Auf Wiedersehen, Pet

Very few things capture a time and spirit as eloquently as this TV series. Germany is the setting for a band of 'brothers' fleeing the mass unemployment and uncertainty of Thatcher's Britain in search of work, money and hope. This TV series contains natural acting, pathos, humour and a gritty realism that manages to combine drama and comedy without an emphasis on sentimentality or bawdy laughs. The series chronicles the debacles of a motley crew of British workers uncertain about Germany, their lives and their futures. Promised a hostel with swimming pool, they end up in a barren hut with no amenities yet friendships are forged and a social life centered on Beck's Beer and brothels ensues. With a memorable soundtrack and performances from relatively unknown actors that inspire, their pursuits become a part of the viewers' lives in a way that very few modern TV series capture. Oz, Dennis, Moxey, Bomber, Barry, Neville and Wayne become personal friends of the viewing public along the way in this story of the working man, ordinary lives and extraordinary situations that although filmed over twenty years ago remain timeless.

One of the classic series of the 1980s, 'Auf Wiedersehen, Pet' works well as an ensemble piece, with every character complementing the other - Dennis, the sensible one (Tim Healy), Neville, the nervous one (Kevin Whatley), Barry, the dumb one (Timothy Spall), Oz, the crazy one (Jimmy Nail), Bomber, the tough one (Pat Roach), Wayne, the horny one (Gary Holton), and Moxey, the boring one (Christopher Fairbank). They're brickies on a building site in Dusseldorf, and the interest comes in watching them survive being thrown together.

Two series appeared in the early eighties, with the series being curtailed by Holton's untimely death during recording of series 2. Almost every episode was a winner - laughs, pathos, camaderie, and a real sense of liking of the characters involved. Well written, with a pair of great theme tunes (sung by Joe Fagin), and a good cast of supporting actors (Michael Elphick turns up now and then, Ray Winstone plays an army man AWOL), this drama really couldn't miss.

And the final couple of series reunited all the characters (bar Wayne - we saw his son Wyman, instead) for more laughs and an ultimately touching finale. Highly recommended and, surprisingly, not dated at all.

I remember watching the first series of this as a 12 year old boy with my parents and loving every minute of it. 20 years later I own all four series on DVD and still enjoy them as much as I did the first time round. Lets be honest, how many programmes can we honestly say that about?

The first series was pure genius. Relatively unknown actors proving you don't need big names to make some of the most watchable, amusing and heartwarming television around. Since then of course many of the actors have gone on to be household names.

The second series was also great, probably as good as it could ever have hoped to be. The third and fourth series in my opinion aren't as good and I feel have suffered by moving to the BBC. They seem too clean cut and professional, something the lads were never intended to be. However, I still find them very watchable, but that is mainly down to the characters created in the early 1980's.

I doubt there'll be any more episodes now that bomber (the wonderfully understated Pat Roach) is no longer with us. To me this is the end of a TV era.

Auf Wiedersehen is an example of everything falling into place. It is a interesting story, has endearing characters and a script that doesn't seem like a script - just the characters saying what you'd expect them to say. All of the characters have their place within the well-balanced team. Most people's favourites are the big-mouthed Oz or the boring Barry, but each member of the group is vital to the whole. Series one sees the group first get together in Germany and forge a strong bond under difficult circumstances. There are then a number of adventures they go through - always with an underlying sense of humour. Series two sees the boys reunite and find work firstly in England and then in Spain. The program begins to fall away when they go to Spain to work, and eventually degenerates into a silly bit of farce. But not to concentrate on the bad bits.... Two series seems to be the limit of any good comedy. However, I'm looking forward to the new series they are making - a reunion nearly 20 years on will be like catching up with old friends.

This programme is without doubt the greatest comedy-drama Britian has ever produced in my eyes. There isn't 1 single episode that wont make you laugh and every character is played to perfection with there own style of comedy that you will find it hard not to associate with at least one character. Special mention has to go to Jimmy Nail (Oz) and Timothy Spall (Barry) who are both a constent source of enjoyment to watch. The basics of the whole series is, there all working men in a team travelling around the world looking for work. With episodes about them trying to pull women and getting tattoos when there drunk, to being involved with the police and getting in trouble with gangsters, I can honestly say I can not pick a favourite series because each one is outstanding in its own way. If you haven't seen these before, then your missing out and need to rent the 1st series asap. My thought is you wont be disappointed.