Jossy's Giants
GenreComedy
Written bySid Waddell
Directed byEdward Pugh
StarringJim Barclay
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes10
Production
Running time25 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC 1
Release23 April 1986 (1986-04-23) –
8 April 1987 (1987-04-08)

Jossy's Giants is a children's footballing comedy drama that ran on BBC1 between 23 April 1986 and 8 April 1987.[1] The show's plot centred on a boys' football team, the Glipton Grasshoppers, and their enthusiastic Geordie manager Joswell 'Jossy' Blair. The show was written by darts commentator and television personality Sid Waddell, himself a native of Newcastle upon Tyne. Ten episodes were made. The producer and director Edward Pugh later became an executive producer and ran the Children's Programmes Department at BBC Manchester. The theme music was written by Mike Amatt. Football scenes were shot at a since demolished Oldham Town FC site off Middleton Road, Chadderton, exterior scenes were shot in and around Stalybridge, and the studio material was shot at BBC Oxford Road.

Stars

Many of the child actors from the series have since left acting, although Jim Barclay, who played Jossy Blair, has appeared on My Family and Blessed. Julian Walsh, who played Harvey, has appeared in Sorted and The Street. Walsh was also the face of the Warburton's Bread TV advertising campaign in 2007.

External videos
video icon Jossys Giants visit St James' Park

Julie Foy, who played Tracey Gaunt, went on to appear in Press Gang and Coronation Street and acted on stage and in film. In 2017 Julie was Assistant Producer on the short film The Silent Child which won Best Live Action Short Film at the Academy Awards. Suzanne Hall, who appeared in four episodes as Harvey's girlfriend Opal, went on to appear in Hollyoaks .

Cast

Character Played by Notes
Jossy Blair Jim Barclay Profligate manager of the Glipton Grasshoppers and fiancé to Glenda Fletcher
Albert Hanson Christopher Burgess Blair's assistant manager and business partner
Tracey Gaunt Julie Foy The Giants' number one fan
Bob Nelson John Judd Jack of all trades and father to Ross
Ross Nelson Mark Gillard Glipton's star turn
Ricky Sweet Paul Kirkbright Captain of the team
Harvey McGuinn Julian Walsh Goalkeeper
Glenn Rix Stuart McGuinness One of two outlandishly coiffured strikers
Ian 'Selly' Sellick Ian Sheppard As above
Wayne Chapman Oliver Orr Club stalwart
Daz Lee Quarmby Bright young thing
Cllr Glenda Fletcher Jenny McCracken Jossy Blair's fiancée

Releases

Jossy's Giants was released on DVD in 2018 by Simply Media.

References

  1. ↑ "BBC - Comedy Guide - Jossy's Giants". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
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