Prospects
Prospects is a British television comedy drama series that was written by Alan Janes and originally shown on Channel 4 in 1986. Created by Euston Films who had a pedigree of producing successful, gritty drama such as The Sweeney and Minder, it followed the exploits of two East End 'geezer' characters - Jimmy 'Pincy' Pince played by Gary Olsen and Billy played by Brian Bovell and their trials and tribulations of making a living in London's Isle of Dogs. Comprising 12 episodes Prospects - with a comic slant, dealt with many of the major issues affecting British society at the height of the "Thatcherite" '80's including unemployment, crime, poverty, regeneration, social change and racism. Prospects gained a cult following and ratings wise it performed well above expectation for Channel 4. At that time Channel Four received a large subsidy from the rival commercial network ITV in exchange for the right to sell airtime; this gave ITV a significant input into the management of the station. The success of Prospects and the fact that it was produced by a subsidiary of the ITV network's largest station Thames Television meant it was moved to a 9pm prime-time repeat slot on ITV in the Spring/Summer of 1987. This fuelled rumours that the network wanted to develop Prospects into a long-running comedy drama series. However despite seeing potential ITV declined the opportunity to develop it beyond the original first series.
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Cast
Seasons
- Ep 1
1.The p to s day
19-02-198660mWhilst Pincey and Billy collect their giros, they plan their next get rich quick scheme. Pincey has the idea of a dating service based on astrology,the only problem is the only re...
- Ep 2
2.Partners in brine
26-02-198660mPincey buys the new company car-a hearse! They swap a few dozen boxes of pickled olives in brine for dolls in national dress which they have trouble flogging at first. Pincey hook...
- Ep 3
3.Uncle Harry's system
05-03-198660mPincey thinks he's onto a sure winner with a betting system his Uncle Harry invented, but at the greyhound track things don't go as planned! Billy and Pincey also get into hot wat...
- Ep 4
4.Dirty weekend
12-03-198660mPincey and Billy find work on a building site and come across a racist bully and try and put one over on him. Billy is in training to become a boxer again, and he and his girlfr...
- Ep 5
5.Rodent avengers
19-03-198660mPincey and Billy become pest control experts, and take the work of another rat-catcher who does his best to get his own back. At first things go really well, but then the binmen a...
- Ep 6
6.Standing on your own one foot
26-03-198660mPincey and Billy decide to leave the Isle Of Dogs and rent a flat on Roman Road, Bow, East London. The landlord is a religious nut, and the other tennants are a 'palmist' and a Je...
- Ep 7
7.Subterranean pig sick blues
02-04-198660mPincey gets a job as a car park attendant, and discovers an underground tunnel that leads to what he thinks is the door to a high street bank. He tells Billy who warns him to steer...
- Ep 8
8.Flying Tonight
TBA60mPincey is saving up for his own hot dog van,but in the meantime is working at 'The Happy Fryer' chip shop with George and Bess, who hate each other! When Bess walks out George fa...
- Ep 9
9.Four men in a boat
16-04-198660mBilly and Pincey get casual work as waiters on a wedding boat.
- Ep 10
10.Follow the yellow brick lane
23-04-198660mBilly falls in love with Bev a headstrong singer dreaming of pop stardom.
- Ep 11
11.Running All The Way (Part One)
TBA60m - Ep 12
12.Running All The Way (Part Two)
TBA60m
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