La rédac

The chemistry between fiesty,ruthless super-bitch editor lynda, and cocky, wise cracking American Spike was sizzling! makes the likes of joey and pacey seem-dare i say it?-overly melodramatic and fake. One thing that press gang is not is fake. unique and ahead of it's time, yes. But no way is it fake because the characters, though quirky and lovable, are also real and strike a cord with viewers. Again, if u compare it to contemporary shows like dawsons creek (and i was a fan of DC believe it or not!) press gang still comes out tops coz despite being over 10 yrs older the dialogue still seems fresher and more intelligent. And it was press gang who started using self-referential gags first, not kevin-scream-williamson! I also liked the basically mute tiddler (the origional maggie simpson) The hilarious wheeler dealer colin (like a younger boycee but then again a total one-off) and the voice overs at the end (very kevin-from-the wonder years) Basically if u haven't heard of this show (and u probobly haven't coz it's criminally under publicised) then 2 words...watch it! My only regret is not taping the entire lot. I've finally nabbed series 1 dvd's from ebay but if any1 has any old tapes from the rest of the series please, PLEASE email me and let me borrow them! I will pay u whatever is neccesary! xx

When I was a kid I absolutely loved "Press Gang".

I really feel sorry for the children of today, who get served up so much crap. This show never once underestimated the intelligence of its audience. The story-lines and characters were believable, intelligent, gripping and emotionally powerful, as well as being incredibly funny.

I wanted to be just like the people in this show, and I even started writing my own "newspaper"!

Lynda Day was such a great character, played with real enthusiasm by the wonderful Julia Sawalha. And the supporting cast were magnificent.

The show was not afraid to address confronting social issues that were relevant to its audience. In some ways it is quite like the "Degrassi" series.

I long to see this show repeated on television here. Oh Press Gang, I love you!

Oh, God, why did I write that. No-one will read any further; people make similar claims so freely about any old rubbish. -But in this case it's TRUE, dammit.

Hilariously funny in every episode, seriously emotional in some, tautly dramatic in most, with great performances from a very young cast (Julia Sawalha is more famous for other shows, but she has never had a better role)... look, trust me, everyone who has watched this show loves it. It represents the triumph of the script by an individual (Steven Moffat) over the script by committee.

Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time an old guy had an idea for a TV series. So he submitted it. Even though it was his very first idea it was picked up, at which point the old guy, remembering his son who was just about to follow him into a teaching career had expressed a desire to write for TV, says that they can only use the idea if his son gets to write an episode. Instead of binning him off immediately they decide to give him a shot and the son submits a script. It's amazing, and he subsequently gets to write the entire series and goes on to marry the programme's producer and write full time for TV. Sounds too good to be true? Welcome to Press Gang, the show that just got lucky.

In addition to breaking one of the best new writers of the age, the show also had two young stars whose chemistry could melt your TV. It couldn't fail except... it was doomed to be a kid's TV show shown at kid's TV show times, and there it might have remained had it not been for a programme planner on a rival network who purchased the show for adult viewing.

There are more original ideas in any one season of Press Gang than you'll find in an entire network season these days. Hey, there's probably more than all the networks put together. Any impartial critique is almost impossible because there's just nothing to compare this show with. There'd been nothing like it before, and there's been nothing like it since, so all I can say is, if you've never heard of it but you like a good ensemble laugh-fest with an occasional serious edge to it, chance your arm and try a season of this show. I'm confident you'll be right out there buying the other 4 seasons within a day.

Believe me, or check my other reviews, it's unusual for me to get this enthusiastic about anything, let alone a TV show, but what else can I say? It really is that good.

I am watching 'The Last Word' episode of PG as I write this. My sister has quite a lot of PG's on video, and The Last Word is my fave.

Press Gang has got to be the best young adult TV series that was ever made. The drama is fantastic, and the comic moments are side splitting (Colin is the funniest character!) I wish they'd make them like this now, but lets face it, this kind of excellence only comes once every so often.......