Following four friends from Newcastle, England over a thirty year period, Our Friends In The North is one of the most ambitious programmes ever produced by the BBC. While detailing the lives of the four main characters Our Friends In The North shed light on many controversies and incidents that plagued the UK in the 1970s, '80s and '90s (including the miners' strike) and showed how they affected communities and individuals of various social standings. The critically acclaimed programme is also noted for launching the careers of Gina McKee, Mark Strong, Christopher Ecclestone and, significantly, Daniel Craig. The future 007 played Geordie, an initially successful man who becomes a homeless, drunken vagrant when he falls on hard times. Intricate, political and extremely well-written, Our Friends In The North is sadly rarely brought up in conversation concerning great TV shows. It deserves to be. Arguably on of the best British TV dramas of all time.
