Band of Gold

Band of Gold is a misleading title for a drama set amid the sordid world of street prostitution in the back streets of Bradford in the North of England. The series is up with the best of British drama with memorable characters achingly realistically portrayed. But there is one notable drawback. The first episode is so brilliantly written and involving with an ending sensational enough to leave me breathless that everything following is something of an anticlimax and the end of the series is certainly rather a let down.

But even at its worst Band of Gold is better than most of what passes for drama on TV today. See it if you get the chance.

This mini-series is on my list of the five best things I have ever seen in my life. I loved this piece. Gritty, realistic but shaped beautifully with real heart and true characters which had depth and soul.

Only the first series was shown in the USA (on HBO), there are actually 3 series total (Band of Gold 2, and the 3rd series, simply titled Gold) continue where the first series leaves off.

I found the writing to be incredible and the casting inspired. The performances of Cathy Tyson and Geraldine James were far superior to what most American actresses can do on their best day. Singer Barbara Dickson is nothing short of brilliant as Anita. Samantha Morton and all the rest of the cast are superb - there's not a weak link in the bunch.

Anyone who thought this mini-series was boring has been watching too much crap American television, and must have the attention span of a gnat.

Originally watched this in the mid 1990s, and then re-watched the series again on DVD. Series 1 of Band of Gold was excellent. Tense, interesting and realistic. Episode one especially was dark and dramatic. Unfortunately the show starts jumping a series of sharks in series 2. Becoming more and more ridiculous. Bodies being put in the back of cars that crash driver-less into shop windows. Moving from intense drama into dramedy. If they had been able to sustain the quality of series one, this would have become a classic. Series one can be watched without watching the rest of the series, and is very worthwhile and will be six hours well spent.

Especially the first two series, the story is excellent and the characters and acting is very good. Liked watching it for the 90's throwback.

This show actually included three series, the last one called "Gold," with Geraldine James now a social outreach worker and Cathy Tyson having retired from the profession. All were very good, the second series particularly: excellent acting, believable characters, and shot in a way that called be called artistic (though much of the setting was back streets and bars). It was here that Samantha Morton first became really noticed as an actress.The first two series were written by Kay Mellors, and the fact that the last was not detracts from it a bit. It's still worthwhile, and would be nice to watch again. If only it, and the others, were more available.