Lost Gems: The Ritz (1987)

Bouncers singing Cole Porter songs to camera

11 June 2010 Rob Buckley Classic TV, UK TV 9 Comments

The Ritz

You know what British TV is sorely lacking right now? Entirely studio-based comedy-dramas in which Northern bouncers have relationship issues, talk to camera and sing the hits of Cole Porter. We need more of these, I feel, since The Ritz hasn’t been on in over 20 years.

The Ritz was based on the stage play, Bouncers, also written by John Godber, and was a six-part BBC series set in newly established night club The Ritz. Three bouncers (Chike played by Paul Rider, Skodge played by Andrew Dunn and Kenny played by Andrew Livingstone) helped to protect the club from rival club owner Mad Mick (Richard Ridings), while simultaneously juggling their love lives. It was very weird, but very popular, so when it ended, a sequel series called The Continental got commissioned.

But don’t take my word for its enjoyability: watch an episode of it on YouTube.

Author

  • Rob Buckley

    I’m Rob Buckley, a journalist who writes for UK media magazines that most people have never heard of although you might have heard me on the podcast Lockdown Land or Radio 5 Live’s Saturday Edition or Afternoon Edition. I’ve edited Dreamwatch, Sprocket and Cambridge Film Festival Daily; been technical editor for TV producers magazine Televisual; reviewed films for the short-lived newspaper Cambridge Insider; written features for the even shorter-lived newspaper Soho Independent; and was regularly sarcastic about television on the blink-and-you-missed-it “web site for urban hedonists” The Tribe. Since going freelance, I've contributed to the likes of Broadcast, Total Content + Media, Action TV, Off The Telly, Action Network, TV Scoop and The Custard TV.

    View all posts