Stay Lucky

I have to admit I didn't watch this series at the time - which is strange, being that I'm a huge fan of both Jan Francis and Dennis Waterman!

But something made me watch it now, and I'm so glad I did. The premise is quite simple - Thomas Gynn is on the from some dodgy goings on in London, and hitches a ride up north to start a new life. But, when he's left stranded on the A1, he happens upon the lovely Sally Hardcastle. After fixing her car, she drives him to Leeds where she runs a narrowboat business, and it seems Thomas has made a new friend.

They don't quite see eye to eye at first - Thomas the cheeky cockney chancer, and Sally the temperamental Yorkshire lass. But it soon transpires that they need each other... and they do sometimes actually get on too! They end up getting into various unlikely scrapes and adventures, as fish-out-water Thomas gets a taste of life north of Watford and on the canal.

The series does seem to get off to a slightly shaky start as it finds its feet, but by season 2 the characters are firmly established, and it feels like one of those classic shows that you know and love.

Jan is excellent as Sally, and gets the chance to do a Yorkshire accent and play a more feisty role than those perhaps she's more famous for. Dennis is great as Thomas too - I think of him (in this role anyway) as still being Terry from Minder, relocated to Yorkshire, which is no bad thing - he and Jan had appeared together in one of the final episodes of that series, and clearly the chemistry between was sewn then. Dennis also gets to show his softer and more emotional side at times too - a far cry from his days in The Sweeney and early Minder.

It's all good, knockabout fun, and pity Jan left at the end of season 3 - it might have been wiser for the show to have called it a day then too, as season 4 sees a dip in quality where she's sorely missed. But, if you're a fan of Jan and Dennis, and you stick to the first 3 seasons, you can't go wrong... set sail for some good old fun by the canal.

Stay Lucky hasn't got the charm and wit of the Minder series with Dennis Waterman and George Cole, but it is entertaining at a certain level and the spunky Jan Francis is a great foil for Waterman and an asset to an otherwise mediocre series.

Waterman plays Thomas Gyn, a bit of a lad on the run up north to escape some misdemeanours committed in London. He happens upon Sally Hardcastle,played by Jan Francis, her car broken down on the motor way, and manages to get her back on the road again and cadge a lift in the direction of Leeds. After a bit of hi-jinx and misunderstandings between the two, they form anattraction for each other and Thomas becomes caught up in Sally'scomplicated life, involving a late unfaithful husband, a stolen painting and intimidation from sources interested in the painting's recovery.

Naturally Waterman and Francis hold this shaky plot together with their quarrelling and banter, and by the end of the first series you can't help but hope that something more permanent and substantial comes from their relationship. 7/10

Series 3 started on repeat but unable to watch it as the audio is so bad.. either loud music while the actors are talking or really loud background sounds. Inc what sounds like traffic even when the action is indoors. Very disappointed as loved the repeats of series 1&2 but can't watch series 3 .. apparently this review is too short and needs another 300 letters.. so here goes.. Jan Francis seems to specialise in women with a very short fuse and a bit of a temper as she's quite similar to Penny in Just Good Friends.n and Dennis Waterman as another hapless Good natured man constantly being beaten up.. but as serious 1&2 worked so well , they were a good choice for the parts.. Emma Wray is also portraying a girl very similar in stroppy behaviour as she did in Watching, a pity she was so typecast, which may explain why her career faltered.