They didn't. It was commissioned by Central TV for ITV. BBC reprised it 20 years later for series 3 & 4.
I've never heard that and I have a book all about the making of AWP. But as Clement & Frenais had already done the Likely Lads and Porridge for the beeb, it's more than possible they took it to them first. Saying that, it was their own production company who made it with Central, which suggests they wanted to go independent with it.
You're a bit behind if you are watching a recording on the DRAMA channel. That episode was a couple of weeks ago. The lads have already had a few adventures in Spain. I love watching this programme and never miss the repeats. They keep putting them on, and I still watch them. That's the thing about classic television. It is WORTH WATCHING over and over again. You can't say that about anything being broadcast currently, can you. Imagine endless repeats of Ant or Dec's this or that, or The Only Way is Essex, or similar drivel. I will watch every episode that is broadcast as many times as they care to broadcast them. Still find the comedy bits funny, even though it's meant to be a drama. What a shame there will never be any more of them. Now the BBC or somebody need to dig through the vaults and repeat other Jimmy Nail stuff - Crocodile Shoes and especially Spender.
uncanny this is posted, I flicked onto ITV this afternoon and saw Auf Wiedersehen My Pet on - I thought get in I will watch this, turned out to be about re-homing actual pets!!!
jimmy nail was up for the part of denis ( tim healy was on the same interview and took nail in his car) but was hung over and argued and started swearing at someone and lefrenais just laughed and said " OZ" its in jimmy nails book, A NORTHERN SOUL, cracking read
I have the dvd box set at my Mam's. Before that, I had the vhs box set. I've watched them dozens of times and know the lines before they say them!!
Ah that explains it. I am the same by the way..... Barry turns up after the rest at the Barley Mow asking for a room and stroppy wing commander demands payment. Barry: "Alright squire, I have the wherewithal". I like Barry and can't hear his name mentioned without saying it in my head the way his future Russian wife did: "Buwarrry" Trarrforabit
Barry has all the best lines! And the most interesting character development in the 20 year interval. "Would you like to come back to our hut?"
Yes you're right. It was interesting watching him grow from a complete radish into a successful businessman. Funny how they always got him into scrapes. The incident with Castro's bath in Cuba was a good one where he gets left minding it in the jungle. And his Count of Monte Cristo spell in prison before being bailed out by ex-Russian wife. I will still watch the later ones over and over but the earlier ones were the best. Why on earth didn't Dennis stay with Dagmar? Big, big mistake. Then again there would have been no more AWP I suppose.