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G.B.H. : Season 1
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Air date: 06 Jun '91 - 7 episodesGBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.
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List of Episodes (7)
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G.B.H. (1991)
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1. It Couldn't Happen Here
06 Jun '91Firebrand Labour leader Michael Murray is swept into office on a tide of rhetoric. His first act is to "reform education", but it looks suspiciously like a personal vendetta against Mr. Weller, the headmaster who had once sent him, as a boy, to a special school for disturbed children. When Murray is summoned by the renowned political theorist, Mervyn Sloan, he is told that great things are expected of him. But Sloan also firmly insists that a general strike be called in Murray's city to
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G.B.H. (1991)
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2. Only Here on a Message
13 Jun '91Michael Murray is beginning to realise that his new-found political "friends" are not being entirely above-board with him. Jim Nelson, meanwhile, gains some respite from Murray's persecution when he becomes a local hero in a tragic accident. Though his attempt to save his pupil, Robbie Burns, is not successful, his efforts earn him the undying loyalty of Robbie's father, Norman, and his formidable brothers. After a time, however, Murray resumes the pressure and Jim begins to come unravelled,
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G.B.H. (1991)
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3. Send a Message to Michael (105 min)
20 Jun '91Sloane and Barnes announce matter-of-factly that explosive racial violence shall be provoked in the city. When Murray denounces them and begins to storm out of the room, Barnes asks if the name Eileen Critchley means anything to him. Murray freezes on the spot and goes into spastic twitches. Jim Nelson decides he needs a holiday at term break, to get away from the pressure of Murray's pickets, and plans an itinerary that avoids crossing any bridges. Murray is falling under the spell of Barbara
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G.B.H. (1991)
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4. Message Sent
27 Jun '91Michael Murray has reached panic level, and sends the researcher, Philip, on a mission to find three people: his missing brother Franky (along with the council car), his mother, and Eileen Critchley. Frank Twist catches up with Jim Nelson to tell him that an important local party meeting has been called. The meeting is to be packed with "new members" consisting of the trouble-makers under Peter's direction. Barbara's attempt to obtain Mr. Weller's old school records for Michael Murray and
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G.B.H. (1991)
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5. Message Received
04 Jul '91The Nelsons finally arrive in North Wales, thinking they have escaped their tormentors. Trouble is pursuing them, however, and mein Host at the holiday camp isn't without his problematic side, either.
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G.B.H. (1991)
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6. Message Understood
11 Jul '91It starts to dawn on Michael and Jim that they are pawns in a much bigger game. Barbara questions who her real allies are.
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G.B.H. (1991)
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7. Over and Out
18 Jul '91Friday is the day designated for the showdown. Michael has had the local Labour Party meeting called to have Jim Nelson removed from membership; Lou Barnes has decreed this same day for Michael Murray's destruction.
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