The Machine Gunners

Quite possibly the best children's BBC production to date.

WW2 based drama from a kids perspective i.e. what did they get up to while Daddy was out fighting Hitler?

Don't remember much other than Chas McGill having red hair and Rudi "Where go Now?" - and of course the machine gun they found.

Really must get hold of a copy from the BBC shop.

Other greats include - The December Rose, Moonfleet, The Secret Garden, The Box of Delights

The latter being the best Christmas themed children's TV drama the BBC have ever produced and never been bettered!

I have found my VHS copy of The Machine Gunners from when it was on TV and after transferring it to DVD i decided to view it again. How this has never been released by the BBC is a crime. To this day it stands up as probably the best drama the BBC has ever done. Only the box of delights comes close. As I've said the production values of a show that was first aired way back in 1983 are brilliant. I also recognise the dad as he did a short film with my friend Darryl Clark about violence on the trains. Anyway its a crime thats its never been released and i don't know weather if it ever will but I'm so glad i kept all my old videos.

picky72@msn.com

'The Machine Gunners' told the tale of a group of wartime teenagers and their adventures with, yes you've guessed it, a machine gun! As a young lad, I enjoyed the making camps, firing guns, fighting, soldiers and warplanes elements that the title suggested. However, the programme had far greater depths, and tackled such diverse topics as bullying, bereavement, disability, camaraderie and teenage angst, set against a backdrop of WWII Newcastle. Think 'Byker Grove' meets 'Hope and Glory.' Thanks IMDb for showing that the director was involved in spooky but quality BBC kids drams such as 'Children of Green Knowe,' 'Moondial,' 'Dark Season' and 'Century Falls' (the latter two both written by the guy who regenerated Doctor Who).

This series was on TV when I myself was a boy roughly the same age as the main character, Chas McGill, It had such a profound effect on me that now aged 37 I am a Active Aviation archaeologist , with a profound knowledge of WW2 air losses, Crash sites, and aircraft weaponry from that period in time, the programme gave me a eye opener into the life of a gang of children in WW2 Newcastle, or any other part of mainland Britain. and Prompted me to ask my grandparents about the war, and the adventures they had, I have been waiting many years . just to be able to buy a copy of this excellent production, only waiting for it to be released, (If ONLY).. Please BBC release this Gem from the Vaults, for us all to enjoy.. it was one of your best, and deserves to be out there to be seen again by those who loved it.. and to be viewed by a new Generation of children / adults who never had the opportunity to View one of your most finest works .