News

Alex Westthorp Sep 19, 2016

We revisit Tom's Midnight Garden, Moondial, The Chronicles Of Narnia and a few lesser-known UK children's TV series...

Read our look-back at UK kids' fantasy dramas 1980 - 1984 here.

By 1985 British TV's children's drama had really hit its stride, achieving "a balanced diet of programmes" as Edward Barnes, the head of the BBC children's department observed. The late 80s, arguably, saw a new golden age for spooky and magical kids drama. Excellent production values, improved significantly by well-honed special effects work using Quantel, Paintbox and Harry, and moreover some interesting casting - often of very talented newcomers - produced some of the most memorable dramas of the era.

The second half of the decade saw the BBC riding high on the back of the success of their state-of-the-art adaptation of John Masefield's Box Of Delights. Meanwhile, anthology series Dramarama was going from strength to strength on ITV.

Alex Westthorp Sep 14, 2016

Did fantasy dramas Chocky, The Box Of Delights and Dramarama leave an impression on you as a kid? Revisit those nightmares here...

Spooky, always magical and occasionally downright scary dramas are the bedrock of kids' television. For me, the pinnacle of this sort of programme was reached in the 1980s. The decade saw a new approach to both traditional and contemporary drama by both UK broadcasters: ITV committed itself to regular seasons of children's plays with Dramarama (1983-89), a kind of youth version of the venerable BBC Play For Today (1970-84), which saw the 1988 television debut of one David Tennant. The BBC, building upon an impressive body of work from the early 70s onwards, produced some of its very best family drama in this era, embracing cutting edge technology to bring treats like The Box Of Delights (1984) and The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe (1988) to the screen.

At several points throughout the evening, I Am Kloot singer, songwriter, guitarist and spokesperson John Bramwell alludes to the extensive length of time they’ve been playing together. The statement’s always coupled with a thanks for those who have been there from the start. “Some of you have been following us for years,” he says. “And some of you look like you have, too.”

The cheek. Seeing as taking as good as you give is indicative of strong character (and Bramwell is certainly strong of character), I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if I described him,in turn, as resembling Paul Weller; had The Modfather lived through a war or two and seen a few things he’ll never unsee.

His voice, too, is like that of a grainier, less polite John Lennon (if such a thing were possible). Indeed, in the 13 years that I Am Kloot have been touring together,...

This is the Pure Movies review of West is West, directed by Andy DeEmmony and starring Aqib Khan, Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Robert Pugh, Thomas Russell, Jimi Mistry, Vanessa Hehir, John Branwell, Yograj Singh and Vijay Raaz. Written by Richard Parkin. Eleven years after the hugely loved East is East, Ayub Khan-Din continues the story of Khan family and their tussle with life in-between two worlds. West is West jumps forward four years from the last instalment to 1975, taking a focus on the youngest of the khans, Sajid (Aquib Khan). Despite everything that happened in the last film Sajid is finding that, growing into a teen, he is beginning to face similar problems with his life as a British-Pakistani living in Salford. With an English mother and a broad Lancashire accent, Sajid feels more British than Pakistani. This, however, doesn’t’ stop the kids at school seeing him differently. His...

This is a news story from Pure Movies for the London Film Festival gala premiere of West is West, directed by Andy DeEmmony and starring Aqib Khan, Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Robert Pugh, Thomas Russell, Jimi Mistry, Vanessa Hehir, John Branwell, Yograj Singh and Vijay Raaz. Written by Alex Peace. Jimi Mistry and his Strictly Come Dancing partner Flavia Cacace waltzed down the red carpet at the premier of West is West in Leicester Square on Tuesday night. Mistry was joined by his fellow cast members for the event at Vue Cinema, as part of the 2010 London Film Festival.