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LOVEJOY 1986 - 1994, BBC1 reviewed by Cameron Borland |
August
2001
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There are some shows that are quintessentially timeless, shows that you watch with an improbably natural smile and a gladdened heart. These are the perfect shows for BBC1 at 6pm on a Sunday evening (well, they do in my fantasy schedule!) - light, gently taxing, pre-watershed entertainment that soothingly relaxes the mind and leaves you with an almost imbecilic sense of quixotic satisfaction when it ends. If ever there was one show that perfectly encapsulated this idyll, then surely it is Lovejoy. First appearing on our screens on a particularly nasty winter's day in January 1986, the unlikely trio of Lovejoy, Tinker and Eric gently began to ease their way into the national consciousness until the final programme 70 episodes later which, appropriately, went out on a Sunday evening in December 1994. The tales of the East Anglian "divvy" were perfect fodder for Sunday evening viewing. A loveable rogue in the Del Boy mould - though Lovejoy did spend some time at one of Her Majesty's establishments - the shows would invariably revolve around one of two plots - friends of Lady Jane Felsham being duped into dodgy purchases or a mysterious foreign, wealthy businessman seeking out Lovejoy for help in perpetrating or foiling a scam. It was comedy/drama by numbers and absolutely none the worse for it. If anything, the familiarity was one of the most welcome aspects of the show, allowing the actors a greater degree of freedom in their roles and a greater degree of latitude in their performances. That Lovejoy, Tinker and Eric became so popular is hardly surprising. However, the author of the Lovejoy novels, Jonathan Gash, was less than enamoured with the televised version of his creation. In the novels, Lovejoy is considerably younger (in his 20's) and the novels certainly have a harder edge. Interestingly, Ian McShane actually purchased the screen rights and co-produced, so it is clearly obvious that changes were going to be made. The tone may have changed from page to screen but, for me, it was done with the right intentions and successfully so. A hopeless romantic, terrible with money, perpetually broke, a coward with a sense of honour, McShane who seemed to revel in this seemingly one dimensional, stereotyped character played Lovejoy with great gusto. He also clearly relished the asides to the camera and mastered this device wonderfully. Assisted by an excellent Eric (Chris Jury) and a wonderful Tinker (Dudley Sutton - utterly sublime in this role) this was charming and beguiling television and those three formed a wonderful on-screen trio. The writers, especially in the episodes penned by Clement & La Frenais handled the relationship between Lovejoy and Lady Jane (a laconic, genteel performance from Phyllis Logan) his aristocratic benefactor, with great care. The world of antiques seems unlikely to throw up much in the way of interest but the murky side was trawled with considerable aplomb. Semi-regular characters such as Charlie Gimbert (a refreshingly caddish Michael Tierney) and Miriam, Lovejoy's Morris Minor battered convertible, added to the sense of continuity of timelessness that permeated the show. Given that Lovejoy was invariably followed or preceded by Antiques Roadshow it was a wonderful antidote to that (The Antiques Rogueshow, perhaps?) or complimentary, depending on your viewpoint. Personally, I take the Bing Hitler - the only funny thing Craig Ferguson ever did - view that Antiques Roadshow was a televisual show rooted in greed and lure of the lucre, thus Lovejoy for me was the refreshing main course to the bitter starter starring Hugh Scully. Still, with a canon of work 71 episodes long, there is plenty to admire in Lovejoy. This for me, as I have said, is the quintessential Sunday evening show. Just as Jonathan Creek is perfect Saturday evening fodder (9pm in my fantasy schedule, if you must know) this show was made for the post-Sunday roast slump in front of the telly. Also, for me at least, has never been replaced though it has often been imitated (think of the cod-oirish lite of Ballykissangel, for example). I still tape it when it's shown on UK Gold and, with religious fervour, play that tape at 6pm on a Sunday and I am transported to a haven of tranquility and serenity, to a place that is forever a late '80s Sunday. Bliss. |
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