High And Dry, 1987
High And Dry was a TV sitcom adaptation of the hit Radio series It Sticks Out Half A Mile (it would have been better to adapt the original with the original characters and cast, although by this time John Le Messurier had died). High And Dry ran for just 1 series of 6 episodes in 1987.
Similar to the original series a pilot episode was produced and broadcast under the title Walking The Planks. Screened on The BBC in 1985 it featured a slightly different cast. A series was not commissioned so the writers took their idea to Yorkshire Television who felt it was a suitable project for a full series and under it’s new title ‘High And Dry’ began broadcasting in 1987.
The series was written and adapted for TV by original writers Michael Knowles and Alan Sherwood (a pseudonym used by Harold Snoad as at the time he was contracted to the BBC).
Summary
Walking The Planks (pilot episode)
Ron Archer only allowed himself the merest flirtation with the three Rs. However, over the years, he has carefully developed a fourth R – Resourcefulness. This comes to the fore when he decides to buy an old seaside pier. All he needs is the money.
High and Dry (series)
High And Dry mirrors the first eight episodes of the BBC Radio series It Sticks Out Half A Mile.
Ron Archer and his son Trevor decide to buy an old decrepit pier from Midbourne Council who have put it up for sale for just five shillings.
After visiting his brother-in-law Richard Talbot, the local bank manager, Ron asks for a £2000 loan for maintenance costs, which he must guarantee to pay once he buys to pier.
Richard is aghast at the idea and rejects Ron’s application. However, Ron has expected this to happen, so he blackmails Richard into giving him the loan.
With financial costs all sorted, Ron and Trevor, along with an uneasy Richard acting as financial advisor, meet with Midbourne Council to discuss the pier. When Richard starts having second thoughts again, Ron blackmails him further, and forms a solution for paying off the loan. With that all sorted, the council and the new owners of Midbourne Pier raise their glasses in celebration. Midbourne Pier is theirs.
Clips
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Cast
Walking The Planks
Michael Elphick – Ron Archer
Gary Raynsford – Trevor Archer
Vivienne Martin – Miss Baxter
Richard Wilson – Richard Talbot
High and Dry
Bernard Cribbins – Ron Archer
Richard Wilson – Richard Talbot
Angus Barnett Trevor Archer
Vivienne Martin – Miss Baxter
Details
Channel: BBC1 (pilot), ITV (series)
Written By: Michael Knowles and Harold Snoad as Alan Sherwood
Original Transmission Dates: 2nd August 1985 (pilot), 7th January – 18th February 1987 (series)
Where To Watch
Not currently available on the big streaming services or DVD. Catch it in full on You Tube whilst you can.