Albion Market

Albion Market
Genre Soap opera
Written by
  • Andy Lynch
  • Stephen Lowe
  • Kay Mellor
  • Martin Riley
Directed by
  • Gareth Jones
  • Ric Mellis
Starring
Country of origin
  • United Kingdom
Original language(s)
  • English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 100 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Bill Podmore
Producer(s)
  • David Liddiment
  • Gareth Jones
Location(s)
  • United Kingdom
Running time 30 minutes
Production company(s)
Release
Original network
Picture format 4:3
Original release 30 August 1985 (1985-08-30) – 24 August 1986 (1986-08-24)

Albion Market is a short-lived British soap opera, set in a covered market in Salford, in the northwest of England. It was intended as a companion to fellow ITV soap Coronation Street, filling the 7:00pm timeslot on Fridays and Sundays previously dubbed by the network as the "graveyard" slot. However, due to continued troubles and ratings competition from the BBC's newly broadcast EastEnders, the series only broadcast for one year, before being replaced with additional episodes of Coronation Street.[1]

History

Albion Market launched in August 1985, four months before Coronation Street celebrated its 25th anniversary. Granada Studios dubbed it a "continuing drama series", considering the term "soap opera" derogatory. The show ran twice weekly on Friday and Sunday night; at the time, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were considered "graveyard slots", usually broadcasting game shows or American imports.[2] Very quickly, the Sunday episodes were moved back to around 6.00pm, and LWT later dropped the Friday episode and instead broadcast a double bill of the series at 5.00pm on Sundays. At the series launch, the chairman of Granada Television claimed that "When Coronation Street celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary". Despite this, the show lasted for only one year.[3]

The show received negative reviews from critics and did not do well in the ratings. Many noted that the actual storyline rarely strayed from the confines of the market itself. The long-suffering market superintendent Derek Owen (David Hargeaves) was the primary focus; his day usually began with the difficult task of assigning the few unowned stalls to the large number of casual traders. Prominent among these were Lynn Harrison (Noreen Kershaw) and her ex-jailbird husband Roy (Jonathan Barlow); while the regular traders included the gossiping ceramics dealer Morris Ransome (Bernard Spear) and handsome ladykiller and cake seller Tony Fraser (John Michie).

Despite opening with an arson attack on the market, the series struggled to capture an audience. Although it had some hard-hitting storylines involving its notably multiracial cast, the market setting rapidly became a problem. Characters were bogged down by the business of running their stalls, and the sheer drabness of the set compounded the monotony. After this faltering start, compounded by Michael Grade's success with his newly rearranged schedules for the BBC, Granada attempted to change direction and bring in both glamour and familiar faces. Despite attempts to encourage viewing figures by bringing in Coronation Street actor Antony Booth and singer Helen Shapiro, the ratings did not improve, and some ITV regions dropped the series from their peak-time schedules altogether. Eventually, the show ended after just 100 episodes. For many years, the outdoor with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign above the River Irwell remained intact. When the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market was sold. It now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.[4]

Cast

  • David Hargreaves as Derek Owen, Market Superintendent (Episode 1—)
  • Derek Hicks as Keith Naylor, Superintendent's Assistant (Episode 1—)
  • Noreen Kershaw as Lynne Harrison, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Jonathan Barlow as Roy Harrison, Stallholder (Episode 2—)
  • Sally Baxter as Lisa O'Shea, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Bernard Spear as Morris Ransome, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Carol Kaye as Miriam Ransome, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Geoffrey Leesley as Geoff Travis, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • John Michie as Tony Fraser, Stallholder (Episode 3—)
  • Valerie Lilley as Brenda Rigg, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Peter Benson as Larry Rigg, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Alistair Walker as Duane Rigg, Brenda and Larry's Son (Episode 1—)
  • Paul Bhattacharjee as Jaz Sharma, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Dev Sagoo as Raju Sharma, Stallholder (Episode 1—)
  • Pik-Sen Lim as Ly Nhu Chan, Stallholder (Episode 3—)
  • Philip Tan as Lam Quoc Hoa, Stallholder (Episode 3—)
  • Linda Polan as Maureen Nicholls, Stallholder (Episode 2—)
  • Liam Flannery as Billy Nicholls, Stallholder (Episode 2—)
  • Howard Lloyd-Lewis as Ralph Jessup, Maureen and Billy's Uncle (Episode 2—)
  • Barbara Wilshere as Carol Broadbent, Cafe Assistant (Episode 1—)
  • Burt Caesar as Phil Smith, Chef (Episode 1—)
  • Paula Jacobs as Peggy Sagar, Cafe Manager (Episode 1—)
  • Helen Shapiro as Viv Harker

  • Jane Hazlegrove as Debbie Taylor
  • Nimmy March as Collette Harrison
  • Avis Bunnage as Annie Naylor
  • Lill Roughley as Barbara Owen
  • Kelly Lawrence as Louise Todd
  • Arthur Kelly as Dermot Thornburgh
  • Anthony Booth as Ted Pilkington
  • Simon Rouse as Alan Curtis
  • Souad Faress as Anita Rai
  • Seeta Indrani as Sita Sharma
  • Jamila Massey as Susha Sharma
  • Rebecca Lock as Jenny McMullen
  • David Phelan as Sean Ellison
  • Paul Beringer as Paul O'Donnell
  • Marie Jelliman as Mary Houlihan
  • Andy Rashleigh as Colin Arnold
  • Henry Moxon as Simon Walker
  • Duane Mills as Gregory Dickson
  • Martin Oldfield as Howard Dickinson
  • David Boyce as Ralph Friend
  • Hetta Charnley as Janet Owen
  • Rashid Karapiet as Narya Vyas
  • Jane Karen as Carrie Mullen

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byBritish air date
1"Episode 1"Gareth JonesPeter Whalley30 August 1985 (1985-08-30)
Market Superintendent Derek Owen's day doesn't get off to a good start when he is forced to evacuate the market following a telephone threat. Proceedings are eventually returned to normal, until an arson attack on an unoccupied stall results in a further evacuation. Meanwhile, Lynne Harrison is excited at the prospect of her husband's release from jail, but her daughter isn't so pleased. Derek's assistant Keith is also excited about taking his motorcycle test.
2"Episode 2"Gareth JonesAndrew Lynch1 September 1985 (1985-09-01)
Derek continues his investigation into the arson attack and suspects that one of the Jessop family may have sabotaged their own stall. Later, further telephone threats to the market are made, leading to Derek interrogating Ralph Jessop. Meanwhile, Lynne's husband Roy is finally released from prison, and Geoff and Morris' dispute over the sale of pot plants threatens to reach boiling point. Keith finally passes his motorcycle test but is upset when his bike is stolen.
3"Episode 3"Jonathan Wright MillerPeter Whalley6 September 1985 (1985-09-06)
Tony Fraser makes a welcome return from his travels, immediately setting his eye on both Lisa O'Shea and Carol Broadbent. Meanwhile, a charity fun run to raise money for the local hospital unexpectedly results in the discovery of the identity of the market arsonist. Roy Harrison befriends Larry Rigg, who offers to show him the tricks of the trade. Morris decides to up the stakes in his feud with Geoff by starting to sell pot plants, much to Geoff's anger.
4"Episode 4"Jonathan Wright MillerAndrew Lynch8 September 1985 (1985-09-08)
Roy stalls Lynne's chances of a permanent stall on the market after trying to bribe Derek. Tony's seduction attempts fall flat when Lisa and Carol discover their 'holiday' presents were actually bought from Brenda's stall, and concoct a plan to show him the error of his ways. Geoff tries to con Morris with a story involving 'root rot', but Morris isn't having none of it and refuses to back down. Larry offers to import a shipment of goods on Roy's behalf.
5"Episode 5"Brian LighthillPeter Whalley13 September 1985 (1985-09-13)
Derek makes a decision over the Jessop's future on the market after further trouble, offering their stall to the Sharma brothers, who are desperate for a regular tenancy. Morris and Geoff agree to let bygones be bygones, but soon find themselves at loggerheads once more. Roy begins to embrace working on the market by selling a batch of expensive watches, but Lynne suspects they may be stolen and does a little digging. Tony continues to woo the ladies.

References

External links

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