CineScope
G.B.H.

G.B.H.

1991 - 1991

It Couldn't Happen Here

6th June 1991
Episode 1
Firebrand Labour leader Michael Murray is swept into office on a tide of rhetoric. His first act is to "reform education", but it looks suspiciously like a personal vendetta against Mr. Weller, the headmaster who had once sent him, as a boy, to a special school for disturbed children. When Murray is summoned by the renowned political theorist, Mervyn Sloan, he is told that great things are expected of him. But Sloan also firmly insists that a general strike be called in Murray's city to challenge the Conservative Government. When one of Murray's council members, who has a weakness for the bottle, fails to ensure pickets are sent to one particular school, a disastrous conflict ensues between Murray and Jim Nelson, who is unfortunately headmaster of a school for special needs children.

Only Here on a Message

13th June 1991
Episode 2
Michael Murray is beginning to realise that his new-found political "friends" are not being entirely above-board with him. Jim Nelson, meanwhile, gains some respite from Murray's persecution when he becomes a local hero in a tragic accident. Though his attempt to save his pupil, Robbie Burns, is not successful, his efforts earn him the undying loyalty of Robbie's father, Norman, and his formidable brothers. After a time, however, Murray resumes the pressure and Jim begins to come unravelled, manifesting as a new phobia for bridges. His doctor refers him to a psychiatrist, Dr. Goldup. At the hotel where Murray is carrying out most of his plotting, his eye is caught by a new arrival, a beautiful and poised woman called Barbara Douglas.

Send a Message to Michael

20th June 1991
Episode 3
Sloane and Barnes announce matter-of-factly that explosive racial violence shall be provoked in the city. When Murray denounces them and begins to storm out of the room, Barnes asks if the name Eileen Critchley means anything to him. Murray freezes on the spot and starts twitching. Jim Nelson decides he needs a holiday at term break, to get away from the pressure of Murray's pickets, and plans an itinerary that avoids crossing any bridges. Murray is falling under the spell of Barbara Douglas, who keeps him at arm's length. Meanwhile, she visits Michael's mother, pretending to be a social worker, and leaves a note for Michael--signed "Eileen Critchley". Franky has finally had enough. He abandons Michael and drives off with the council car, in order to take his wife and children, as well as his mother, on an impromptu holiday to the seaside.

Message Sent

27th June 1991
Episode 4
Michael Murray has reached panic level, and sends the researcher, Philip, on a mission to find three people: his missing brother Franky (along with the council car), his mother, and Eileen Critchley. Frank Twist catches up with Jim Nelson to tell him that an important local party meeting has been called. The meeting is to be packed with "new members" consisting of the trouble-makers under Peter's direction. Barbara's attempt to obtain Mr. Weller's old school records for Michael Murray and Eileen Critchley fail, and Weller deposits the incriminating evidence with Jim Nelson, on the night before he leaves on holiday. Lou Barnes tells Barbara that they now have Murray at breaking point, but because they do not yet have Weller's documents, Murray must be "relaxed" a bit, and Barbara will have to do the job. It looks like it's Michael's lucky night.

Message Received

4th July 1991
Episode 5
The Nelsons finally arrive in North Wales, thinking they have escaped their tormentors. Trouble is pursuing them, however, and mein Host at the holiday camp isn't without his problematic side, either.

Message Understood

11th July 1991
Episode 6
It starts to dawn on Michael and Jim that they are pawns in a much bigger game. Barbara questions who her real allies are.

Over and Out

18th July 1991
Episode 7
Friday is the day designated for the showdown. Michael has had the local Labour Party meeting called to have Jim Nelson removed from membership; Lou Barnes has decreed this same day for Michael Murray's destruction.
Top Cast
Director
Robert Young
Writer
Alan Bleasdale
Drama

GBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.

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Channel 4
Channel 4
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Full Cast
Michael Palin Image

Michael Palin

Jim Nelson

Robert Lindsay Image

Robert Lindsay

Michael Murray

Lindsay Duncan Image

Lindsay Duncan

Barbara Douglas

Julie Walters Image

Julie Walters

Mrs. Murray

Dearbhla Molloy Image

Dearbhla Molloy

Laura Nelson

Tom Georgeson Image

Tom Georgeson

Lou Barnes

Andrew Schofield Image

Andrew Schofield

Peter Grenville

No Image

Alan Igbon

Teddy

Michael Angelis Image

Michael Angelis

Martin Niarchos

David Ross Image

David Ross

Mr Weller

Philip Whitchurch Image

Philip Whitchurch

Franky Murray

Daniel Massey Image

Daniel Massey

Grosvenor

Jane Danson Image

Jane Danson

Eileen Critchley

Peter-Hugo Daly Image

Peter-Hugo Daly

Bubbles McGuire

Paul Daneman Image

Paul Daneman

Mervyn Sloan

Bill Stewart Image

Bill Stewart

Geoff

Julia St. John Image

Julia St. John

Diane Niarchos

No Image

Gareth Tudor Price

Richard Grenville

Colin Douglas Image

Colin Douglas

Frank Twist

Jimmy Mulville Image

Jimmy Mulville

Philip

John Henshaw Image

John Henshaw

Murray's Minder

Anna Friel Image

Anna Friel

Susan Nelson

No Image

Hayley Fairclough

Jessica Nelson

No Image

Edward Mallon

Mark Nelson

No Image

Daniel Street-Brown

Robbie Burns

No Image

Serena Harragin

Miss Hutchinson

No Image

Stephen Hall

Young Michael Murray

No Image

Michelle Atkinson

Young Barbara

No Image

Ayesa Toure

Monica

No Image

Michael Fernandez

Jake

No Image

Paul Oldham

Joey

No Image

Gary Mavers

Billy

Wayne Foskett Image

Wayne Foskett

Macker

Niall Tóibín Image

Niall Tóibín

Michael Murray Snr

Steve Halliwell Image

Steve Halliwell

Bubbles' Friend

Clifford Rose Image

Clifford Rose

Judge Critchley

William Gaunt Image

William Gaunt

Hunningdon

Amanda Mealing Image

Amanda Mealing

Beth

No Image

Cliff Howells

Joseph Cartwright

Paul Butterworth Image

Paul Butterworth

Terry

No Image

David J. Nicholls

Poacher Terry

Freddie Fletcher Image

Freddie Fletcher

Poacher Vic

Peter Armitage Image

Peter Armitage

Mr Burns

No Image

Arthur Spreckley

Grandfather Burns

Jean Anderson Image

Jean Anderson

Dr Goldup

William Franklyn Image

William Franklyn

Distinguished Gent

No Image

James Tomlinson

Stan

Jake Abraham Image

Jake Abraham

Black Waiter

Noreen Kershaw Image

Noreen Kershaw

Maureen Murray

No Image

Chris Hargreaves

Scrawny Thug

No Image

Judith Barker

Margie

No Image

Debra Gillett

Sylvia

No Image

Chris Darwin

Barry

Ken Kitson Image

Ken Kitson

Vince

Kulvinder Ghir Image

Kulvinder Ghir

Ravi

No Image

Norman Mills

Redneck Councillor

No Image

Ray Emmet Brown

West Indian

No Image

Anthony Benson

Norman

Keith Clifford Image

Keith Clifford

Coach Driver