UK TV B Trivia Quiz

Answer: Blackadder II

"Blackadder" ran from 1983 to 1989, taking in along the way, the 15th century Middle Ages, the Regency of the late 18th and early 19th century, and the first World War. In "Blackadder II" the focus was on the Elizabethan era of the 16th century and this brilliantly written comedy was a ratings hit, starring Rowan Atkinson in the title role. His accomplices in making history hilarious and accessible were Rik Mayall as Lord Flashheart, Patsie Byrne, playing Nursie to maximum effect and Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I, along with, from the question, Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy Percy, Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett, the Lord Chamberlain and the wonderful Tony Robinson as everybody's favourite turnip lover, Baldrick.

Answer: Byker Grove

"Byker Grove" (1989-2006) was a young adult TV show, set in Newcastle Upon Tyne, and launched the careers of many people who went on to become TV regulars, none more so that Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly who as Ant and Dec would become a regular fixture on UK TV screens for the next thirty years and beyond. They also, as their Byker Grove characters PJ and Duncan released two albums and had a UK top ten hit with "Let's Get Ready To Rhumble" (1994).
Nicola Dobson in the show was played by Jill Halfpenny between 1989 and 1992, who would later go on to star in soap opera "EastEnders" between 2002 and 2005 as Kate Mitchell.

Interesting fact - 11 years after Jill Halfpenny left "Byker Grove", her niece Chelsea Halfpenny was cast as Lucy Summerbee, a role she played between 2003 and 2006.
Interesting fact 2 - Although "Byker Grove" was set in the Byker area in the east of Newcastle, the majority of the filming took place in Benwell which is in the west of the city.

Answer: Birds of a Feather

Pauline Quirke, who played Sharon Theodopolopodous was already fairly well known to UK TV audiences, as at age 17 she had her own show on ITV, "Pauline's Quirkes", aimed at a teenage audience.
Linda Robson, who played Tracey Stubbs in "Birds of a Feather" was a regular guest on "Pauline's Quirkes", playing various characters in comedy sketches, and the pair formed a close friendship.
Lesley Joseph, who starred as man hungry neighbour, Dorien Green in the show had had several small roles in various TV shows before "Birds of a Feather" and the chemistry between herself, Quirke and Robson made the show essential viewing during both its original run between 1989 and 1998 and also when it was brought back to or screens with 24 new episodes between 2014 and 2017.

Answer: Bad Girls

"Bad Girls" (1999-2006) was set in a women's prison and certainly pulled no punches in its depiction of life on the inside.
Story lines included bullying, sexual assault, suicide and rape, as well as showing the more tender side of prison life with several romances.
Jack Ellis played prison officer Jim Fenner and his character was stabbed with a broken bottle by an inmate, drugged in a sexual assault by a gay prison governor, sexually assaulted his ex fiancee and finally murdered by an inmate who stabbed him in the throat with an icicle.
The inmate who did this stabbing was Julie Johnston, played by Kika Mirylees, who is an ex prostitute originlly serving two years for theft which later became an eight year sentence for GBH with intent after scalding the pimp of her friend's teenage daughter.
Prison officer, Sylvia Hollamby was played by Helen Fraser and what a performance she gave. Rarely an episode went by without her character spewing racist or homophobic insults, although to be fair to her she hated the other prison officers as much as she hated the convicts. During the show's seven year run, three attempts on her life were made, and she survived them all, to become Wing Governor in the final season, and bizarrely, one of the most fondly remembered characters from the show.

Answer: Blake's 7

Sci-fi show, "Blake's 7" ran for just four seasons between 1978 and 1981, yet has developed a huge cult following, with the stars still in high demand at conventions and sci-fi festivals.
Kerr Avon, played by Paul Darrow was a manipulative rebel, who assumed command of the Liberator space ship after the disappearance of Roj Blake, the Blake of the show's title.
Michael Keating played Vila Restal, the incredibly smart but cowardly thief and lock picker, while Jan Chappell played Cally.
Cally is obviously a telepath as she is from the planet Auron where she was a guerrilla fighter. She tries to instil ethics and values in the group, whilst also developing her powers of mind-reading, telekinesis and precognition.
If you do get a chance to watch this show, I recommend it highly and then you too can join the voices clamouring for it to be brought back.

Answer: Bodies

Medical drama, "Bodies" ran for just two seasons between 2004 and 2006, but that was enough for "The Guardian" newspaper to place it at number 20 in a list of "The Greatest Television Dramas of All Time".
Max Beesley starred as Dr. Rob Lake, a junior doctor who discovered the negligent practice of senior obstetrician Dr. Roger Hurley, played by Patrick Baladi.
Susan Lynch played anaesthetist Dr Maria Orton, who makes a complaint against Hurley and is forced to undergo a psychiatric assessment due to her allegations.
Gripping stuff!

Answer: Boon

"Boon", starring Michael Elphick as the ex fireman, turned private investigator titular character ran between 1986 and 1995 on the ITV network.
David Daker played Boon's fellow ex fireman, Harry Crawford who became a hotelier and provided lodgings for Boon.
Rachel Davies, as Doreen Evans, a brassy former accountant was Boon's love interest and in his first major TV role, Neil Morrisey played the part of Rocky, a not too bright but lovable biker who worked for Boon from season two onwards.

Answer: Bless This House

"Bless This House" first aired in 1971 and in 2004, 28 years after the show ended, it was still fondly remembered as it was voted in at number 67 in BBC poll to find the Best British Sitcom.
The much missed Sid James, star of many films in the "Carry On" franchise played the part of Sid Abbott, a man who believed he was the man of the house, but had to ask permission from his wife, Jean, played by Diana Coupland to go to the pub, often accompanied by his best friend and neighbour, Trevor Lewis played by Anthony Jackson.
The last ever episode of "Bless This House" was broadcast on 22nd April 1976, and just four days later, Sid James, who had told co-star Diana Coupland he enjoyed the show so much, they would "keep making this until one of us kicks the bucket", died following a heart attack while performing on stage in Sunderland.

Answer: Bottom

"Bottom" may have only run for three seasons between 1991 and 1995, but the over the top slapstick, crude humour of Rik Mayall and Ade Edmondson was lapped up by a teenage audience and spawned five stage show tours as well as the movie, "Guest House Paradiso" (1999).
Edmondson played Eddie Hitler and Mayall played Richie, the pair being unemployed and living in a squalid flat in Hammersmith, while desperately trying to find a foolproof way to persuade a woman to have sex with one of them. These foolproof plans, often aided by Christopher Ryan as Dave Hedgehog, include buying a "sex spray" and pretending to be upper class.
Do they ever succeed? I'll let you watch and discover for yourself.

Answer: Boys from the Blackstuff

"Boys from the Blackstuff" from 1982, is one of those truly unforgettable, groundbreaking dramas that was filled with raw emotion.
Bernard Hill, who would go on to play Captain Edward Smith in Titanic (1997) and King Theoden in the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy (2001-2003) was incredible as Yosser Hughes, a man broken emotionally and mentally by his wife's affairs and the unemployment that was rife in '80s Britain.
Michael Angelis was superb as Chrissie Todd, a man so broken by the system that he is forced to strangle his pet geese in order to feed his family and Alan Igbon played Loggo Logmond, who was forced to move from his native Liverpool to the Shetland Isles, just to have regular employment.