Shillingbury Tales

I remember watching this series as a schoolkid, I loved it then. At the time it was a current drama about an idyllic village life which most people could only dream of. 40 years later it is now a period drama of a time long since disappeared and that just makes it even better. TV can be a great escape from present troubles and this series does it better than most.

The stories are excellent, the show is well made (especially considering it's age) and the cast are outstanding. Wonderful performances from Diane Keen, Jack Douglas, Linda Hayden and Robin Nedwell. Bernard Cribbins' two appearances are also memorable. I'm so pleased that this feel good series is available on DVD at a bargain price.

One of the last comissions from (Sir) Lew Grade's ailing ACC company (ATV-ITC renamed). Broadcast in prime time on sunday nights during the summer of 1981. This charming, if unchallenging series pre-dates the feel-good drama genre that now dominates sunday nights in UK terrestrial TV schedules.

The series was a spin-off from the Shillingbury Blowers TV-movie. Trevor Howard was no longer present but guest cast included Lionel Jeffries, John Standing & Mona Washbourne.

No big names in the main cast, although Diane Keen always delights, Robin Nedwell showed more promise than he was usually allowed to and Jack Douglas, playing it straight for once, is convincing as the dour widower. A mention must go to the regular appearance of Linda Hayden, an actress in my opinion cruelly underused by the profession.

The principle location will be familiar to devotees of ITC and other 60's cult series. Remember the Murdersville episode of the Avengers?, well Little Storping In The Swuff & Shillingbury are one and the same!.

Beautifully filmed on 35mm Film stock and all in golden hues. Why was it not recommisioned? Poor ratings?, no international sales? ACC about to fold? who knows. It would be another decade before The Darling Buds Of May and others would catch the audience's imagination with a similar kind of family entertainment.

In closing, in the light of current trends, can someone at Carlton blow the dust off this little gem and release it on DVD at their earliest opportunity!.

Shillingbury Tales is a wonderful series - light, breezy, amusing and very addictive. If only they'd made more!!!!! Best of all, it's now on DVD in the U.K. so if you haven't seen it yet then get out there and buy a copy. You wont regret it!

Bernard Cribbins is a guest in a couple of episodes and brilliant. Diane K's dresses are straight out of the 70's (of course) but the only things that date this classic.

On an aside, the opening sequence are very reminiscent of the Vicar of Dibley. Even the local inhabitants are slightly weird like those of Dibley. But the action centres on a composer from London rather than a vicar, and it's not in-your-face comedy but a relaxing feel-good experience. And don't we need that sort of thing nowadays!