Prospects(1986)
DramaComedy
First Air Date: 1986-02-19
Average Runtime: 1h 0m
Rating: 7.0
Votes: 4
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 12
Prospects is a British television comedy drama series that was written by Alan Janes and originally shown on Channel 4 in 1986. Created by Euston Films who had a pedigree of producing successful, gritty drama such as The Sweeney and Minder, it followed the exploits of two East End 'geezer' characters - Jimmy 'Pincy' Pince played by Gary Olsen and Billy played by Brian Bovell and their trials and tribulations of making a living in London's Isle of Dogs. Comprising 12 episodes Prospects - with a comic slant, dealt with many of the major issues affecting British society at the height of the "Thatcherite" '80's including unemployment, crime, poverty, regeneration, social change and racism. Prospects gained a cult following and ratings wise it performed well above expectation for Channel 4. At that time Channel Four received a large subsidy from the rival commercial network ITV in exchange for the right to sell airtime; this gave ITV a significant input into the management of the station. The success of Prospects and the fact that it was produced by a subsidiary of the ITV network's largest station Thames Television meant it was moved to a 9pm prime-time repeat slot on ITV in the Spring/Summer of 1987. This fuelled rumours that the network wanted to develop Prospects into a long-running comedy drama series. However despite seeing potential ITV declined the opportunity to develop it beyond the original first series.
Keywords
london, englandeast end
Available on
Free
Hoopla
FawesomeSeasons & Episodes
Season 1
Episodes: 12E01
The p to s day
Air Date: 1986-02-19
Whilst Pincey and Billy collect their giros, they plan their next get rich quick scheme. Pincey has the idea of a da...
E02
Partners in brine
Air Date: 1986-02-26
Pincey buys the new company car-a hearse! They swap a few dozen boxes of pickled olives in brine for dolls in nationa...
E03
Uncle Harry's system
Air Date: 1986-03-05
Pincey thinks he's onto a sure winner with a betting system his Uncle Harry invented, but at the greyhound track thin...
E04
Dirty weekend
Air Date: 1986-03-12
Pincey and Billy find work on a building site and come across a racist bully and try and put one over on him. Bill...
E05
Rodent avengers
Air Date: 1986-03-19
Pincey and Billy become pest control experts, and take the work of another rat-catcher who does his best to get his o...
E06
Standing on your own one foot
Air Date: 1986-03-26
Pincey and Billy decide to leave the Isle Of Dogs and rent a flat on Roman Road, Bow, East London. The landlord is a...
E07
Subterranean pig sick blues
Air Date: 1986-04-02
Pincey gets a job as a car park attendant, and discovers an underground tunnel that leads to what he thinks is the do...
E08
Flying Tonight
Air Date: N/A
Pincey is saving up for his own hot dog van,but in the meantime is working at 'The Happy Fryer' chip shop with George...
E09
Four men in a boat
Air Date: 1986-04-16
Billy and Pincey get casual work as waiters on a wedding boat.
E10
Follow the yellow brick lane
Air Date: 1986-04-23
Billy falls in love with Bev a headstrong singer dreaming of pop stardom.
E11
Running All The Way (Part One)
Air Date: N/A
No episode overview available.
E12
Running All The Way (Part Two)
Air Date: N/A
No episode overview available.
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