| Trawlermen | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Factual |
| Format | Documentary |
| Narrated by | Ken Stott Peter Capaldi |
| Theme music composer | Carl harms |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 20 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Michael Houldey |
| Running time | 30–60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | BBC One |
| Original run | 31 July 2006 – 21 July 2010 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Trawlermen is a BBC television documentary programme focusing on the work of a number of trawler crews based in Peterhead and Fraserburgh.[1] The programme is narrated by the actors Ken Stott and Peter Capaldi. Four series and a special have been broadcast, totalling 20 episodes. The first series of 5 episodes was first broadcast in 2006 and was stripped across 7.00pm on weekdays. A further 5 episodes were first aired in 2007, 6 in 2008 and a fourth series of 3 episodes in 2009. A special was broadcast in 2010.
The TV stations Dave and Watch both repeat some episodes the programme.
Contents |
Amity 2 - PD 177 - Skipper:Jimmy Buchan
Ocean Venture 2 - PD 240 - Skippers:John Buchan Snr & John Buchan Jnr
Arcane - N907 - Skipper:Charlie McBride
Fruitful Harvest - PD 247 - Skipper:Sandy Watt
Fruitful Bough - PD 109 - Skipper:James West
New Dawn - FR 470 - Skippers:Chaz Bruce & Martin Bruce
Ryanwood - FR 307 - Skipper:Kevin West
Renown - FR 246 - Skipper:James Buchan
Genesis - BF 505 - Skipper:Alan Watt
Chloe May - FR 983 - Skipper:John Alexander
Boy John - INS 110 - Skipper:Drew McLelland
Rosebloom - INS 353 - Skipper:Sandy McLelland
Chris Andra - FR 228 - Skippers:Wilie Tait & Peter Tait
Viking Monarch - K 58 - Skipper:John Musgrave
Sunrise - FR 359 - Skipper:John Steven
Ocean Dawn - FR 347 - Skipper:Ian Ritchie
Radiant Star - LK 71 - Skipper:Victor Lawrenson
Heather K - K 77 - Skipper:Heddle Costie
Starlight - PD 786 - Skipper:James Watt
Starlight Rays - PD 230 - Skipper:Alec Baird
In August 2008, New Dawn deckhand Reynaldo Benitez from the Philippines was swept overboard, several months after filming of the third series of Trawlermen. Brave skipper Chaz Bruce dived into the sea to try and rescue him but sadly 29 year old Reynaldo was lost to sea.
On 27 April 2009, Kevin West, one of the trawlermen featured in the series, was swept overboard and presumed dead. His body has not been found.[2]
There was some controversy in the first series of Trawlermen when the BBC screened several episodes with subtitles for English and non Scottish viewers because of the broad Doric and Broch dialects of some of the fishing crew.
Ahead of the second series, Mark Wright for The Stage described the programme as an "excellent human-interest documentary series", and said that "one has to admire the calm manner of the crews as they work gruelling shifts in horrible, horrible conditions."[3] Sam Wollaston for The Guardian said: "I love Trawlermen [...] But, hell, it's miserable."[4] The Independent's Thomas Sutcliffe closed his review by saying: "If you've been grumbling about the weather recently or worrying about the credit crunch, this series should restore a little perspective."[5]
In January 2007 John Buchan, skipper of the Ocean Venture, won an award from Seafood Scotland in recognition for supplying UK fish and chip shops with top quality, responsibly caught fish. The award was part of the Fish and Chip Shop of the Year awards which Seafood Scotland sponsors. The award was presented to his son John Junior who skippers his vessel on alternate trips.
In 2010, the series won the BAFTA Television Craft award for sound in a factual programme.[6] The series was nominated for the same award in 2008.[7]