Clocking Off

Clocking Off is a series about people who work at a factory together, and each episode dives into one person's personal life. And, of course, each person has some sort of sordid tale to tell. I honestly didn't love Episode 1 but have now watched episodes 2 and 3 and will continue (episode 3 is actually a very good storyline that is really well acted). The actors are great and believable in their roles even if, at times, the sordid nature of the stories might go a bit too far. Trudy, the assistant to the head boss, is great. She knows all and manages things smartly and efficiently. It's worth a watch - but don't give up after just episode 1 as I almost did.

This series honestly encapsulates real personal lives based around a realistic workplace in northern England. The desperation combined with the simple pride derived from a job well done is conveyed superbly. The setting, in England, is less relevant than the basic human desire to collectively preserve a happy & efficient workplace where people are considered as individuals & allowances are made accordingly. It's a particularly interesting study of the relationship between management & labour & a genuine analysis of the symbiosis therein. In this frightening world of globalisation this series will hopefully help in reminding all of us that we are all still capable of expressing ourselves as individuals & being credited accordingly.

To say this series was good is a huge understatement , a weekly anthology series featuring a story around the workers in a textile factory in northern England.

Some fine stories with a hint of mystery to keep you busy watching throughout each episode and sometimes without any real conclusion at the end but that just adds the feel of life carrying on as it does in ordinary situations.

Factories like the one depicted had started to die off decades before this series aired and it has a nostalgic feel of a workplace from the past rather than the present but again takes nothing away from this.

The individual stories are all powerful and the characters rich and interesting and ever so well written. What is most notable is the star studded cast of British acting talent.

The humour as you would expect is risqué to say the least and some of the scenes may well have offended the less broad minded and the women in the series give as good as they get in the era of the ' laddette '.

Exceptional series and well worth a watch.

I watched and enjoyed this series of dramas when it was first broadcast and again now over twenty years later. Watching the second time had the added interest of seeing and realising just how good the cast were then and how most of them have gone on to appear regularly in our screens and are still acting now. Sarah Lancashire, John Sim, Philip Glenister, Lee Ingleby to name but a few. It also is a reminder of the fashions, cars and homes twenty years ago, it is a good period piece. The stories are largely believable and quite a lot of them are left open ended which doesn't detract from how compelling this series is to watch.