Cockles (BBC-1 1984, James Grout, Joan Sims)

Comedy drama series Cockles focused on middle aged Arthur Dumpton who when he is made redundant decides to move to the seaside resort of Cocklesea where he spent many of his childhood holidays.

Arthur meets up with old boyhood friend Jacques du Bois who persuades him to invest his redundancy money in the Sunnysides Guest House run by Jacques and his wife Gloria (whom Arthur was in love with as a teenager).

production details
UK / BBC-1 / 6×55 minute episodes / Broadcast 4 January – 8 February 1984 – Wednesdays @ 8.05pm

Writer: Douglas Livingstone / Producer: Ruth Boswell / Director: Barry Davis

cast
JAMES GROUT as Arthur Dumpton
NORMAN RODWAY as Jacques Du Bois
JOAN SIMS as Gloria Du Bois
ELIZABETH EDMONDS as Emma
FANNY CARBY as Madame Rosa
JANE LOWE as Mabel Gutteridge

THE EPISODES 4 January – 8 February 1984
1. TOE IN THE WATER
2. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
3. MERMAIDS
4. KING NEPTUNE
5. DAVY JONES’S LOCKER
6. THE OLD FRENCH PACKET

Head of film reviews at The Viewers Guide with an erudite, insightful, slightly sardonic, deep appreciation for classic cinema. Has a habit of quoting obscure lines from old films in everyday conversation. He keeps a meticulously organized film logbook. He's a bit of a tea snob.