UK TV G Trivia Quiz

Answer: George And The Dragon

"George And The Dragon" ran for four seasons between 1966 and 1968 and featured a very impressive cast for the time. George Russell was played by Sid James, well loved for his roles in the "Carry On" movies between 1960 and 1974, while Gabrielle Dragon was played by the wonderful Peggy Mount.
Both of their characters were in the employment of Colonel Maynard, played by John Le Mesurier, who would go on to play Sergeant Wilson in "Dad's Army" from 1968 to 1977.

Answer: Gangsters

"Gangsters" (1976-1978) was a hard hitting drama, set in Birmingham which won praise for its realistic depictions of the violence and racism that existed in the city at the time. The show was centred on a former SAS (Special Air Service) soldier and convicted criminal, John Kline, played by Maurice Colbourne, who became an undercover police officer, tasked with dealing with the city's underworld including the drug dealers and "bent coppers". Anne Darracott, a former heroin addict who became Kline's lover was played by Elizabeth Cassidy and Chai Lee played the part of Lily Li Tang, daughter of the local Triad boss.

Answer: Grange Hill

"Grange Hill", a children's TV show about life at a comprehensive school called Grange Hill, ran for an amazing 30 years between 1978 and 2008, and dealt expertly with all aspects of teenage life from child poverty and teenage pregnancy to drug addiction and exam stresses.
"Tucker" Jenkins was in the first five seasons of the show, played by Todd Carty who would go on to play Mark Fowler in "EastEnders" (1990-2003) and later PC Gabriel Kent in "The Bill" (2003-05), while Suzanne Ross joined the school in season four and was played by Susan Tully, who between 1985 and 1995, would play Carty's on screen sister in "EastEnders", Michelle Fowler.
Fiona Wilson was a much later pupil at Grange Hill, appearing in season 11, played by Michelle Gayle, who also went on to star in "EastEnders", playing Hattie Tavernier between 1990 and 1993.
Gayle is also a successful R&B star, hitting the top ten in UK singles chart in 1994 with "Sweetness" and in 1997 with "Do You Know?".

Answer: Get Some In!

"Get Some In!" was set in the 1950s when conscription was used in the armed forces, the title of the show being an abbreviation of the post war slogan, "Get some service in!".
Robert Lindsay starred as Jakey Smith, a conscripted Teddy Boy, forever at odds with the discipline of military life and David Janson played Ken Richardson, a well educated conscript, assumed to be homosexual by Corporal Marsh as he had attended grammar school.
The sadistic Corporal Marsh was played by Tony Selby who appeared uncredited as Lacey in the 1966 film, "Alfie", starring Michael Caine.

Answer: Garnock Way

"Garnock Way" was a Scottish soap opera, set in a fictional mining town midway between Edinburgh and Glasgow that aired once a week for three years between 1976 and 1979.
The show was an attempt to sell a Scottish made soap opera to English TV stations but unfortunately it only attracted a following in Scotland so after three years it was replaced by the much more successful "Take The High Road" (1980-2003), which was set in a much more picturesque area of the country.
Bill Henderson played Tod Baxter, a mechanic with a drink problem in "Garnock Way" and he was also cast in "Take The High Road", as Ken Calder, a mechanic with a drink problem.
Likewise Eileen McCallum also made the switch, from playing Jean Ross in "Garnock Way" to shop owner Isabel Blair in "Take The High Road".
Sandra Cully was played by Dorothy Paul, who thanks to her role in "The Steamie" (1988) has become one of Scotland's most loved actors.

Answer: Goodnight Sweetheart

"Goodnight Sweetheart" (1993-99) was a time travel sitcom starring Nicholas Lyndhurst, best known as Rodney from "Only Fools And Horses" (1981-2014), as Gary Sparrow, a TV repairman able to move between 1990s UK and 1940s UK.
Phoebe Bamford, Sparrows 1940s girlfriend, was played by two actresses, Dirvla Kirwan between 1993 and 1996 and then Elizabeth Carling after that.
Likewise, Yvonne Sparrow, Gary's 1990s wife was also played by two actresses, the first being Michelle Holmes and then from 1997, Emma Amos.
Ron Wheatcroft, Sparrow's friend and supplier of 1940s money to assist in his other life, ws played by Victor McGuire.

Answer: Green Wing

"Green Wing" (2004-07) is a very funny situation comedy set in a hospital, although bizarrely the storyline never concerns medical issues, instead focusing on the often twisted private lives of the cast.
Dr. Caroline Todd is played by Tamsin Grieg, who is also well known for playing Fran Katzenjammer in "Black Books" (2000-04).
Human resources staff member, Harriet Schulenburg is played by Olivia Colman who played Sophie Chapman in "Peep Show" (2003-15) and also won the Best Actress Oscar for her role in "The Favourite" (2018) while staff liaison officer Sue White is played by Michelle Gomez, known for her portrayal of Missy in "Doctor Who" (2014-17)

Answer: Grantchester

"Grantchester" (from 2014) is set in 1950s Cambridgeshire and the plots concern the local vicar who is also a fine amateur detective.
The first vicar, Sidney Chambers, was played by James Norton, but when his character fell in love with an American woman and moved to USA to be with her, a new vicar, William Davenport, played by Tom Brittney, took over bringing with him many of the same sleuthing qualities.
Geordie Keating, the police detective assisted by the vicar, is played by Robson Green.
"Grantchester" is based on the series of novels written by James Runcie, whose father was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1980 to 1991.

Answer: Going Straight

Going Straight" (1978) was the follow on to the very successful Ronnie Barker sitcom, "Porridge" (1974-77), and was a success in its own right, winning a BAFTA award and attracting over 15 million viewers.
Unfortunately, due to the tragic death of Richard Beckinsdale (Lennie Godber), in 1979, following a heart attack aged just 31, a second series of "Going Straight" was never made.
Nicholas Lyndhurst, later known for "Only Fools And Horses" (1981-2014) and "Goodnight Sweetheart" (1993-99) played Norman Fletcher's son Raymond and as with "Porridge", Ronnie Barker played Norman Fletcher, now trying to get his life together outside prison.

Answer: Gideon's Way

Broadcast between 1964 and 1966, "Gideon's Way" was a police drama written by best selling novelist, John Creasey.
The show starred Reginald Jessup as Detective Superintendent LeMaitre, Ian Rossiter as Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Bell and Basil Dignam as Commissioner Scott-Marle.
The eponymous Commander George Gideon was played by John Gregson, who after many successful film and TV roles is possibly best remembered for being the face of "Mellow Birds" coffee in their TV advertising.