Kit Curran, Episode Six: Doctors Can Seriously Damage Your Health

In the final episode of Kit Curran, Pamela finds herself in hospital. This sparks on terrible, terrible idea in Kit: he’s going to open a health clinic. Will this latest scheme finally see him get the comeuppance he deserves?

About

The sixth (and final!) episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 25th of August 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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Kit Curran, Episode Five: Blind Date

Kit’s latest scheme involves running a dating agency. Inbetween attempting to match up various unlikely lonely hearts, Kit turns his attentions to his own romantic desires: attempting to win over Pamela. Maybe he needs a change of approach? Pam’s seen through most of his plans so far—will she see through this one?

About

The fifth episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 18th of August 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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Kit Curran, Episode Four: A Sick Society

Kit, Les and Damien are betting their latest money-making attempt on being double-glazing salesman. But Kit isn’t going to let that mundaneity spoil his attempts at being rich and famous—or the local police discover his pirate radio show. But when a phony phone call to the police to get them off his back has unintended consequences, can Kit get out of this one?

About

The fourth episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 11th of August 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’. Guest starring is Alex Jennings as ‘P.C. Woods’, in one of his first roles.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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Kit Curran, Episode Three: The Street of Shame

A freak incident where an armed robber invades the studio gives Kit an idea for his latest money-making scheme. No, not robbery—though I wouldn’t put it past Kit—but selling increasingly ludicrous stories to the press. As the wretched newspapers of Fleet Street eat up Kit’s content, what is the limit to what they will accept?

About

The third episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 4th of August 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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Kit Curran, Episode Two: The Lucky Break

Kit’s managed to convince both Damien and Les to come on board his business venture, but their start up capital will only go so far. Kit’s taste for the finer things in life—as well as his atrociously bad business sense—soon mean they’re out of money and the rent is due. How on earth are they going to pay it?

About

The second episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 28th of July 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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Kit Curran, Episode One: One Door Closes

Remember Kit? Radio DJ, out for fame and to give his boss a nervous breakdown? A second series of the show was made in 1986, moving from ITV to Channel Four, featuring yet more of Kit’s ridiculous antics and blatantly awful get-rich-quick schemes. Finding himself in a new situation, this could be a chance for Kit to reinvent himself—or carry on doing the same things as he was before.

About

The first episode of ‘Kit Curran’ aired on the 21st of July 1986 on Channel Four. It is the second series of ‘The Kit Curran Radio Show’, with a different name, one significant cast change, and a modified set up. Produced by Thames Television and created by Andy Hamilton, the second series sees Guy Jenkin join the writing team. This episode stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Lindsay Duncan as ‘Pamela Scott’.

Readers of this blog will remember Lindsay Duncan from Dead Head, which also aired in 1986. She and Denis are once again love interests—of a sort—with the adversarial relationship retained, even though their characters are very different.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Also available on UK iTunes, but mislabelled as Series 1, in a confusing manner. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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The Kit Curran Radio Show, Episode Six: The Big Break

In the last episode of the series, Kit goes for his big break: a BBC breakfast DJ slot. We also get to see the infamous outfit that has ensured that this series will never, ever be forgotten.

About

The sixth episode of The Kit Curran Radio Show, ‘The Big Break’, aired on the 14th of May 1984 on ITV. Produced by Thames Television and written by Andy Hamilton, it stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Brian Wilde as ‘Roland Simpson’. It also features Hilton McRae as ‘Hooper’. Lawson fans may recognise McRae, as he also stars in ‘The Justice Game’ and one episode of ‘New Tricks’ opposite Lawson. He’s also in Return of the Jedi as Arvel Crynyd / Green Leader, aka the pilot who flew their A-Wing into the bridge of a Star Destroyer.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Be aware that the iTunes version is actually Series 2 mislabelled as Series 1. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s certainly an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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The Kit Curran Radio Show, Episode Five: Election Fever

Following the death of the local MP, Newtown is hit by Election Fever. Kit takes every advantage to catapult himself into the national spotlight, and we witness a piece of political satire which could air today and still be relevant.

About

The fifth episode of The Kit Curran Radio Show, ‘Election Fever’, aired on the 7th of May 1984 on ITV. Fittingly for such a politically-minded episode, this was three days after local elections were held in the UK. Produced by Thames Television and written by Andy Hamilton, it stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Brian Wilde as ‘Roland Simpson’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Be aware that the iTunes version is actually Series 2 mislabelled as Series 1. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s certainly an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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The Kit Curran Radio Show, Episode Four: P is for Positive

This week, Kit’s thinking positive, and wanting to make some changes. A positivity workshop seems like a great idea, but will it lead to unexpected consequences?

About

The fourth episode of The Kit Curran Radio Show, ‘P is for Positive’, aired on the 30th of April 1984 on ITV. Produced by Thames Television and written by Andy Hamilton, it stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Brian Wilde as ‘Roland Simpson’. Additional guest stars this episode include Debbi Blythe as ‘Sally Beamish’ and Joseph Marcell as ‘Constantine’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Be aware that the iTunes version is actually Series 2 mislabelled as Series 1. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s certainly an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

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The Kit Curran Radio Show, Episode Three: Bread and Circuses

This week, Radio Newtown faces declining listener figures, and Roland kickstarts some new programming attempts in order to boost them. Some of those ideas are more successful than others. And then Kit weighs in. All in all, no good can come of that.

About

The third episode of The Kit Curran Radio Show, ‘Bread and Circuses’, aired on the 16th of April 1984 on ITV. Produced by Thames Television and written by Andy Hamilton, it stars Denis Lawson as ‘Kit Curran’, Clive Merrison as ‘Damien Appleby’, Paul Brooke as ‘Les Toms’ and Brian Wilde as ‘Roland Simpson’.

Availability: Out on Region 2 DVD as of 2018. Be aware that the iTunes version is actually Series 2 mislabelled as Series 1. The watch quality of the DVD is better than these screencaps suggest—it’s certainly an improvement over the VHS rips of re-runs that were circling before it was released—but you can tell the footage hasn’t been best preserved.

Continue reading “The Kit Curran Radio Show, Episode Three: Bread and Circuses”