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Our Friends in the North

1984 (Season 1, Episode 7)
TV-MA
TV Episode | 66 min | Drama, History

As the miners' strike is dominates all political life across the country, Mary has become Leader of Newcastle City Council and is actively supporting the miners, but her son Anthony finds himself on the frontline of the conflict having ...See moreAs the miners' strike is dominates all political life across the country, Mary has become Leader of Newcastle City Council and is actively supporting the miners, but her son Anthony finds himself on the frontline of the conflict having become a policeman. Nicky, whose career as a photographer has begun to take off, works with Eddie Wells to investigate the involvement of local businesses in breaking the strike at the same time as a now heavily balding Tosker is doing deals with these men. At first the relationship between the miners and the local police is friendly, but when large numbers of police from the London Met are sent in as reinforcements and there is an attempt by scab workers to enter the pit, a riot ensues in the village. Anthony is incredibly disturbed by the violence he witnesses, in particular the brutality of the London police officers. Feeling conflicted loyalties, he requests to be taken off policing the strikers, in spite of the threatened damage to his career prospects. Mary tends to the wounds of Nicky, who was injured by a policeman whilst taking photos of the riot on the picket line, and they end up sleeping together. Mary offers to defend two miners charged with rioting in court for no charge and pressures Anthony to testify against the police and on behalf of the miners, knowing that that would swing the verdict. His decision to testify at the court leads to a decision by the prosecution to largely lessen the charges against the miners so that he does not have to testify. This is seen as a victory for the two miners, but Anthony is warned that he has destroyed any chances he had of advancement in the police. Florrie and Felix have become in increasing danger of being attacked and are frequently pestered and berated by local youths, including young Christopher Collins. When he goes to complain to Collins' family, Felix is viciously attacked by his stepfather and his Rottweiler, ending up in hospital. Nicky arranges for his mother to move to a bungalow to make things easier for the two of them, but when Felix comes out of hospital it becomes clear that the attack has only worsened his mental deterioration. Tosker, happy in his new life with Elaine, has begun to become a wealthy man through his acquaintances with members of the business community, including Alan Roe. He eventually decides to join the Freemasons. Nicky and Mary, at the behest of her children, propose to one another and agree to marry. Written by GusF See less
Read more: Plot summary
Writer
Peter Flannery (written by)
Composer
Cinematographer
Editor
Casting Directors
Production Designer
Status
Edit Released
Updated Feb 26, 1996

Release date
Feb 26, 1996 (United Kingdom)
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Cast

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30 cast members
Name Known for
Christopher Eccleston
Nicky Hutchinson Nicky Hutchinson   See fewer
Daniel Casey
Anthony Cox Anthony Cox   See fewer
David Bradley
Eddie Wells Eddie Wells   See fewer
David Whitaker
Toby Roddy Toby Roddy   See fewer
Derek Walmsley
Barry Roddy Barry Roddy   See fewer
Trevor Fox
Harry Harry   See fewer
Larry Lamb
Alan Roe Alan Roe   See fewer
Peter Vaughan
Felix Hutchinson Felix Hutchinson   See fewer
Freda Dowie
Florrie Hutchinson Florrie Hutchinson   See fewer
Gina McKee
Mary Cox Mary Cox   See fewer
Stephanie Putson
Bernadette Cox Bernadette Cox   See fewer
Craig Conway
Christopher Collins Christopher Collins   See fewer
Peter Halliday
Speaker Speaker   See fewer
Saskia Wickham
Claudia Seabrook Claudia Seabrook   See fewer
Brian Hogg
Scab Miner Scab Miner   See fewer
David Marriner
Police Constable Police Constable   See fewer
Norman Mills
Nottingham Miner Nottingham Miner   See fewer
Mark Strong
Tosker Cox Tosker Cox   See fewer
Andrew Tansey
Sergeant Sergeant   See fewer
Sean Gilder
PC Lukoschek PC Lukoschek   See fewer
Steven Bronowski
PC Rose PC Rose   See fewer
Amber Styles
Rita Roddy Rita Roddy   See fewer
David Lyon
Commander Commander   See fewer
The Swamp Snakes
Cajun Band Cajun Band   See fewer
Jill Riddiford
Mrs Collins Mrs Collins   See fewer
David MacCreedy
Man with Dog Man with Dog   See fewer
Clare Welch
Magistrate Magistrate   See fewer
Colin MacLachlan
Superintendent Ottey Superintendent Ottey   See fewer
Julia Barrie
Barrister (as Julia Lloyd Barrie) Barrister (as Julia Lloyd Barrie)   See fewer
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