ULTRA-VIOLENT BLOODFEST following exploits of titular ex-con porn peddler (IAIN CUTHBERTSON) in semi-sequel to BUDGIE. Basically, Charlie causing one hell of a roustabout on mean Glasgow streets. Fell off air thanks to ITV strike after just two episodes; relieved network bosses readily shelved remaining parts for ever. RIKKI FULTON and TONY OSOBA cleared up the mess.
Glenn A
March 3, 2017 at 9:28 pm
Not in the Border region, though, I can remember the entire season being shown in the spring of 1980 late on a Saturday night as the channel’s attempt to show something different enough to tempt over non football fans from BBC1 and people who didn’t want to watch a thirties horror on BBC 2. Problem was, apart from one amusing scene where Endell buys a rust bucket Cortina and commandeers Tony Osoba to be his chauffeur, there were no laughs and the local rag considered Charles Endell Esquire to be the worst show of 1980.
Glenn A
March 6, 2017 at 8:30 pm
Might have been a bit harsh on the show, I’ve been watching a few clips and Charles Endell Esquire was mildly amusing, but a new Budgie it wasn’t and was quickly forgotten, although TV anoraks are starting to sing its praises.
Richardpd
April 28, 2024 at 4:37 pm
This series was a bit unlucky to be around just before Minder was launched, being a similar lightish crime caper with the added star power of Dennis Waterman fresh from The Sweeney.
Glenn Aylett
April 30, 2024 at 9:22 pm
Minder wasn’t an overnight success, as the first series had a mixture of dark stories, like the man who was trying to destroy a horse racing stables, along with the funnier ones, and viewers couldn’t understand what it was about. It was only when Arthur Daley was given a bigger role, the Winchester Club was introduced, and the humour took centre stange that people really warmed to Minder.
OTOH Endell was doomed as it was hit by an ITV strike, Adam Faith wasn’t interested and it wasn’t very funny, although it had a few moments that were quite good.
Richardpd
April 30, 2024 at 10:41 pm
Yes Minder took some time to settle into it’s classic formula, I heard someone high up at Thames had to pull some strings to get the first series repeated to give it another chance when the ratings were lower than expected.