Richmond Hill

Richmond Hill aired on Thames Television between 1988 and 1989.

It only lasted for a year, but left an impression on me well into my 30's. It was centred around a fictitious Police Station set in Richmond Hill. There were many stars in the programme but mainly consisted of a fairly unknown cast. There were some stars who had earlier 'done time' in Prisoner Cell Block H, including Maggie Kirkpatrick, who had gained cult status as Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson, Paula Duncan, Amanda Muggleton and Tim Elston. Another soap stalwart was Gwen Plumb, who presided over proceedings as the morale-fibred, 'take in waifs and strays' Mum Foote. What sealed this programme's fate was the terrible scheduling it was given of Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at 2.00pm. I feel it would have faired better if it had been aired at a slightly later time to pick up a more varied audience. Admittedly, it didn't have the pizazz of early Neighbours and Home and Away episodes, but it had bags of class, a talented cast and well-thought out story lines. I am still in mourning for the programme being dropped by Grundy to make way for the more trendy Home and Away and to a lesser degree, the more popular A Country Practice at the time. I know it is nearly two decades ago now, but I still love it, have most of the series on VHS and would have loved to have seen how the show would have progressed.

Again, here's another one of these soaps, that didn't last the distance, and shortly faded, though it did really have potential. Let's be thankful for what running time it did have. Undermined, in that long list of course, by two obvious shows in question, one of them debuting a week before this, Richmond Hill was sort of a country town blossoming with for some reason, an atmosphere, very familiar with Blue Heelers and a little A Country practice. I remember a lot of moments from this show, and would of love to seen it repeated again. If I could get the whole DVD selection, I probably would. Heart throb Ashley Paske and Danielle Carter made a cute couple, and I'll never forget, Grandma Foote (Young Doctor's Gwen Plumb) Good performances all around, notably from Tim Elston and sadly as of late, Maggie Kirkpatrick in some of her best work. The young actors here were of a very talented caliber, and RH had another star- Ted Bullpit (Ross Higgins). RH was a very engaging and tasty soapie, that has the usual dramas, but I must say, this one did grow on me. I did like the young cop, who was orphaned by Grandpa Foote. Overall, quite a good drama, that 1988 is remembered for.