Dead Head

Denis Lawson is on good form in this controversial, atmospheric drama that starts off well, piques the interest with some sexy characters, and then descends into something of a mess. Notorious as it comes from the same man who directed the controversial play Romans in Britain, its good cast manage to keep you watching long after the on screen drama has fizzled out.

So finally 36 years after originally watching dead head I watched it again. Its almost 36 years to the day.

In all those years the series hasn't lost any impact. Maybe it's even more poignant and accurate now than then.

Back in the day I was very active in the anti Thatcher movement. I did the demos, picket lines, marches and they were terrifying at times. We did our best to defeat the repressive state interventions, corruption and partiality.

We lost, but at least we tried.

We lost because not enough people cared and because they were bought off by the state.

I never sold out and never will.

So what's this got to do with dead head?

Absolutely everything.

A brilliant series.

If only it was fantasy.

"Dead Head" is a superb work which some viewers may fail to understand because of it's great complexity. Outstanding performances, particularly from Denis Lawson and Lindsay Duncan, plus a perfect supporting cast and a brilliant script have created a very satisfying and thought provoking production with Jack the Ripper overtones.