Seminal BBC series Boys from the Black Stuff on BBC 4 tonight at 9:35. They kicked off with Blackstuff last week, which I hadn’t seen before. I didn’t realise they were showing the whole series. It certainly wasn’t in the continuity announcement afterwards.

This is one of those generation defining TV events which pop up avery so often. This defined the 1980s, and the cast went on to bigger and better things. They are all mostly recognisable, but much younger than some here may know them.

Bernard Hill: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Hill

Michael Angelis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Angelis

Alan Igbon: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Igbon

Tom Georgeson: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Georgeson

The only TV series I can think of which did the same thing was Our Friends in the North which brought together Christopher Eccleston, Daniel Craig, Mark Strong and Gina McKee. I really can’t think of anything more recent which has carried as much weight as these. MAybe we the upcoming period of austerity will give writers something decent to get their teeth into.

Anyho, watch BFTBS - it’s a series, and will require a few weeks’ investment, but it‘s well worth it. And, yes, Yosser Hughes is a real person. I came across his type a few times whilst at the DHSS.

Just noticed that Christopher Smith's film Triangle is on the SyFy channel at 10 pm tonight. Well worth a look, especially for the Melissa George fans among you.