G.B.H. - Season 1 - Eps 3: Send a Message to Michael
Sloane and Barnes announce matter-of-factly that explosive racial violence shall be provoked in the city. When Murray denounces them and begins to storm out of the room, Barnes asks if the name Eileen Critchley means anything to him. Murray freezes on the spot and starts twitching. Jim Nelson decides he needs a holiday at term break, to get away from the pressure of Murray's pickets, and plans an itinerary that avoids crossing any bridges. Murray is falling under the spell of Barbara Douglas, who keeps him at arm's length. Meanwhile, she visits Michael's mother, pretending to be a social worker, and leaves a note for Michael--signed "Eileen Critchley". Franky has finally had enough. He abandons Michael and drives off with the council car, in order to take his wife and children, as well as his mother, on an impromptu holiday to the seaside.
About G.B.H.
Title: G.B.H.
First Air Date: 1991-06-06
Last Air Date: 1991-07-18
Status: Ended
Rating: 6.188/10 (from 16 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 2
Total Episodes: 7
Network: Channel 4
Genres: Drama
Production Companies: GBH Films Ltd., Channel 4 Television
Synopsis
GBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.
Cast
Michael Palin
Jim Nelson
Robert Lindsay
Michael Murray
Lindsay Duncan
Barbara Douglas
Julie Walters
Mrs. Murray
Dearbhla Molloy
Laura Nelson
Tom Georgeson
Lou Barnes
Andrew Schofield
Peter Grenville
Alan Igbon
Teddy
Michael Angelis
Martin Niarchos
David Ross
Mr Weller