Tutti Frutti

Well, the wait is finally over, Amazon have sold out and the DVD is now in my hands via the High St store. It is just as brilliant as a I remembered it, so no rose tinted glasses. Fantastic performances, Glesga gallus humour and real locations (including one round the corner from where I grew up and across the road from the swimming baths I learned to swim in.)

I remember being gobsmacked when I heard Emma Thompson's real accent after the series as she did a very accurate West End Glasgow accent which I thought was authentic at the time the series was broadcast.

SO glad they sorted out all the copyright issues and the DVD can take it's place in the ranks of great ones.

I'm not going to spoil the story. For anybody new to it just go with it, for the ones who have seen it before enjoy!

Looking back this had a dream cast - Robbie Coltrane, Emma Thompson, Richard Wilson. And they were perfect in it. Even the supporting cast, particularly Maurice Roeves and Katy Murphy were fantastic. It was bright and funny, well written, well acted and the music was pretty good.

So of course it's been repeated (once?) and not available on DVD.

I remember loving this when it was first shown... and missing the last episode. And then it was repeated a couple of years later... and I missed the last episode. That it's not out on DVD yet is nothing short of criminal. Please... I'd like to see for myself just how it ends.

I was too young to catch this when it came out back in 1987, and as it was only repeated once shortly after then confined to the archives it remained a bit of a mystery. However there had to be something about the show as it seemed to be spoken about in terms of 'masterpiece'

Therefore I was glad to finally get hold of a copy on DVD over 20 years on, and now I know what people were talking about, it's a perfect 6 hours of deathly dark but usually hilarious comedy.

The casting is spot on at all levels, a real ensemble of the some of the best Scottish talent that at most levels are still highly familiar today. I love the use of location, whether in Glasgow the main setting or one of the less than glamorous towns on the road, namely Buckie, Methil and Ardrossan. It's almost as if they chose the locations after listening to 'Letter from America' by the Proclaimers.

I'm sure I'm not the only one when watching this to get the most enjoyment from the Clockerty/Toner relationship. Is there something gong on here, or is it merely penny pinching on Clockerty's behalf that Eddie and Janice share twin rooms and cabins on Sleeper Trains. Either way it's a blast.

All in all I'm very thank full that they finally got this out on DVD, keeping it locked away for so long is a crime on a par with wiping all those great sitcoms back in the 1960s.

Tutti Fruti was one of the best BBC series of the 1980s. John Byrne's script was smart, witty and full of lively banter. It cleverly captures the delusions of an aging Scottish rock band who return for one last tour. Although the band don't seem to have much of a following they still believe they should have made the big time. There are similarities to Spinal Tap, but the characters in Tutti Friti seem more real.

Byrne creates an amazing cast of characters and the acting is excellent. Emma Thompson was never better or sexier as Suzy Kettles. Katy Murphy was a revelation playing Miss Toner. Richard Wilson, Robbie Coltrane and Maurice Roeves were all superb. I would love to see this again.

Been a while (35years I think), and back on the BBC as a tribute to Robbie Coltrane, but it's not lost any of it charm. Every single actor from the main characters down to bit parts buying clothes in the managers shop plays a blinder. They really don't make them like this any more. It's a slow burning, takes it time kind of drama. It has shots that mean nothing to the narrative but look good and raise a smile. I think I only saw it once but I seem to remember loads of lines. In a way I like the fact that John Byrne hardly wrote anything else and it has hardly ever been seen by anyone I know. It made me fall in love with Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane, after this they could do no wrong. There's even a cool bit in the Glasgow School of Art.

A classic.