The Paradise Club

My expectations were high for this, as it was written by Murray Smith who created the far superior Strangers. Unfortunately The Paradise Club failed to reach the same heights.

It was clichéd , stagey and dated even by the end of the 80s. Many of those clichés might possibly have been overlooked if the acting by the leads had been of an acceptable level.

Don Henderson was unwell when the series was filmed, and this was all too apparent in the finished programme. However Henderson was an old trooper and his performance, although diminished by ill health, was far superior to that of his co-star Leslie Grantham.

Grantham was a cockney criminal in real life and apparently thought that qualified him to play one in a TV series. Unfortunately he had zero charisma and the acting ability of Roger Moore on tranquilisers. Grantham always looked as though he was reading his lines of a card. Wooden would be an understatement.

Another dreadful 80s cliché was the upper class ( allegedly) glamorous cop played by Kitty Aldridge. Yawn!

The series is not out on DVD and wouldn't be worth buying if it was.

One of the best-made British TV series, created by Murray Smith. Filmed on location in London and the Camden Palace, The Paradise Club brings together the acting talents of Don Henderson and Leslie Grantham with some of the top writers, producers and directors of the era. And it shows.

Henderson plays Father Francis Kane, and Grantham his gangland godfather brother, Danny Kane. It's because of Frank's influence that Danny has begun to use his skills for good, along with ever-loyal Irish bodyguard Jonjo O'Brady (Peter Gowen) and Polish Joe (Leon Herbert). However, Danny still confronts villains on his manor, and attracts the attention of the law - the ever-present Det. Sgt. Jack Nesbitt (Jack Galloway) and other detectives.

The series combines humour, an insight into the criminal element (a favourite amongst Smith's stories), good music and pacy, on-location filming with the excellent performance of its actors. The talents came together beautifully in virtually all the episodes. It's a surprise that this, the first independent series commissioned by the BBC according to its production company, only lasted 20 episodes. It was one of the best series ever made during the 1980s, and a welcome addition for fans of the genre who had gone almost a decade without new episodes of The Professionals.

the paradise club was one of the best BBC dramas ever made.i hope this is repeated soon or comes out on DVD. Leslie Gramthan and Don Henderson were at their best. can anyone till me anything about peter Gowen (jonjo O'Bardy)he was gorgeous. i also loved the music. it was a brilliant idea of Murry smith making a gangland boss and a priest brothers. i wondered who was going to be converted Danny or Frank. the location where brilliant and stunts really good.second series was as the first one the last episode was really good. its a great shame shame don Henderson died when he did. we really need more good writers like Murry smith.

Does anyone know why this have never (AFAIK) been repeated recently. So much other rubbish on television - I thought the series was great and made much more interesting as I used to cycle around all the locations where the series was filmed. The Bramcott Arms pub is still there but now surrounded by newish social housing. Must go into the pub one day. Also lots of part of Southwark have now been regenerated but some bits still remain. Watching old Sweeny's has similar interest as you can see sections of London's history which are no longer there. I'm not old enough to remember bomb damaged London but I guess this is similar and a good view of what parts of London looked like in the mid 80's. I remember series one being repeated but not series 2 (which was not as good). Seems a shame not to repeat now the BBC has many more channels - perhaps even a DVD issue - does that make me really sad? Not sure.

Roger