Copyright Janice Rider, no reproduction without permission.
These costume designs are from the 1987 comedy drama series: The Continental, by John Godber. The first design is for the character, ‘Gorgeous Gary’, played by Martin Ronan, and the second for a drag act in the newly established Spanish disco, of the series.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider, for sharing these publicity photos of the 1987 comedy drama series, The Continental, by John Godber. The director was Martin Shardlow, and the producer, Chris Parr. It was the sequel to The Ritz, and followed the staff as they set up a new disco in Spain.
The comedy starred: Richard James Lewis, Richard Ridings, Andrew Livingstone, Paul Rider, Andrew Dunn, Frank Bruno, Martin Ronan, and Mark Addy.
The following comment was left on the Pebble Mill Facebook Page:
Mary Sanchez: ‘Yes that’s Richard Ridings (top photo). I was Chris Parr’s secretary and remember typing some of these scripts up! It was the first drama I ever went down to watch and it gave me the bug to work in Floor managing! Brilliant.’
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
The Continental was a follow up to John Godber’s comedy drama, The Ritz. It was transmitted in 1987. It was directed by Martin Shardlow, with Chris Parr as the producer. The story followed the staff of The Ritz as they set up a new disco in Spain.
I think this drama was filmed in the Copthorne Hotel in Paradise Circus, Birmingham.
Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider for sharing this transmission card.
Copyright resides with the original holder, no reproduction without permission.
Thanks to costume designer, Janice Rider, for sharing this transmission card for the 1987, 6 part comedy series – The Ritz, set in a Northern disco.
The series was written by John Godber, and was based on his theatre play, Bouncers.
Martin Shardlow was the director, Chris Parr the producer. The series featured Richard James Lewis, Paul Rider, Andre Dunn, Andrew Livingstone and Richard Ridings.
The series was well received, and a sequel: The Continental, followed.
The following comments were left on the Pebble Mill Facebook page:
Dawn Hudson: ‘I remember Robin Midgley Asking me to read the script I was really nervous but I laughed and thought it was great. However when I watched it I was disappointed.’
Mary Sanchez: ‘I was secretary to Chris Parr at the time and remember typing up these scripts (yes on a typewriter – before computers!) It was shot in Liberty’s nightclub on the Hagley Road . It had a great cast – a real laugh , starring Mark Addy who’s a big name now!’
The Continental
Photos by Willoughby Gullachsen, no reproduction without permission.
The Continental was written by John Godber, directed by John Godber and Martin Shardlow, and produced at Pebble Mill by Chris Parr.
The drama was a sequel to The Ritz (a television adaptation of John Godber’s play Bouncers), where the staff of The Ritz, a northern nightclub, set about opening a new disco in Spain. It was transmitted in 1987.
The Continental starred Richard James Lewis, Andrew Livingstone, Richard Ridings, Paul Rider, Andrew Dunn, Frank Bruno, Martin Ronan and Mark Addy.
The pool scene was shot in the Copthorne Hotel, Birmingham.
A list of most of the crew is contained on the Script front page.
The Continental 1
The Continental, Script front page