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Prospects was a British television drama series that was originally shown on Channel 4 in 1986. Created by Thames Television's film unit Euston Films - the makers of The Sweeney and Minder, it followed the exploits of two east end 'geezer' characters - Jimmy 'Pincey' Pince played by the late Gary Olsen and Billy played by Brian Bovell and their trials and tribulations of making a living in London's Isle of Dogs. Comprising 12 episodes Prospects - with a comic slant, dealt with many of the major issues affecting British society at the height of the "Thatcherite" '80's including unemployment, crime, poverty, regeneration, social change and racism in the form of:
- Episode 1 The P to S Day - Billy and Pincey set up a dating agency and burglar alarm company but as ever seem to spend their time getting out of scrapes.
- Episode 2 Partners in Brine - Pincey has big dreams of setting up a marina and theme park in the Isle of Dogs - not bad when you only have your dole cheque each week to live on.
- Episode 3 Uncle Harry's System - Pincey despite Billy's cynicism believes he's discovered a guaranteed greyhound betting system. However they end up in very hot water indeed both with 'Uncle Harry's' system and losing £500 they were minding for local villain 'Stretch'.
- Episode 4 Dirty Weekend - Billy, Pincey and their girlfriends embark on an ill-fated camping holiday which makes Billy question his mobility in society and tests his friendship with Pincey.
- Episode 5 Rodent Engineers - Billy and Pincey set up a pest control business with the ability they claim to eliminate a epidemic of 'hyper mice' that have infected the Isle of Dogs.
- Episode 6 Standing on Your Own One Foot - text
- Episode 7 Subterranean Pig Sick Blues - text
- Episode 8 Frying Tonight - text
- Episode 9 Four Men in a Boat - text
- Episode 10 Follow the Yellow Brick Lane - text
- Episode 11 Running all the Way Part One - text
- Episode 12 Running all the Way Part Two - text
Prospects gained a cult following and performed well above expectations for Channel 4 in the terms of ratings. Rival station ITV which at the time had links to Channel 4 saw the success of Prospects and gave it a 9pm prime-time repeat slot in the Spring/Summer of 1987. This fuelled rumours that ITV wanted to develop Prospects into a long-running comedy drama series. However despite seeing potential in Prospects ITV declined the opportunity to develop it beyond the original first series. Unfortunately Thames Television are rumoured to have accidently wiped the master tapes for Prospects at some point in the late 1980's/early 1990's. This may explain why it's not been repeated on British television since 1987 and hasn't had an official Video or DVD release and Prospects enabled the late Gary Olsen and Brian Bovell to become fairly successful acting mainstays within British film, television and theatre.
References
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