Damon and Debbie

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Damon and Debbie

Damon presents Debbie with some roses
Format Soap opera/Drama
Created by Phil Redmond
Starring Simon O'Brien
Gillian Kearney
Country of origin UK
No. of episodes 3
Production
Running time 60mins
Broadcast
Original channel Channel 4
Original run 4 November 1987 – 18 November 1987
External links
IMDb profile

Damon and Debbie was a three-part 'soap bubble' from Brookside, broadcast late on Wednesday evenings on Channel 4 in November 1987, with an omnibus edition over the Christmas period of that year. A Mersey Television production, it was written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, directed by Bob Carlton, and produced by Colin McKeown. The series is credited as the first 'soap bubble'.[1][2]

The series followed teen sweethearts Damon Grant (O'Brien) and Debbie McGrath (Kearney) absconding to York from their disapproving parents in Liverpool because of the class-divide. It ended with the death of Damon, who had been a regular character in Brookside since its launch in 1982.

Contents

[edit] Production

The scenes in which Debbie attends an open day were filmed on 19 September 1987 at James College, a college of York University. The same corridor was used several times for the scenes in which Damon tries to find her, with the furniture rearranged to make it appear different each time. The computer graphic ("Damon loves Debbie") that Debbie programs within a few minutes was programmed by Charles Forsyth.[3]

[edit] Plot

[edit] Episode one

Short of money, the couple squatted on a boat named "True Romance" moored on the River Ouse in York. They had chosen York because it was one of the universities Debbie wished to attend. Their aims where for Debbie to go to university whilst Damon began a painter/decorator business. In the meantime, Damon worked in the Dick Turpin Burger Bar in Coney Street,[4] managed by Lettuce (Siobhan Maher). One day, while Debbie attended an open day the university, the boat's owner returned and sailed away with all of their belongings. Debbie became very anxious at this news. Debbie's family, hostile towards Damon, began the hunt for them after discovering a York University prospectus in her bedroom.

[edit] Episode two

The couple visit Morecambe, with Goth Papadum-packer Jenny (Michelle Holmes), who Debbie had met at the open day, and her husband, computer programmer Kirk (Iain Ormsby-Knox). They then moved to Bradford, where Damon worked as a groundsman at Valley Parade (reflecting, in an interior monologue, upon the fire there a year earlier). Here, they stayed with friends Patrick (Lyndam Gregory) and Apala (Seeta Indrani). In a montage they were seen visiting what was then the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

Having kept her diabetes secret from him, Damon assumed that Debbie was a drug addict when he unexpectedly discovered her injecting herself with insulin.

[edit] Episode three

Debbie's uncles continued their search for the couple, finally tracking them down back in York. The series concluded when, after a mock marriage in a hotel room, Damon was stabbed and died in Debbie's arms. She, and the storyline then returned to Brookside when police arrived to break the news about Damon's death.[5] Damon's funeral was featured on the episode broadcast on 1 December.[6]

[edit] Music

The music played over the opening and closing credits was written by Steve Wright, who had also written the Brookside theme. The theme song, played over the closing credits, "Talk to Me", was performed by Dani Ali and was released as a single on the Ariola label through BMG. The A-side of the single was listed as 'His song;', which was Ali's version, and the B-side was 'Her song', which was the same song (and backing tracks) sung by Annabel Lamb. There is no record of the single gaining a chart position. The title was also the closing spoken line of all three episodes. The song was used in an August 2004 episode of Hollyoaks.[1]

[edit] Main cast

[edit] References

  1. ^ Plunkett, Jon. "Brookside: the highs and lows", Media Guardian, 2002-10-10. Retrieved on 2008-03-26. 
  2. ^ CHANNEL 4 AT 25. Off the Telly (November 2002). Retrieved on 2008-03-26.
  3. ^ Briggs, Jim. "Brookside Lakeside" (Reprinted on James College's official website), York University News Sheet, October 1987. Retrieved on 2008-03-26. 
  4. ^ Williams, Ruth. "Brookside on Campus" (Reprinted on James College's official website), Nouse. Retrieved on 2008-03-26. 
  5. ^ "Episode 529". Written by John Oakden. Brookside. Channel 4. 1987-11-23.
  6. ^ "Episode 532". Written by Barry Woodward. Brookside. Channel 4. 1987-12-01.

[edit] External links