Salad Days (ITV 1983, Gwen Cherrell, Ann Beach)

Salad Days was a musical comedy subtitled ‘Summer and sunshine and falling in love’. A summer heatwave, a piano with powers, a boy, a girl and a tramp soon have the whole of London dancing.

Salad Days debuted at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre in 1954 and it later ran for more than five years at the Vaudeville Theatre, London.

Cast: Gwen Cherrell as Lady Raeburn; Margo Cunningham as Aunt Prue; Ann Beach as Timothy’s mother; Arthur White as Inspector; Fred Evans as Pc Boot; Simon Green as Timothy; Harry Jones as Troppo; Osmund Bullock as Nigel; Ian Richardson as Uncle Zed; Alexis Swithin as Tramp; Julia Swift as Asphynxia; Amanda Bairstow as Fiona

Performers: Josephine Gordon; Stanley Fleet; John Willett; William Lawford; Julia Lewis; Shelagh Dey; Terry Sheppard; Jo Thomas; Sue Wright

Writer and Music: Julian Slade / Producer: Pat Sandys / Choreographer: Dougie Squires / Book and Lyrics by Dorothy Reynolds and Julian Slade / Musical direction by Neil Rhoden / Designer: Seamus Flannery / Executive Producer: David Cunliffe / Director: John Bruce

UK / ITV -Yorkshire / 1×90 minute episode / Broadcast Sunday 2 Jan 1983 at 9.45pm

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.