The Sharp End

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This series sees Gwen Taylor's character widowed and wondering what to do with her husband's Debt Collection Agency. She decides to run the business herself, much to the chagrin of a rival, ruthless debt collector.

Gwen employs a muscle-man, Carmichael, an illiterate hermit who rides around on a push-bike with a tape recording from Gwen of what he is to do. Together they manage to keep the business running, despite attempts from the rival collector to shut them down.

Watched this when it was first on and thought it was great. It was a mystery to me why it only got one series as the writing, acting and plot lines were fantastic. There's a good cast too; either experienced actors or new faces who went on to stay the course. Gwen Taylor as widowed mother trying to run a debt collection business and keep her daughter in private school whilst fighting off a ruthless competitor from her business. James Cosmos as her assistant 'heavy', Philip Martin Brown as 'the competition' and Gaynor Faye as her secretary. It opens you eyes to the debt collection business and the games people play, the situations they end up in and the twists and turns of the law which can leave the individual stuck right at the bottom of the pile as the big companies wriggle around it with their solicitors. Maybe that's why only one series got made? It wasn't repeated either. If you can find a copy - watch it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this under-rated work by the ever watchable Gwen Taylor. The reason I found it appealing was that the debt collection theme of the show reflected aspects of my job at the time in Credit Control! The relationship between Celia and Carmichael was most often an extremely amusing battle of wills, with Celia (usually) winning out. An early appearance for Gaynor Faye, and also features Philip Martin Brown, most recently seen in 'The Bill' (2005/2006). Such a shame it was confined to only one run, I'm sure with time and a little bit more money this could have continued for at least two more terms - if I could find this on DVD I would be a happy woman!