Underworld

A very random type of TV Show, strangely enough only just viewed, some 25+ years later. Certainly offers nostalgia, James Fleet (Vicar Of Dibley), Mike Reid (Eastenders), Christopher Fairbank (Auf Wiedersehen Pet), and Alun Armstrong (New Tricks) In very different types of roles. Blends Drama, Comedy, Crime, and Thriller Successfully. Not a must watch, but an entertaining show never the less. It is very much a war of feuding family's with James Fleet's character caught in the middle, a Mr. Normal thrust into the unfamiliar, not knowing which way to turn, comic relief and a randomness at every turn. I would suggest watching If Into nostalgia, twists and turns, and a penchant for the random, being a TV fanatic are your thing.

The excellence of the series lies in the characters, their clashes, and their truly first class portrayals by the cast. The weak and insipid William (James Fleet), a middle aged teacher, is married to flighty young Gilda. Gilda is barely able to read her own tattoos according to William's strong, bitter and brittle sister Susan (Susan Wooldridge - amid A1 performances she manages to stand out), whose own husband left her for another woman. Their lives become entangled with two sets of gangsters. Boss Teddy Middlemass (Alun Armstrong) is tough but trying hard to raise himself to a higher moral and cultural level, an effort despised by his father (Vicar of Dibley's Trevor Peacock). Rival boss Mr Jezzard is a rolled-gold psychopath, whose sadism is lightened only by his love of the theatrical. The second tier of characters are also well drawn and brilliantly brought to life.

Like other reviewers I am immensely frustrated at how this series has been buried. If any old TV series should be re-run it's Underworld.

I'd have bought this like a shot on DVD - if it had ever been made available. But tonight, even better, I found it on All 4 and watched it streaming. Characters, script, plot, acting, all marvellous. Episode one is a little slow and that probably hurt the ratings; otherwise it's hard to account for the lack of repeats or a DVD.

Liddy Oldroyd's 'Underworld' was absolutely brilliant. We were clever enough to tape most of it when it was shown here, but our tape is severely worn and my whole family would dearly love to get a new copy. Does anyone know if the series was ever issued on video or DVD and if so where I could buy one? All my searching and inquiries have yielded nothing so far. It has to be one of the all-time best series I have ever seen and deserves to be available commercially. The whole cast and all the production crew have done an absolutely superb job. But we want to watch it more - someone, anyone, what's the chance of finding a DVD or video copy?

I too saw this many years ago and loved it. The cast was excellent including many of the great character actors from British TV, like James Fleet and Trevor Peacock (Vicar of Dibley), Alun Armstrong (New Tricks), David Troughton (A Very Peculiar Practice) and many others. However I too am having trouble finding any information about its availability on DVD. I note that no-one has yet responded to the plea for DVD information by the 3 previous posters on this board, Internet searches using the series title are now overwhelmed with the new "Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" which is something different entirely. Please please can anyone tell us where we might find a DVD of this excellent TV series?