Set in the early eighties, Boys from the Black Stuff is a true masterpiece by Alan Bleasdale who pulls no punches in showing how hard the working poor had it.. each episode is dedicated to a character and each has their own troubles but the standout character is Yosser. Mentally unstable from the bad luck he has had we see him slowly spiral into a dark place.. Bernard Hill is outstanding as Yosser and makes you feel for the character..
The series is an indictment against the government of the day that actively spent lots of time and money to hunt people down that were claiming benefits and working on the side, purely because the benefits were not enough to live on..
Usually the series is linked with Thatchers government but she hadn't come into power when it was aired.. nevertheless a lot of her decisions had similar effects to the working classes..
I can go on and on as this series is magical and needs to be watched, having recently rewatched it I think it has aged well..
Check it out!!
"I'm Desperate Dan"
Review of Boys from the Blackstuff
