When Tutti Frutti was broadcast in 1987 it was seen to be a risky venture.
Robbie Coltrane was better known as a comedy actor and Emma Thompson was regarded as a stand up comedienne, not the Oscar winning actress she would go on to become.
Writer an artist John Byrne has written an acerbic comedy drama. Both funny and dark.
The series is all about The Majestics. A Scots rock n roll band who were big in the 1960s.
As they embark on their silver jubilee tour in 1986, lead singer Big Jazza dies. The canny manager Eddie Clockerty (Richard Wilson) replaces him with his younger brother Danny McGlone (also Robbie Coltrane.) Danny looks a lot like Big Jazza.
Danny has an on/off relationship with Suzi Kettles (Emma Thompson) who also joins the band later on.
The original members though always end up squabbling, leather clad guitarist Vincent Diver (Maurice Roeves) has a life that lives up to his name, he is sinking.
What stands Tutti Frutti apart is the uniformly excellent acting. Coltrane was a revelation, Roeves was brilliant. Wilson and Katy Murphy as Miss Toner made a great double act.
Although there was a lot of talking than action at times, it was so well written. There were little bits that were so good. Danny waking up with an eye mask and thinks he has gone blind. Bass player Fud O'Donnell mistaking Greek yogurt for Brylcreem. Suzi's abusive dentist husband getting his comeuppance, but the dental secretary gives a wry smile thinking Danny is under a lot of pain with the dentist's drill.
I watched this series when it was first broadcast and caught the repeats over 30 years later and it still maintains the laughs although the darkness is also there. Roeves performance improves with age.
Robbie Coltrane was better known as a comedy actor and Emma Thompson was regarded as a stand up comedienne, not the Oscar winning actress she would go on to become.
Writer an artist John Byrne has written an acerbic comedy drama. Both funny and dark.
The series is all about The Majestics. A Scots rock n roll band who were big in the 1960s.
As they embark on their silver jubilee tour in 1986, lead singer Big Jazza dies. The canny manager Eddie Clockerty (Richard Wilson) replaces him with his younger brother Danny McGlone (also Robbie Coltrane.) Danny looks a lot like Big Jazza.
Danny has an on/off relationship with Suzi Kettles (Emma Thompson) who also joins the band later on.
The original members though always end up squabbling, leather clad guitarist Vincent Diver (Maurice Roeves) has a life that lives up to his name, he is sinking.
What stands Tutti Frutti apart is the uniformly excellent acting. Coltrane was a revelation, Roeves was brilliant. Wilson and Katy Murphy as Miss Toner made a great double act.
Although there was a lot of talking than action at times, it was so well written. There were little bits that were so good. Danny waking up with an eye mask and thinks he has gone blind. Bass player Fud O'Donnell mistaking Greek yogurt for Brylcreem. Suzi's abusive dentist husband getting his comeuppance, but the dental secretary gives a wry smile thinking Danny is under a lot of pain with the dentist's drill.
I watched this series when it was first broadcast and caught the repeats over 30 years later and it still maintains the laughs although the darkness is also there. Roeves performance improves with age.