King Street Junior

King Street Junior
Genre Radio comedy
Running time 30 mins.
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Starring Peter Davison (series 1—2)
Karl Howman (series 3—10)
James Grout
Created by Jim Eldridge
Written by Jim Eldridge (66 episodes)
Paul Copley (3 episodes)
Richard Stoneman (3 eps)
Martin Davies (2 episodes)
Andy Rashleigh {1 episode}
Ivan Shakespeare (1 ep)
Produced by John Fawcett Wilson
Original release 25 March 1985 (1985-03-25) – 2 November 1998 (1998-11-02)
No. of series 10
No. of episodes 76
King Street Junior Revisited
Genre Radio comedy
Running time 30 mins.
Country of origin United Kingdom
Language(s) English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Starring Carolyn Pickles
Created by Jim Eldridge
Written by Jim Eldridge
Produced by John Fawcett Wilson
Original release 26 April 2002 (2002-04-26) – 2005 (2005)
No. of series 4
No. of episodes 24

King Street Junior is a radio comedy about a junior school broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between March 1985 and November 1998.[1] For most of its run, it was broadcast in Radio 4's lunchtime comedy slot at 12.27, later series moving to a morning broadcast.[2] A continuation of the series renamed King Street Junior Revisited started in 2002 and continued until 2005. The series is written by Jim Eldridge.

The cast has included Peter Davison,[3] James Grout and Karl Howman.

Research for the show was done at Newtown Road School in Carlisle.[4]

All series have been repeated on BBC 7 and Radio 4 Extra.

RadioHaha Summary

"An unassuming Radio 4 institution, this character sitcom-cum-light drama serial followed the working lives of a group of teachers at a small junior school in a multiracial area, and came from the pen of Jim Eldridge, himself a former teacher." 1

Source:Radiohaha, the online encyclopaedia of contemporary British radio comedy

Book

Jim Eldridge, who created the show and wrote 87 episodes, also wrote a 2006 book, King Street Junior – The Inside Story, describing the history of the show including the behind-the-scenes conflicts.[4]

Cast

Episodes

Series 1

Broadcast in 1985 The cast included Peter Davison as Eric Brown. James Grout as headmaster Mr. Beeston.

All episodes written by Jim Eldridge

  • The New School Year Starts Here
  • Redeployment
  • Crime And Punishment
  • The Principle Of The Thing
  • Scale Points
  • Language Units
  • Christmas At King Street

Series 2

Broadcast in 1987

  • Priorities
  • Dispute
  • Barn Dance
  • Problem Parents
  • The Sound Of Music
  • Assemblies
  • Parents' Evening
  • The Outing
  • Sports Day
  • Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Series 3

Broadcast in 1988. Peter Davison's character is no longer in the show, having taken a position at another school; from here on is Karl Howman as Philip Sims.

  • Back To School
  • Fireworks
  • The Spirit Of Christmas
  • The History Game
  • Pressures
  • Facts Of Life
  • Under Canvas
  • The School Fete

Series 4

  • It's Only Rock'n'Roll
  • Closure
  • Opting Out
  • Fundraising
  • Health
  • The Succession
  • It's Not Cricket
  • That Old Time Religion

Series 5

Broadcast in 1990

  • D-Day Minus One
  • Is This A Career I See Before Me?
  • Good Times, Bad Times
  • Choices
  • Bon Voyage
  • Work
  • The Reunion

Series 6

  • In Real Terms
  • Travellers
  • Safety First
  • A Good Read
  • Emergency
  • A Day At The Centre
  • Thursday's Child
  • The Games Children Play

Series 7

Broadcast in 1992

  • Back In The Jug Again
  • Witch Hunt
  • Is There A Father Christmas?
  • Fatal Attraction
  • Horses For Courses
  • Beside The Seaside
  • Taking The Rap
  • Endings & Beginnings

Series 8

Back after a few years in 1995

  • Mr Chips - by Paul Copley
  • Settling In
  • Beginnings & Endings
  • Left Out, Roped In
  • Confusion - by Richard Stoneman
  • Internal Enquiries

Series 9

  • Responsibilities by Richard Stoneman
  • Danger Zone by Jim Eldridge
  • A Bridge To Afar by Paul Copley
  • Relative Value by Andy Rashleigh
  • With Love by Jim Eldridge
  • Crossed Lines Richard Stoneman
  • Financial Times by Paul Copley
  • Gridlocked by Jim Eldridge

Series 10

Broadcast in 1998

  • Proposals
  • The Rivals
  • Accusations
  • Target Practice
  • Incidental Music
  • Final Thoughts

King Street Junior Revisited Series 1

  • A Good Heart
  • The Real Thing
  • The System
  • Oh No It Isn't
  • Waiting for OFSTED
  • Jour de Fête

King Street Junior Revisited Series 2

  • Going Through the Roof
  • The Spirit of Xmas
  • Time
  • Love All
  • Priorities
  • Play On

King Street Junior Revisited Series 3

  • Half Term Blues
  • Ice
  • Filling In
  • Rumours
  • Flaming June
  • This is your Life

King Street Junior Revisited Series 4

  • Another Year, Another Head
  • In the News
  • It's Behind You
  • To the Barricades
  • Turning the Tables
  • Centenary

References

  1. ↑ Roy Fisher; Ann Harris; Christine Jarvis (2008). Education in Popular Culture: Telling Tales on Teachers And Learners. Routledge. p. 7.
  2. ↑ Elmes, Simon (2009). And Now on Radio 4: A Celebration of the World's Best Radio Station. Random House. p. 132.
  3. ↑ Slide, Anthony (1996). Some Joe You Don't Know: An American Biographical Guide to 100 British Television Personalities. Greenwood. p. 57.
  4. 1 2 "Jim lifts the lid on top radio drama". Cumberland News. 26 May 2006. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013.
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