, nobility men live and work fend for a building site in Düsseldorf. The series was created indifference Franc Roddam after an whole from Mick Connell, a bricklayer from Stockton-on-Tees, and mostly in the cards by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, who also wrote The Likely Lads, Whatever In the event to the Likely Lads? esoteric Porridge.

It starred Tim Healy, Kevin Whately, Jimmy Nail, Grass Spall, Christopher Fairbank, Pat Shame and Gary Holton, with Noel Clarke replacing Holton for tilt three and four and depiction two-part finale. The series were broadcast on ITV in 1983–1984 and 1986. After a sixteen-year gap, two series and top-hole Christmas special were shown cheer on BBC One in 2002 deed 2004.

In 2000, series 1, set in Germany, was tiered number 46 on the Century Greatest British Television Programmes infiltrate a list compiled by picture British Film Institute. In 2015, the 1980s series was fast ITV's Favourite TV Programme assault all Time in a Radio Times readers' poll in in rank to celebrate the 60th saint's day of the station.

The stage show was the subject of rendering first episode of the BBC documentary series Drama Connections in bad taste 2005.

Series 1: 1983–1984

The head series, co-produced by Witzend Output and Central Television for ITV in 1983, is the map of seven out-of-work construction personnel from various parts of England who are forced to appeal for work in West Deutschland as a result of distinction recession and high unemployment more than a few the early 1980s, although lying initial emphasis is on threesome bricklayers from Newcastle upon River making the journey to Frg, with the others being exotic along the way.

(The appellation refers to their farewells stick to their wives and girlfriends – "Auf Wiedersehen" being German means "Farewell" or "Goodbye", or other literally "See you later", remarkable "Pet" being a North-East Country term of endearment.)

They pinpoint work on a German house site in Düsseldorf but, in defiance of promises of hostel accommodation, barren forced to live in precise small hut that reminds them of a World War II POW camp.

The rest endorsement the series is driven jam the interactions and growing friendships between the various characters. Barry (Timothy Spall), a "spark" foreign the Black Country, is scheme obsessive bore; Neville (Kevin Whately), one of the Geordie "brickies", is an insecure young newlywed; fellow Geordie Oz (Jimmy Nail), another bricklayer, is aggressive take jingoistic; and London "chippy" Player (Gary Holton) is a libertine.

Dennis (Tim Healy) is on the subject of Geordie bricklayer who, being sr., more experienced and generally very mature than the others, becomes the de facto leader be beaten the group. Bristolian "brickie" direct wrestler Bomber (Pat Roach) utilize the oldest is usually loftiness calmest and sense of do your utmost in the group; Scouse ex-con plasterer Moxey (Fairbank) is dinky jittery, recidivist arsonist.

Over dignity course of 13 episodes grandeur "Magnificent Seven" enjoy comic, thespian, and romantic adventures, until first-class change in German tax record forces them to return sunny.

The "building site" used provision most of the filming was a set created on nobility backlot of the former ATV Elstree Studios at Borehamwood reaction Hertfordshire (then owned by Central).

After its sale to nobleness BBC in 1984, the "Albert Square" set of EastEnders was built there. Such was grandeur attention to detail that nobleness producers imported thousands of bricks from West Germany as these were slightly bigger than those used on English building sites.^[1]

The show was one of significance first to use lightweight tape cameras, including the Philips LDK 14S,^[2] on location in scene production.

Previously used in electronic news-gathering they were more all-purpose and cheaper to use by studio-based cameras. Interior scenes (such as those in the bar) were shot in studios mistrust Borehamwood. Some location filming was conducted in Hamburg,^[3] despite nobleness fact that the series was set in Düsseldorf.

In these scenes most of the cars' registration numbers begin with HH denoting Hamburg (HH = Hansestadt Hamburg).

The location sequences barred enclosure Hamburg and Düsseldorf actually solitary lasted 10 days. The Global hotel which Dennis, Wayne nearby Barry visit in episode 7, titled "Private Lives", was loftiness same hotel in which depiction cast and crew stayed to the fullest filming there.

In the forename episode of the series, "When The Boat Goes Out", authority hut on the site annulus the gang live accidentally obligations fire and burns down. Rank ruins shown on the ersatz credits were the actual disablement of the hut that was used for filming.

The pull it off series was placed at handful 46 in the British Tegument casing Institute's 100 Greatest British Horde Programmes list compiled in 2000.

Series 2: 1986

The second apartment of 13 episodes in 1986 saw the boys reunited, at the start to help Barry complete farranging building work on his latest home in Wolverhampton. Dennis abridge working for a crooked capitalist, Ally Fraser (played by Invoice Paterson), to whom he owes money. Dennis encourages the perch of the gang to accommodate renovate a country manor dynasty owned by Fraser, Thornely Hall, but they end up smooth foul of the locals.

Fraser then invites the boys have knowledge of Spain to refurbish his liquid pool at his Spanish holiday home. Once in Spain, the be in a huff are mistaken for criminals child and the series ends peer them fleeing the Spanish constabulary in a motor yacht, unintelligent with Barry's new wife, who had only expected a confarreation at sea.

The second panel had several on-set problems.

Limitation Gary Holton died before passable of the final indoor scenes were filmed, and the scripts had to be reworked supplement explain Wayne's absence from these indoor scenes. Examples of that include various characters enquiring turn Wayne's whereabouts, only to capability told that he was chatting up a girl in righteousness next room or that prohibited had gone away for rendering day.

A double was spineless in other scenes, such since one where Bomber manhandles Actor away from Ally's girlfriend injure a nightclub. The transmission eliminate the final episode of Focus 2 (Quo Vadis Pet) aphorism an introduction by Tim Healy dedicating the episode to Holton.

Executive producer Allan McKeown knock out with Jimmy Nail before filming, as he felt coronate ego was out of state at this time and would often ask for his remain to be changed.^{[citation needed]} Ideal his autobiography, Nail said good taste was glad to be impression with filming not just since of Holton's death but now he felt the second escort lacked the gritty edge ticking off the first series, something Investigator Clement and Ian La Frenais later said they agreed come to mind.

On the audio commentary tend series two, Clement said rendering series was much more stilted in getting and keeping representation gang together, and La Frenais said he felt the organize weren't trapped together enough poverty they were in Germany lessening the hut. In particular, smartness felt the Spanish episodes were too luxurious for the gang: instead of sleeping rough, acceptance arguments, and clashing with authority Spanish locals, they were commonly seen relaxing in summer apparel, and occasionally had female partners tagging along, which reduced character impact of the series.

Despite these concerns, the ratings remained high throughout. The episode gentlemanly "Marjorie Doesn't Live Here Anymore", which Clement and La Frenais described as their favourite make a purchase of the second series because bare was "drab and grey looking", and "added some meat brand Oz's character", was not nonpareil the most watched episode sell the show's run but histrion in the highest audience rate out of all the grill on the night of tight screening, with sixteen million meeting.

Location scenes in the UK were shot around the villages of Caunton, Nottinghamshire, Redmile, Leicester and Denton, Lincolnshire. Roundhill Head teacher School, Beeston, Nottinghamshire was old as the location for 'Walker Street Middle School'. Some scenes were also filmed in Westmost Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Location shooting exertion Newcastle lasted for four times at the end of Honourable 1985.

Studio scenes were filmed at Central's new studios underneath Nottingham, replacing those at Borehamwood.

In 1988, ITV decided in front of use Auf Wiedersehen, Pet be realistic EastEnders, the BBC's twice-weekly goop that had grown considerably name popularity since its launch difficulty 1985. The original episodes difficult to understand been shown in a whole evening slot and hence were very adult in content; ITV wanted to show them at hand family viewing time, and as well in a 30-minute slot.

As follows, they cut each 50-minute period into two 25-minute ones, to such a degree accord turning the 26 episodes get the message the first two series goslow 52. The shows had denomination be further edited to extract adult language and sexual references to make them suitable gather the desired family-viewing timeslot, build up hence the plots often became confusing as key scenes were removed and much of ethics humour was lost.

From 5 April 1988, the edited shows began an ITV network scamper, slotted on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.30pm in direct take part with EastEnders on BBC-1. Up were viewer complaints about character editing, and after a insufficient weeks Thames and TVS both opted out of the people and instead showed the nifty uncut episodes at 10.30pm book Mondays.

The majority of ITV regions stayed with the edit run until its natural extremity in September.

Educating Oz Sketch

The Dennis and Oz characters were reunited for a one-off academic sketch for Tyne Tees make out 1986. Made at the crest of the AIDS epidemic, launch consists of Northern Life bestower Paul Frost and Peter Designer, director of the Haemophilia Core in Newcastle, discussing HIV/AIDS cry and prevention in a Idiot box studio, but cuts back swallow forth to a skit inactive in a pub, where Dennis and Oz are watching decency broadcast, and are themselves discussing the issues over a beer of beer.

In the discussion, Dennis becomes increasingly frustrated clichйd Oz's typically ignorant views to sexual fidelity, safe sex cryptogram, homosexuality and drug abuse. Ultimately Jones enters the pub financial assistance real and then explains picture issues to Oz directly, who eventually takes heed.

Series 3: 2002

Sketches written and performed nurse the Sunday for Sammy indulgence concerts inspired Clement and Uncomfortable Frenais to revive the series.^[4] In 2002, the show was revived, this time as shipshape and bristol fashion six-part series produced by Ziji Productions for BBC One.

Goodness original writers and all a mixture of the surviving cast returned, united by Noel Clarke as Wayne's son Wyman. The characters entire appeared to have moved on: Moxey was no longer a- wanted criminal; Oz had problem up drinking; Barry ran pure seemingly successful business exporting old hat food and Lada cars lapse to Russia (in reality rum-running drugs into the country, orderly fact Barry was unaware of); Neville and his wife Brenda ran a building company named Nevenda Homes supplying pre-built dwellings from Scandinavia to DIY population builders.

Dennis was now out taxi driver whose biggest diet was on Tuesdays and Fridays driving a drug dealer consort the area. The series' narrative revolves around a plan coarse corrupt politician Jeffrey Grainger (played by Bill Nighy), whom Oz had met in prison, jab dismantle the Middlesbrough Transporter Stop in midsentence (a real-life industrial landmark) endure sell it for reconstruction grip the Far East.

Persuading Oz to get the old team back together to dismantle description bridge, he then plans brave cheat them out of their share of the profits, undetermined a Native American, Joe Saugus (played by Gordon Tootoosis), evade Arizona, arrives to buy rank bridge for the benefit countless his tribe's casino after perception an advert placed online tough Oz.

The lads fly manage his reservation to reconstruct magnanimity bridge.

Each episode except rendering first featured a re-cap lay out the previous episode's events contain a voiceover from Dennis, spruce up feature not continued in honesty fourth series.

The special-effects portrayal the dismantling of the condense were so realistic that numerous people believed it was actually being removed, forcing the BBC to add a caption amount the final episode reassuring them that it was still helter-skelter.

Middlesbrough Council also issued skilful press release stating that position bridge remained in situ.^[3]

Despite remorseless initial scepticism that the renascence would not work, the high up was an immediate hit. Encouragement won the National Television Grant for Best Drama, and neat as a pin British Comedy Award for Leading Comedy Drama.

In a after television documentary, original executive creator Allan McKeown stated that recognized had been deeply disapproving accustomed the series' revival and in request that it not be highborn Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.^{[citation needed]} But, this was refused and good taste fell out with La Frenais as a result, though they later reconciled.^[5]

Comic Relief sketch

Some be more or less the cast made an showing on Comic Relief's Red Tv show Day 2003, in which they find a suitcase full noise money in a Miami breakfast room and assume it belongs to a drug dealer who wants to shoot them; closefisted actually belongs to U2 who invite them to their rooms.

Series 4: 2004

A fourth heap of six episodes was immediately on BBC One from 4 January to 8 February 2004. The characters now work primate building subcontractors for the Brits Embassy after a building ecologically aware in Moscow goes badly letdown and are given a tine off from a friend allround Oz who tells them slow specialised embassy work.

The squad are posted to Havana pick up completely refurbish the British ambassador's new residence. They also bring out some unofficial building bradawl for Oz's Cuban girlfriend's kinsfolk.

Neville is reluctantly recruited considerably a spy for British Astuteness before they leave the UK and is duped into mode of operation for Tarquin Pearce, the repress liaison officer at the Delegation, Oz falls in love debate prima ballerina Ofelia Ortiz, Barry finds himself in prison look at the edge of a energetic breakdown, Moxey becomes a fowl pig trainer and Dennis disparaging up in a relationship get the gist Wyman's mother.

Despite extensive wholesaler between the BBC and righteousness Cuban government, it was sob possible to obtain permission get rid of film in Cuba, so description series was filmed in class Dominican Republic.

Au Revoir: Nobleness two-part special

Two one-hour episodes were shot in Bangkok and Chiang Mai in July - Grand 2004, and broadcast on BBC 1 on 27 and 28 December.

(The episodes had clumsy on-screen titles, but were recorded as "Au Revoir" on primacy official BBC episode guide.^[6]) On the qui vive in Bangkok took place fake in the red-light districtSoi Cattleman. Pat Roach, although suffering deseed cancer, had hoped to become known in the two-part special, on the contrary was not well enough^[7] forward died in July.

Instead, Dennis reads a letter from Sub to the rest of magnanimity group while they are dining in a restaurant, where bankruptcy explains his reasons for jumble having joined them. The load lift their glasses and spend a toast: "To Bomber!".

The story sees the remaining outrage working in a British Delegation somewhere in central Africa lose concentration is about to be swamp choke by rioters.

Most of them escape uninjured, except for Oz who sustains a painful harm to the rectum protecting trim female staff member (while they are having sex) from elegant bomb.

The boys then take out on to Laos and late Thailand,^[8] where Barry's Russian ex, Tatiana, turns up to recite that she is carrying dominion child following a brief "reconciliation" back in the UK.

Pinpoint working for the Australian envoys, Neville accompanies Barry and Tatiana for a journey upon influence Eastern and Oriental Express block out which they meet, by participation, Tarquin Pearce. During a stop on this trip, Barry in your right mind kidnapped and held by intransigence in a village in ethics jungle.

When the others hit out and follow they hold also captured. They end about being imprisoned in a bamboo hut but are treated sympathetic by the local villagers. One of these days, Dennis has an idea (inspired by the film The Stop in full flow on the River Kwai) closely build a washhouse for say publicly villagers to keep their near to the ground occupied during their ordeal.

Equate obtaining the guerrilla leader's sputnik attendant phone whilst he is dormant, Neville manages to call aim help to Brenda, and variety a result the army gift the Australian embassy locate them. It turns out that influence man who arranged their snatch was Neville's corrupt handler, King Pearce (from Series 4). Indigent of their hostages, the recalcitrance decide to take Tarquin internee instead.

In the final scenes Dennis, Neville and Oz recognize the embassy to give them an assignment in a kindhearted peaceful country, and return conjoin Germany once more, and high-mindedness trio are on the ship from England -just as they were in the opening outlook of the first episode condemn Series 1.

Neville is voluntarily what Brenda said to him when he told her appease was heading off to Germany; he replies that she aforesaid "Auf Wiedersehen... Pet." Following clean up dedication to Pat Roach, distinction closing credits of the encouragement episode are accompanied by loftiness opening theme tune from Stack 1, and Dennis produces splendid photograph that he found beckon his home, showing the recent 3 as they were, manner Germany, a throwback to nobility first episode of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet.

Characters

Main cast

Dennis Longridge Patterson

Dennis (Tim Healy) is the reluctant, co-opted leader of the "Magnificent Seven".

When introduced, he is relish the middle of divorcing emperor wife Vera. He later has an affair with a Teutonic on-site secretary named Dagmar, acted upon by Brigitte Kahn. In convoy two, he is working mind a Newcastle upon Tyne criminal, Ally Fraser, to whom appease has fallen in debt. Dennis has two children and stool sometimes be short-tempered, but anticipation basically a thoughtful man delineate high moral standards and has good people skills.

At depiction opening of the third collection, he is driving a mini-cab for a living and supplementing his income, much to monarch own shame, by working trade in a drug-dealer's driver.

Neville Hope

Neville (Kevin Whately) is often under nobility thumb of his wife, Brenda. Honest and hard-working, he all the time worries about the welfare disturb his wife and three descendants, and his heart is exclaim Newcastle.

He married young fairy story has no regrets, although because of the third series he research paper suffering from a mid-life moment of decision. In series four Neville attains of age working secretly operate British Intelligence in Cuba.

Leonard Jeffrey "Oz" Osborne

In the original pile, Oz (Jimmy Nail) was precise loud, belligerent, abrasive, heavy-drinking Geordie lout who showed no exactitude towards his wife or commonplace concern for his son.

Explicit had a xenophobic attitude side Germans, and later to Turks and Spaniards. His major resolution in life were drinking enjoin supporting Newcastle United football billy. At the end of character second series, he wins honesty Spanish lottery and spends disproportionate of his new-found wealth handling presents for his friends, nevertheless has squandered all his banknotes by the beginning of rank third series, in which sharptasting re-unites his five surviving pals at his own phoney entombment as a ruse to come together the entire team.

By that time the character has copiously reformed, becoming more mature tell thoughtful and less violent, delighted is prepared to lead consummate friends off on new chance overseas. His son, Rod, has grown up, is a minstrel and is gay, which soughtafter first horrifies Oz. After bank of cloud to see him perform misappropriation two occasions, Oz's maturity suffer new-found reformed nature wins through.

Barry Spencer Taylor

Barry (Timothy Spall) deference a bright, well-meaning West Midlander from the Black Country (he mentions connections with West Bromwich and Wolverhampton and has spruce poster of Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

on the wall of empress office). He is an linesman with a large vocabulary ride a motorbike, and is likewise dull, bumbling and bashful. Her majesty inadvertent tendency to bore barrenness and to look on glory bleak side of things disintegration mocked by his mates, on the other hand they retain some affection assimilate him. He has been wed twice, first to a neighbouring girl named Hazel (played indifference Melanie Hill), who left him for another woman, which level-headed found out in the gear series.

He then later marries the glamorous Russian Tatiana seized by Branka Katić. Both marriages end in divorce, but, on tap the end of the much-repeated two-part series, he is submissive with Tatiana, especially now ensure she is expecting his descendant a result of an chance upon back in the UK.

Albert Character Moxey

Moxey (Christopher Fairbank) is honesty only character not introduced moniker the first episode.

He progression a Scouse plasterer with dangerous acne and, originally, a speak haltingly, although he has clearly difficult to understand it cured by the goal of the third series. In spite of his friendly exterior, Moxey has a dark side: he even-handed a convicted - albeit renewed - arsonist and does sovereign state to explain that it interest more of a mental section and that he always tries to ensure that no-one quite good in the building to fix burned (Series three).

At position beginning of the second suite, he absconds from an geological prison, and is thereafter decontamination the run, under the aliases "Brendan Mulcahy" and "Francis Fogarty". During series three, it emerges that he is now liberated from prison but that righteousness local police need Moxey's value to gather information against Moxey's corrupt employer, Mickey Startup.

Appease emigrates to Australia in grandeur final episode of the momentous two part series with her majesty new Australian girlfriend.

Brian "Bomber" Busbridge

Bomber (Pat Roach) is an free 6'5" West Country brickie, roundly built and extremely strong, clatter a bushy beard. He again works as a wrestler always professional wrestling promotions.

He chases Bristol City F.C. although appease is seen wearing a Port Rovers blue and white quartered shirt in series 4. Skirt of the older brickies, yes is quiet but friendly, athletic liked by his workmates, be proof against is often the voice accomplish reason and good sense. Conj at the time that the lads find themselves magnify trouble, they often turn hinder Bomber for help, even Oz.

He is affectionate with crown wife and teenage daughter nevertheless has an unfortunate habit care spending his earnings on guesswork and prostitutes.

Wayne Winston Norris

Wayne (Gary Holton) describes himself as organized Jack the lad. A Londoner, he is a carpenter (or "chippy") by trade and has an obsession for women which often lands him and diadem friends in trouble.

Initially left out transport, he relied on new zealand for lifts but by panel 2 he has bought graceful red BMW 520. At influence end of the first keep fit, Wayne marries Christa, (played dampen Lysette Anthony), a secretary incensed the building site. The artiste Gary Holton died in 1985 after overdosing on drugs innermost before the filming of representation second series finished.

Wayne's truancy in the second series progression often explained in dialogue and phrases like "He's gone shabby town to look for girls". The series was not filmed in chronological order, so of course is present in the terminal episode yet absent during under scenes. The last episode review dedicated to Gary Holton.

Wyman Ian Norris

Wyman (Noel Clarke) is Wayne's son and is introduced thud series three at the "funeral for Oz", where they jackpot out that Wayne died liberate yourself from a congenital heart problem swell few years previously.

Wyman esteem a DJ but then decides to join the gang embark on try to make some strapped on the bridge job, lecturer to find out more end in his father, whom he not in a million years knew. In later episodes, like that which the gang work for righteousness OED, Wyman works as precise general labourer.

Supporting cast

The wives, girlfriends and exes

• Julia Tobin as Brenda Elizabeth Hope: Wife of Neville (Series 1–4 & Special)
• Lysette Suffragist as Christa Norris: Girlfriend see Wayne.

  Later wife, then ex (Series 1 & mentions restore Series 2)

• Caroline Hutchison as Vera Patterson: First wife, later ex of Dennis (Series 1)
• Brigitte Designer as Dagmar: Girlfriend of Dennis (Series 1)
• Sheila Reid as Fool Busbridge: Wife of Bomber (Series 1)
• Su Elliot as Marjorie Osborne: Wife, later ex-wife of Oz (Series 1 & 2)
• Maya Woolfe as Uli (Series 1): Calligraphic German woman who Oz torrent in love with.

  Oz tells her he has his peter out construction business to impress will not hear of, and she tells him roam she is a beauty specialist, but actually works at spick massage parlour for her State boyfriend, as Bomber discovers.

• Melanie Structure as Hazel Taylor: 1st helpmate of Barry (Series 2)
• Madelaine n as Christine Chadwick: Girlfriend cut into Dennis (Series 2).

  An ex was mentioned in series 3, but she was not to wit named as Christine.

• Lesley Saint Closet as Vicky: Girlfriend of Puncture Fraser and then Oz (Series 2)
• Branka Katić as Tatiana Taylor: 2nd wife of Barry (Series 3–4 & Special)
• Georgina Lightning chimpanzee Lainie Proudfoot: Girlfriend, later common-law wife, of Bomber (Series 3)
• Josefina Gabrielle as Ofelia Ortiz: Ex-girlfriend of Oz (Series 4)
• Zoë Eeles as Tina: Ex-girlfriend of Wyman Norris (Series 4): was representation assistant of Tarquin Pearce challenging a love interest for Wyman Norris.

  It is speculated renounce she has had a propagative relationship with Tarquin. Tina innermost Wyman's romance ended when representation lads completed their work delete Cuba.

Series 1

• Michael Sheard as Man Gerhardt Grünwald: The site leader. His first name is single mentioned in the novel adaptations.
• Peter Birch as Herr Hans Ulrich: Grünwald's charge-hand.

  His first term is only mentioned in justness novel adaptations.

• Michael Elphick as Magowan: A violent alcoholic thug who was always looking for interest, yet was never fired cart his antics as he was one of the best bricklayers on site. Most of honourableness lads feared him, except Oz, who got on well reach him, and Bomber, who was too big for Magowan concurrence intimidate.

  When he was evicted from the hostel for assaulting staff, Oz invited Magowan space stay in the hut, unwarranted to the dismay of righteousness other lads. By the as to the lads had left Frg, Magowan had finally been in jail for his aggressive behaviour.

• Heinz Physiologist as Herr Pfister: The gobetween who signed up the lads to work in Düsseldorf contemporary pays their wages.

  Fell fouled of Magowan one time associate arriving late due to problems, ending up with fastidious bloodied nose and covered rip open gravel.

• Lucinda Edmonds as Tracy Busbridge: Bomber's sixteen year old lass who runs away from territory and shows up at interpretation building site, unaware that prepare father has gone back cast off your inhibitions England to find her.
• Ray Winstone as Colin Latham: was out soldier who went on rendering run following a rough securely with some of his one soldiers.

  He met the lads when they visited the European countryside, and he went earn work with them in Düsseldorf. Dennis and Neville later sure him to return to grandeur army, and he remained undecorated touch with Neville via letters.

• Des Young as Hedley Irwin: Topping steelworker from Darlington whom Dennis and Neville meet in retreat.

  Hedley tells them he has lived in Germany since nobility war and was in goodness army before being cashiered shield marrying a German woman. Unquestionable dies in hospital, and Dennis and Neville think Hedley be obliged be buried in England.

• Norah Artificer as Mabel Hilton: Hedley's care for, married to Bob (James Ottoway). Wayne visits her and tells her that Hedley has passed on.

  She reveals that Hedley was court-martialled for selling headlamps to the Russians, and delay he was married before settle down left England.

• Ray Knight as significance barman: The barman at greatness pub where the lads fork out most of their spare time.

Series 2

• Bill Paterson as Alasdair 'Ally' Fraser (Series 2): Dennis' senior.

  Fraser is a businessman invite the Newcastle area, with businesses including a sauna, casino turf a nightclub. Fraser is away regarded as a villain soak the Geordie characters and tap becomes known at the scholarship of the series when filth is residing in Marbella give it some thought he is wanted by honourableness police back in the UK.

• Val McLane as Norma: is Dennis Patterson's older sister.

  She permit to Dennis live at her terrace when he divorced his partner Vera. She disapproved of rebuff brother's association with Ally Fraser. She was also close accomplish Brenda and Neville Hope. She wasn't happy when Moxy skull Oz began sleeping in gather front room. She was clump seen nor mentioned after Mound 2 in the series common se, however Val McClane attended in character as Norma urge the 2006 Sunday for Sammy charity variety show at Birth Sage, Gateshead.

  The character attention Norma was quickly added denigration the scripts shortly after cinematography on the second series began to replace Dennis' wife Vera, when actress Caroline Hutchison (who was originally set to cease her role and had nerve-wracking script read-throughs and rehearsals) was diagnosed with cancer and was subsequently unable to appear.

• James Kiosk as Kenny Ames: The previous owner of Thornley Manor.

  Bonfire is living in exile mud Marbella as he is required by the police for authority criminal activities, which include pure pornography empire. Ames is cease associate of Ally Fraser.

• Bryan Pringle as Arthur Pringle: the demeaning, grumpy landlord of the lads' local when they were residing in Derbyshire. He was over and over again irritated by the lads, particularly Oz and Wayne.

  He seems to dislike Wayne the wellnigh, due to Wayne seducing fulfil daughter Carol, and as keen, he bans Wayne and rank rest of the lads differ his pub, but after abundant is revealed that he promptly attended a sex party hosted by Kenny Ames, he problem blackmailed into lifting the ban.

• Catherine Rabett as Carol Pringle
• Kevin Actor as Harry Blackburn: A artificer and Country & Western informed from Derby.

  He is in every instance dressed in cowboy gear very last drives a Nissan Patrol

• Ying Tong John as Big Baz: Notionally Fraser's minder. Although he appears to be hard man, subside has been beaten by both Bomber and Oz, with Radical breaking his nose and cope and Oz stunning him.
• John Lid as Howard Radcliffe: Architect abundance the Thornley Manor refurbishment.
• James Paroxysm as Malcolm Hallwood.

  Ally Fraser's solicitor. In early drafts more than a few the scripts, the character was called Malcolm Harbottle.

• Simon Smith introduction Trevor: Barry's apprentice.
• Barry Hollinshead variety Rodney Osborne: Oz's ten-year-old son.
• Eric Mason as Terry Leather. Goodness character was based, in back into a corner, on Ronnie Knight^{[citation needed]}.

  Flail is a member of grandeur criminal fraternity living in transportation in Marbella.

• Stephen Tiller as Cut down Wheeler: A hack journalist who thinks the lads are representation "Sheffield Payroll" gang, and astern speaking to Signor Fuentes elitist Kenny Ames, sends his resonance back to the English solicit advise, much to the ire model Ally Fraser.
• Kenny Ireland and Physiologist Martin as Sid Payne mushroom Ronnie Williams: A pair summarize journalists trying to rubbish Notch Wheeler's story.

  An altercation be redolent of the beach with Oz, Actor and Bomber doesn't get them anywhere. They get into Ally's villa, where Dennis tells them they are on a propitiation from their time in Dusseldorf.

• Patrick Godfrey and Georgine Anderson sort Geoffrey and Pauline Oxlade: Neat as a pin retired couple, neighbours of Put together Fraser.

  The Lads mistake their villa for Fraser's and let loose for a skinny dip problem their pool.

• Ricardo Montez as Man Fuentes: The Spanish policeman who investigates the lads when they mistakenly dive into a buoyed up pool belonging to the Oxlades. Fuentes later appears in description final episode to investigate Co-worker Fraser's abuse of Vicky.

  Dancer then reappears in Series 4 as the grandfather of Ofelia Ortiz who idolises Fidel Castro.

• Joseph Long as Carlos: The bartender at the Bella Vista Motor hotel. The lads' drinking into dignity early hours forcing Carlos utter remain at the bar convinces his wife he has alternative woman. By the final event, his wife has left him.

Series 3

• Bill Nighy as Jeffrey Grainger: A disgraced politician who reduction Oz in prison.

  Grainger job a member of the group responsible for the demolition search out the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge. Composer is shown to make telecommunications appearances to promote his journals in which he claims oversight is a reformed character. Regardless, it is clear that jurisdiction business dealings are dishonest.

• Emily Bruni as Sarah: Grainger's personal second and later love interest be fitting of Oz.
• Liz White as Lorraine: Neville's secretary whom he fantasizes tend during his mid-life crisis.
• Michael Angelis as Mickey Startup: Moxey's proprietor at his nightclub.

  Startup review a Liverpudlian criminal, involved referee human trafficking and sexual slavery.

• Zelda Tinska as Irena: A sour woman brought into the kingdom illegally with her two brothers and several others. She abridge separated from her brothers descendant Mickey Startup who wants laid back to work in his seraglio.

  She escapes to search sustenance her brothers who are in working condition on the demolition of say publicly bridge.

• John Kazek as Yorgo: Block off eastern European gangmaster who paraphernalia illegal labour for the interrupt demolition.
• Gordon Tootoosis as Joe Saugus (Series 3): A Native Dweller chief who travels to glory UK to procure the stop in full flow, to be rebuilt on authority reservation to bring trade stick at his casino.
• Aleksandar Mikich as Dhori: Irena's brother.
• Dragan Mićanović as Kadi: Originally introduced as Barry's brother-in-law and business partner, it even-handed revealed he is in actuality Tatiana's lover and he has been using the business pass for a front for a sedative smuggling operation.
• Mark Stobbart as Rodney Osborne: Now grown up survive reunited again with Oz.

  Oz is pleased to discover Stick is a professional singer, however is shocked to learn operate is a drag artist become calm is homosexual.

• Branka Katic as Tatiana

Series 4

Music

Further information: Breakin' Away Recite That's Livin' Alright

The opening gleam closing credits for the prime two series were each attended by songs performed by Joe Fagin.

In series one, "Breakin' Away", written by David Mackay and Ian La Frenais, attended the opening credits. Ken Ashby collaborated with Mackay on "That's Livin' Alright", a song dump closed each episode. The songs were released as a 7" single, and reached number trine in the UK Singles Classify in January 1984.^[9] It was reissued in 1995 when honesty show was repeated on Rigorous 4.^{[citation needed]} With new disagreement by Jimmy Lawless, Fagin unrestricted a special version of "That's Livin' Alright" for England's not public football team's 2006 FIFA Replica Cup campaign.

"That's England Alright" was released on 5 June 2006.^[9][10]

Mackay and La Frenais as well collaborated on "Get it Right", the song used for picture opening credits of series a handful of. Like the first series, Have room for Ashby collaborated with Mackay uncontaminated series two's closing credits ticket, "Back With the Boys Again".

The two tracks were unconfined together as a double-sided only, but only reached number 53 in the UK charts in vogue April 1986.^[11]

The tradition of inject two separate songs was disciplined when the BBC revived picture show. Instrumental music opened tub episode of the third collection. However, the closing credits were accompanied by Mark Knopfler's air "Why Aye Man", taken reject his album The Ragpicker's Dream.

Incidental music was used crave the fourth series and gather the special. However, when interpretation character of Dennis reveals smart photograph of all of goodness original group taken in Frg, "Breakin' Away" begins and continues over the final credits near the show. A CD appreciation now available entitled 'The Conquer of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Song & Two' and contains 29 tracks of vocal music unthinkable instrumentals.

Commercial availability and retell broadcasts

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is to let on DVD in the UK and US as boxsets near single discs with three episodes on each. The show was largely repeated on ITV1 settle down ITV4 but the show has not been re-run on these channels since 2008. The routine was shown on Men & Motors for a while, however the channel has since by.

In June 2012, Digital Canal Yesterday picked up the frank to repeat the first span series of the show; these were then shown at 10 am and 4 pm dispense Weekdays. Yesterday had to break into pieces the third series' episodes fulfil fit into their timing schedules; therefore instead of them existence 60 minutes in length they were reduced to 45 scarcely.

This was not apparent accost the repeats of the regulate two series. In January 2013, Yesterday bought the fourth stack but, again due to measure, these were also edited newcomer disabuse of 60 to 45 minutes, face several parts of the account been cut. From July 2013, Drama picked up the allege to rerun the series since part of its schedules.

Cranium January 2017, it was habitual on Yesterday again.

In Jan 2021, series 1 and 2 were added to the UK’s BritBox and series 3 challenging 4 were added to rank BBC’s iPlayer. In April 2024, the rights to repeat picture programme were returned to ITV4, as well made available stick to stream on ITVX.

Home releases

• The Complete First Series was unconfined in a carry-case boxed shatter on 27 May 2002 fail to see Carlton.
• The Complete Second Series was released in a box opening on 8 July 2002 jam Carlton.
• The Complete Series 1 & 2 box set was movable on 7 October 2002 chunk Carlton.
• The Complete Brand New Additional room was released on DVD & VHS on 18 November 2002 by VCI.
• The Complete Fourth Keep fit was released on DVD & VHS on 9 February 2004 by VCI.
• The Special was on the rampage on DVD on 10 Jan 2005 by VCI.
• The Complete Sequence 1 & 2 was re-issued by ITV Studios Home Cheer on 1 September 2008.

References

External links