Hope and Glory (TV series)

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Hope and Glory
DVD cover
Format	Drama
Created by	Lucy Gannon
Directed by	Juliet May
Starring	Lenny Henry Amanda Redman Clive Russell Gillian Kearney
No. of episodes	16
Production
Producer(s)	Nicolas Brown
Running time	50mins
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Original run	22 June 1999 – 5 November 2000
Chronology
Related shows	Waterloo Road
External links
IMDb profile

Hope and Glory is a BBC television drama about a comprehensive school struggling with financial, staffing and disciplinary problems, and faced with closure. It starred Lenny Henry as maverick "Superhead" Ian George, enlisted to turn around the school's fortunes.

It was created by Lucy Gannon, who had previously created Soldier Soldier, and was inspired by a real head teacher named William Atkinson.[1][2]

The first episode saw Ian George, the head of an exclusive school, turn down a Governmental job to take over as the Head at run-down Hope Park Comprehensive. He is confronted by disaffected students and staff. The sixth form centre was derelict after it was torched a few years previously, and the music room is full of expensive equipment, unused because the school could not attract a music teacher. Outgoing head (Peter Davison) breaks down during his farewell speech and delivers an emotional rant against the students, telling them how worthless they are.

With the help of Deputy Head "Debs" (Redman), George rectified these issues. He identified the talents of rebellious students, and the music equipment was finally used.

Romances developed between Ian & Debs, and Tony (Lee Warburton) & Sally (Sara Stephens).

Philip Whitchurch played Derek, the chair of governors, who was desperate to save the school. The refurbished and replenished library was subsequently dedicated to his dead son. The Chief Education Officer was played by Richard Griffiths.

The four episodes of the second season were transmitted before the summer holidays (27 June - 18 July 2000), with the third series and final six episodes transmitted in the autumn of the same year (4 October - 5 November). [3]

Langleybury School in Three Rivers, Hertfordshire, was used for the school. [4]

The first series was driven by the incidental music which powerfully set the mood for the drama: a soundtrack CD was released.