What was the best ever British made mini series?
I truly detest television at Christmas. Most of the year I find it merely worthless and annoying, but at Christmas with all its faux bonhomie and general shut down and when there is not much else to do I truly do detest it. It is like white noise. It invariably fails to deliver anything of quality. Even the usually affable Top Gear was a bit too contrived this year, and failed to hold my attention.
There was only one “Mention in Despatches,” and only two “Orders of Merit” this year. The Mention in Despatches goes to Gillian Anderson, the striking, slightly eccentric former star of the X Files (how she must hate that; I apologise, Ms Anderson, if you ever read it) for her star turn as Miss Faversham in the BBC’s adaptation of Charles Dickens “Great Expectations”. Edgy, damaged, dramatic, psychotic – and her acting was good as well.
The two Orders of Merit are awarded as follows. The first goes to an old favourite. Once again a classic tale originally penned by Charles Dickens. A well known morality tale based around Christmas itself. At times dark and gruelling, almost brutal. At times hilarious. A story of greed, and of redemption of the human spirit, beautifully acted by an all star cast. You guessed it…
“A Muppet Christmas Carol”. No really, it’s fantastic! It makes even a cynic like me grin and laugh out loud. Michael Caine as Scrooge in his finest role since The Italian Job, too.
The second Order of Merit goes to a show which prompts the title of this piece.
“Sherlock: a Scandal in Belgravia” rocked. It tore up the screen for an hour and a half plus and the time simply flew by.
I found the original series of “Sherlock” a bit problematic. For those who don’t know (and our noble editor may be one such, since she abides in France and maybe cannot see the BBC iPlayer) the show was created and written by Steven Moffat, who also writes many of the new Dr Who Episodes, and Mark Gatiss, who was one of the bizarre, dark but funny “League of Gentlemen” company and who also stars as Sherlock’s sinister older brother Mycroft.
Both are enormous fans of Holmes and know the original very well. They present a very 21st Century Holmes, quite at home with e-mail and twitter and mobile phones, brilliant, cold, a thinking computer who has no regard for manners or any one else at all most of the time, accompanied by Dr Watson, who having been injured in Afghanistan, blogs about their exploits.
The style is quick fire, witty, “metrosexual” and arch. There is a touch of the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” about some of the visual stunts. Whilst Series One was very good, I had my doubts. I found it a bit too arch, a bit too knowing, and a bit too self satisfied. There were only three episodes but they were full length and high quality.
But I have to say the “Scandal in Belgravia” episode raised the standard even higher. It ripped the screen up. It kicked off where the last season ended, with the duo of Homes and Watson seemingly in the hands of a truly venomous “Jim” Moriarty (I don’t know who that actor is but he is a star in the making). It then introduces had one of the sexiest villainesses ever in the shape of Irene Adler, cleverly and rather daringly for the time of night re-invented as a bi-sexual professional society dominatrix and spy, brilliantly carried off by actress Lara Pulver.
When the arrogant Holmes arrives to – as he assumes – easily recover some embarrassing photographs, she meets him dressed in her finest “battle dress”; naked apart from pearls, make up and blood red lipstick. The pair then fight, flirt, yearn and romance (or do they?) through a rollercoaster but yet compelling plot of hide and seek, bluff and counterbluff, deduction and counter deduction. Do they love each other? Is she in fact even devoid of emotion more than Holmes? Is Holmes an emotional ingénue in her seductive grasp? Why is there an aeroplane full of dead people?
I can do this programme no greater compliment to say that towards the end I was welling up, and right at the very the end I gave a little cheer. If you have seen it you will know why. If you haven’t yet, I am saying nothing.
It still has its problems but for wit, speed of thought, acting and scope thought it was very, very good indeed.
Which leads me to my question. What is the greatest British mini series? This is difficult because you first have to decide what a “mini series is”. It clearly cannot be just a regular TV programme. It has to be not too short, but too long. Perhaps it has to be one tale, over several episodes. And it should be the translation of a book.
The present Sherlock just qualifies because they are clearly not trying to have a weekly slot. The fabulous Jeremy Brett was in my opinion the definitive “real” Sherlock back in the 80′s, and he did that, filming the whole canon. But that was not a mini series.
Neither could “Callan”, a brilliant and dark series from the early 70′s starring Edward Woodward as a chilling but down on his luck tough guy working for the Secret Services. Not a book, a series. Similarly the brilliant “Ashes to Ashes”.
I can’t do a top 10, but these are my top 6
No. 6: “Sherlock”.
Smart, intelligent, sexy, very well done. Twitter went ballistic over the last episode. The girls over Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch). The guys AND quite a few of the girls over Irene Adler (Pulver).
No.5: “The Forsyte Saga”.
The award winning drama adapted from John Galsworthy’s epic novel. Eric Porter, Nyree Dawn Porter, Susan Hampshire, Kenneth York…..What MORE can there be!? Oh, Kenneth Moore…
No.4: “Band of Brothers”.
Stephen Spielberg’s acclaimed tribute to the true story of Easy Company, from before D Day to victory in Germany. Being about the 101st Airborne, naturally what made it was the British acting, in particular ex-Etonian Damian Lewis as Lieutenant, later Major Dick Winters. Moving. And taken from a book, by the way.
No.3: “I, Claudius”.
Wobbly card board sets could not detract from the immense stature and drama of Robert Graves’ tale of power, lust, murder, incest and betrayal amongst the Julian clan. Derek Jacobi’s finest hour as the st..st…stuttering Claudius who is assumed to be a fool but is, of course, the wisest Caesar of all, but the rest of the cast, especially John Hurt as the utterly insane Caligula, is simply superb.
No.2: “Pride and Prejudice” (1995)
The story of Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy is always being remade, but this 1995 version is the definitive version in my view. Colin Firth broods and smoulders as the seemingly haughty and inflexible Darcy, the stunning Jennifer Ehle glitters as the brilliant, intellectual but-actually-much- more-beautiful-than-you-first-
The series has now been digitally re-mastered and is available for about £5. I watched it twice over Christmas. I love this series. I love Elizabeth Bennett. Or Jennifer Ehle. I am not sure which. But sorry, Lizzie, you don’t quite win. The clear winner is….
No. 1: “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”
The plot, screenplay and acting in this superb series raise it head and shoulders above all others. It has been re-issued on the back of the cinematic remake, and again I bought it for £5 from TESCO. It is perhaps the darkest, best written, and most compelling piece of television I have ever seen. It captures the drab, failing Britain of the 70′s perfectly and against this plays out a drama of Shakespearian proportions. It perfectly portrays the nasty world of petty office politics and Whitehall, weaves in a fantastic whodunit and catches a time of Cold War, danger and betrayal which were very true to life before the final collapse of the Soviet Empire. The acting from everyone involved is brilliant. From Sir Alec Guiness (as he became soon after) it is beyond brilliant. As the gentle, cuckolded and yet ultimately ruthless George Smiley, it is career defining.
Have I missed anything? Are they in the right order? You decide.
By Randy Hack, special sports, media and arts correspondent
January 7, 2012 at 06:53
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Too many people seem to be confusing ‘mini-series’ with sitcoms, soaps and
serials.
A mini-series depicts the continuation of the same series of events, themes
and characters, and each episode concludes…..’to be continued’.
I thought this was a place for discerning commentators ; 0
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January 7, 2012 at 01:31
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Alan Plater wrote a modern version of The Canterbury Tales, about a minibus
of rugby league fans heading for the final at Wembley, which was wonderful.
Can anyone give me the title, and is it available on DVD ?
Cadfael.
Jewel in the Crown ?
Onedin Line.
The police series with Dirty Den ex East Enders ? Great line, when asking
at Police HQ who had bumped off Mama crime boss, and being answered with a
glance to the heavens, “What, the Flying Squad ?”
Alan Douglas
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January 6, 2012 at 13:26
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There are so many great series that I had missed – thanks. I have now
revisited Edge of Darkness and it was fantastic
- January 6, 2012 at 12:31
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A Very Peculiar Practice. It was brilliant!
- January 5, 2012 at 19:02
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Surprised to see no nomination already for Our Friends in the North.
Is everybody here from sarf of Watford?
The Granada adaptation of Game, Set and Match wasn’t half bad either, pity
that Deighton kyboshed it on account of Ian Holm being too much of a
short-arse to play Harry Palmer. Still around on bootleg DVD however if you
look hard enough.
- January 5, 2012 at 12:39
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since Edge of Darkness has already been praised, let me add Tutti Frutti
and The Singing Dective to the list.
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January 9, 2012 at 21:34
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I was going to suggest Tutti Frutti and Edge of Darkness but I’m far too
late for that. Therefore I’ll suggest another Robbie Coltrane vehicle –
Cracker; early episodes feature Christopher Ecclestone and Robert Carlisle
and I think it was ruddy good.
- January 5, 2012 at 09:08
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Thanks for forcing me to dredge up some pleasant old TV memories.
My list, as far as my limited recall allows, would include:
– Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy*
– Smiley’s People *
– I Claudius
*
– Sherlock *
– Auf Wiedersehn Pet
– Dennis Potter (maybe The
Singing Detective or one of his other plays/series)
– Poliakoff (probably
Shooting the past)
– Blake’s 7
– Callan
– Boys from the Black
Stuff
– Spaced (Simon Pegg, Juliet Stevenson, Edgar Wright)
– A Very
Peculiar Practice
( Peter Davison, Graham Crowden, Barbara Flynn)
–
Father Ted
– Extras
* NOTE: I strongly recommend you read the original novels of these.
Although the TV series are excellent in their own right, the original novels
are far superior. With regard to TV Sherlock’s female nemesis, Miss Adler, she
was a captivating and well drawn character in Conan Doyle’s original story “A
Scandal in Bohemia”.
I think the criteria of being not a weekly slotted series and being a book
adpatation are artificial ones so I choose to ignore them.
- January 5, 2012 at 17:04
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A Very Peculiar Practice! Great stuff indeed!
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January 4, 2012 at 22:22
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No way you can have B of B on that list because of some British casting.
Pacific was IMO at least as good and had no Brits, yet the same producers,
directors and many crew. It is a US show, plain and simple.
- January 4, 2012 at 22:06
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“When the Boat Comes In”
Nuff said!
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January 4, 2012 at 21:49
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Can’t say they’re the best,just a few of my faves.
I remember enjoying ‘a very british coup’ 30 odd years ago,found it on 4OD
as i was checking its title..
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/a-very-british-coup/4od#3204906
Surely Dennis Potter has to be on the list somewhere? I was a little too
young to fully appreciate ‘pennies from heaven’,but I’ll never forget the
lipstick scene.Neither will any girl I’ve ever been with.
Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy has to be up there.
The original mini series of ‘Das Boot’..I think the beeb had something to
do with it,maybe wrong though.
I’m fond of the beebs 1950s production of 1984,with Peter Cushing as
Winston.
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January 4, 2012 at 21:48
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I’d have to agree that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is right up there but
perhaps Smiley’s People beats it – but only because I was an extra in it
GBH gets an honourable mention, as does the brilliant State of Play. But my
top choice is A Very British Coup. There was always something just a little
scary and unsettling about its theme.
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January 4, 2012 at 22:01
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Thought of another…
Stephen Poliakoff’s The Lost
Prince probably one of the best acted products of British TV ever!
- January 4, 2012 at 21:20
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Mini-series of a more sci-fi/fantasy bent:
Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverwhere
Ultraviolet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet_%28TV_serial%29
I am, of course, assuming that at 17 episodes The Prisoner is too long,
otherwise it would clearly be head and shoulders above anything else.
- January 4, 2012 at 20:54
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Top Gear, a former car type show seems to have mutated into some kind of
large-scale moron storage facility.
- January 4, 2012 at 19:21
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Callan was brilliant.
“Prime Suspect(s)” should IMHO be worth a mention.
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January 4, 2012 at 18:49
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There have been some great suggestions – things I had forgotten. Now
watching Edge of Darkness on DVD.
Thank you all
- January 4, 2012 at 17:25
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Probably a maxi-series, but I really enjoyed ‘Clayhanger’, a 26-part
adaptation of the Arnold Bennett trilogy made by ATV and broadcast in the
first half of 1976. Not high budget, but some superb acting. I endorse T,T,S,S
as No 1, though. Happy New Year to our Landlady and all the regulars!
- January 4, 2012 at 13:48
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“Shooting the Past” – only two episodes but utterly mesmeric – Tim Spall
and Lindsay Duncan in one scene demonstrate to Liam Cunningham why a photo
archive should not be split up. The most astonishing scene I can recall in a
mini-series…
- January 4, 2012 at 12:50
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I don’t think it was a book but I loved GBH with Robert Lindsay. Overlong
in parts but some fantastic scenes.
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January 4, 2012 at 12:47
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Thanks for the comments – some great series that I had indeed
overlooked!
And I am sorry for the Haversham thing! A Fruedian
slip – I
know a “Faversham”
- January 4, 2012 at 11:25
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Small point – Miss Havisham, not Faversham.
I’m a big Sherlock fan, too. Otherwise, I have nothing to add of
consequence. =o)
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January 4, 2012 at 11:10
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On the Buses. “I’ll ave you Butler (then I’ll get my coat)”.
- January 4, 2012 at 11:06
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Your reference to ‘wobbly cardboard sets’ immediately put me in mind of
‘Blake’s Seven’ which, had it been a book, would surely have been a
contender.
- January 4, 2012 at 20:52
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Blakes 7 was my thought also. A truly chilling distopian vision and that
most rare literary character, a credible anti-hero. Why don’t they remake it
with production values?
- January
4, 2012 at 22:35
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Give them a chance, and they probably will!
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January 4, 2012 at 10:53
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Brideshead Revisited
- January 4, 2012 at 10:43
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I also thought you had left off Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and was
cheering when I saw it rightfully at Number 1.
Was fortunate to have worked for John Irvin who directed it. I am forever
telling people that it is the best drama to have ever been on British TV.
Brilliant and more.
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January 4, 2012 at 12:52
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Indeed
- January 4, 2012 at 10:40
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I’d add
Another Gillian Anderson/Dickens pairing – Bleak House
First series of
Being Human
and endorse Misfits
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January 4, 2012 at 09:50
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wot, no “Brideshead Revisited ?
HNY to all raccooners !
Kind regards
- January 4, 2012 at 09:20
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You got No. 1 spot on. Proper acting in spades! In my book, that and
Smiley’s People have never been surpassed and given the rubbish served up
these days, are never likely to be.
- January 4, 2012 at 09:20
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Misfits
- January 4, 2012 at 09:09
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As I scrolled down your list I began to think you had missed out ‘Tinker,
Tailor …’ but just in the nick of time you saved yourself and your
reputation!
Apart from it not being British (although it featured several brilliant
British actors), and not being a book adaptation, ‘The Wire’ is up there with
‘Tinker, Tailor …’
- January 4,
2012 at 08:48
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And who could forget ‘Harry’s Game’..? If only for the wonderful theme
- January 4, 2012 at 23:55
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Started me off on my Clannad and Enya collections
- January 4,
2012 at 08:47
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“It clearly cannot be just a regular TV programme. It has to be not too
short, but too long. Perhaps it has to be one tale, over several episodes. And
it should be the translation of a book.”
Hmmm, tight parameters!
I rather liked Stephen Gallagher’s two series, ‘Chimera’ and ‘Oktober’.
- January 4, 2012 at 08:40
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The first two series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet – in the Eighties, not the
later version.
- January 4, 2012 at 08:28
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Not sure if they are mini series , but I would nominate
“Out” with Tom Bell and “Reilly, Ace of Spies” with Sam Neill
I also think ‘Smiley’s People’ superior to Tinker …..
- January 4,
2012 at 22:09
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Yeah Smiley’s people seems a bit left out. Both series probably belong in
this list, and yes I think for me they would vie for places 1 and 2
Brideshead, surely. I Claudius definitely in there. Blakes 7 really was
seriously good – not a book I know, but worth a mention.
Pride & Prejudice, er no sorry
- January 11, 2012 at 00:00
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Ultraviolet – a serious vampire series
The Jewell in the Crown – Raj related and v. good.
I loved Sapphire and Steel too.
- January 11, 2012 at 00:00
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Das boot?
- January 4, 2012 at 08:06
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You have missed one – and perhaps the best of them: the original BBC “State
of Play”, a 6-part mini-series that ranks as one of the best pieces of British
television I’ve seen in years.
“House of Cards” might stretch the definition, but only a handful of
episodes per book, so maybe not if you separate the first book from the rest
of the trilogy. Certainly qualifies for a top 5 spot.
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January 4, 2012 at 12:50
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Sorry – see the above
- January 4, 2012 at 08:04
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“Should be the translation of a book”
I suppose that would be one way to exclude Edge of Darkness from the list.
Otherwise it’s definitely a contender. Bob Peck investigates the death of his
daughter and unearths a conspiracy.
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January 4, 2012 at 11:32
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Great music, too
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January 4, 2012 at 12:49
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Yes, I had forgotten that one. Bob Peck is fantastic. I have it on DVD
too, somewhere. I shall revisit it…Thanks
{ 48 comments }