Brush Strokes
Encyclopedia
Brush Strokes is a British
television sitcom, broadcast on BBC
television from 1986 to 1991. Written by Esmonde and Larbey
and set in South London
, it depicted the (mostly) amorous adventures of a good-looking, wisecracking house painter, Jacko (Karl Howman
). There were 40 episodes spread over 5 series.
), who was married to Jacko's sister Jean (Nicky Croydon). He lives with his sister and brother-in-law in a similar set up to Stan Butler's(Reg Varney
) character in On the Buses
. Jacko also shares an anti-authority humour. In this case the butt of his humour is his boss, Lionel Bainbridge.
Gary Waldhorn
(later to star in The Vicar of Dibley
) played Lionel Bainbridge. Elizabeth Counsell played his wife, Veronica, who naturally had a crush on Jacko. The Bainbridges had a daughter called Lesley who is a spoilt daddy's girl. Lesley was Jacko's girlfriend at the start of series one. She was played by two actresses during the life of the show: Kim Thomson
in the first two series and Erika Hoffman
from series three onward.
Jacko is a ladies' man
. Much of the humour comes from his attempts at picking up women whilst around town on painting jobs - much to the disdain of his sister, his boss, and his boss' secretary.
Jackie Lye played Sandra, the secretary
at work who became Jacko's fiancée in series two (although the wedding
never happened - but they still went on the honeymoon, because they'd paid for it). Other familiar faces that have appeared in episodes include Janine Duvitski
, Tracie Bennett
and Pippa Haywood
.
The show is remembered by many for the slow-off-the-mark pub landlord, Elmo Putney (Howard Lew Lewis
) who ran the pub where Jacko and friends took their lunch breaks. In later episodes, Jacko unsuccessfully started his own company, "Splosh" - changing the pub into a wine bar - losing all the regular customers without picking up any newer ones. Later Elmo leaves for Australia to set up another business in Alice Springs - which because of its name he thinks must be near a very large body of water. Elmo became a rich man after his dog discovered opals in Australia. Elmo returned and bought Jacko's failing company and turned it into a wine bar, where everything was decorated in pink. Jacko returned to Bainbridge's, where Veronica was now in charge after Lionel's death.
. Released as a single in November 1986, it reached number 13 in the UK singles chart.
Howard Lew Lewis also appeared with Erika Hoffman in the 1988 Hat Trick Productions
comedy series for Channel 4
, Chelmsford 123
, where the two played "Blag" and "Gargamadua" respectively. Lewis' character in Chelmsford 123 was virtually identical to his character in Brush Strokes.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television sitcom, broadcast on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television from 1986 to 1991. Written by Esmonde and Larbey
Esmonde and Larbey
John Gilbert Esmonde and Bob Larbey were a British television comedy scriptwriting duo from the 1960s to the 1990s, creating popular situation comedies such as Please Sir! and The Good Life.-Larbey's life:Larbey was born in Clapham, South London in 1934 and made his writing debut for...
and set in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
, it depicted the (mostly) amorous adventures of a good-looking, wisecracking house painter, Jacko (Karl Howman
Karl Howman
Karl Howman is an English actor and also a British voice-over artist.He is well known but notable to many television viewers for his work as Jacko in the mid-1980's and early-90's BBC TV sitcom Esmonde and Larbey's Brush Strokes and as the title character in the series Mulberry .However Howman first...
). There were 40 episodes spread over 5 series.
Premise
Jacko works as a house painter alongside his brother-in-law, Eric (Mike WallingMike Walling
Mike Walling is an English comic actor and screenwriter.He began his career as an English teacher at Holland Park School in London. In the mid-1970s, while still a teacher, he won a British TV talent contest, New Faces, with a comedy double act called "Mr Carline & Mr Walling." He immediately...
), who was married to Jacko's sister Jean (Nicky Croydon). He lives with his sister and brother-in-law in a similar set up to Stan Butler's(Reg Varney
Reg Varney
Reginald Alfred "Reg" Varney was an English actor, most notable for his role as Stan Butler in 1970s TV sitcom On the Buses.-Early life:...
) character in On the Buses
On The Buses
On the Buses was a British situation comedy created by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney which was broadcast in the UK from 1969 to 1973. The writers' previous successes with The Rag Trade and Meet the Wife were for the BBC, but the Corporation rejected On the Buses, not seeing much comedy potential...
. Jacko also shares an anti-authority humour. In this case the butt of his humour is his boss, Lionel Bainbridge.
Gary Waldhorn
Gary Waldhorn
Gary Waldhorn is a veteran English actor, known for his role as David Horton in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, but who has also had a notable television and theatre career.-Theatre:...
(later to star in The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley is a British sitcom created by Richard Curtis and written for its lead actress, Dawn French, by Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, with contributions from Kit Hesketh-Harvey. It aired from 1994 to 2007...
) played Lionel Bainbridge. Elizabeth Counsell played his wife, Veronica, who naturally had a crush on Jacko. The Bainbridges had a daughter called Lesley who is a spoilt daddy's girl. Lesley was Jacko's girlfriend at the start of series one. She was played by two actresses during the life of the show: Kim Thomson
Kim Thomson
Kim Thomson is an English actress who has appeared on stage, television and film since the early 1980s in both the United Kingdom and the United States.-Early life:...
in the first two series and Erika Hoffman
Erika Hoffman
Erika Hoffman is an American/British actress who starred as Lesley Bainbridge in the BBC comedy Brush Strokes from series 3 onwards, when she took over the role from Kim Thomson...
from series three onward.
Jacko is a ladies' man
Lothario
Lothario is a male first name which came to connote an unscrupulous seducer of women.In The Impertinent Curiosity, a story-within-the-story in Don Quixote , by Miguel de Cervantes, a man named Anselmo coerces Lothario, his faithful friend, to test the virtue of Anselmo's wife, Camila...
. Much of the humour comes from his attempts at picking up women whilst around town on painting jobs - much to the disdain of his sister, his boss, and his boss' secretary.
Jackie Lye played Sandra, the secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
at work who became Jacko's fiancée in series two (although the wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
never happened - but they still went on the honeymoon, because they'd paid for it). Other familiar faces that have appeared in episodes include Janine Duvitski
Janine Duvitski
Janine Duvitski is an English actress, known for her roles as Jane Edwards in Waiting for God and Pippa Trench in One Foot in the Grave. She also created and played the role of Angela in Mike Leigh's play Abigail's Party.-Personal life:Duvitski was born in Nottingham. Her father was Polish...
, Tracie Bennett
Tracie Bennett
Tracie Bennett is an English stage and television actress. She trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in Clapham, London...
and Pippa Haywood
Pippa Haywood
Philippa Haywood is an English actress who trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.Famous for playing the much-put-upon Helen Brittas in the BBC One comedy series The Brittas Empire, Haywood has an extensive television career which includes Julie Chadwick in the BBC Two comedy Fear, Stress &...
.
The show is remembered by many for the slow-off-the-mark pub landlord, Elmo Putney (Howard Lew Lewis
Howard Lew Lewis
Howard Lew Lewis is an English comedian and actor, best known for his roles in comedy series including Maid Marian and her Merry Men and Brush Strokes.-Biography:Lewis' grandmother Dame Ethel Gomer-Lewis was an opera singer...
) who ran the pub where Jacko and friends took their lunch breaks. In later episodes, Jacko unsuccessfully started his own company, "Splosh" - changing the pub into a wine bar - losing all the regular customers without picking up any newer ones. Later Elmo leaves for Australia to set up another business in Alice Springs - which because of its name he thinks must be near a very large body of water. Elmo became a rich man after his dog discovered opals in Australia. Elmo returned and bought Jacko's failing company and turned it into a wine bar, where everything was decorated in pink. Jacko returned to Bainbridge's, where Veronica was now in charge after Lionel's death.
Music
The theme song "Because of You" was written and performed by Dexys Midnight RunnersDexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
. Released as a single in November 1986, it reached number 13 in the UK singles chart.
Other media
Jacko and Elmo also appeared in the first ever 1989 Comic Relief show on BBC1 as a pair of murderous psychopaths.Howard Lew Lewis also appeared with Erika Hoffman in the 1988 Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions is a British independent production company that produces television programmes, mainly specialising in comedy.-History:...
comedy series for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123
Chelmsford 123 is a British television situation comedy produced for Channel 4 by Hat Trick Productions. It ran for two series, of six and seven episodes, in 1988 and 1990....
, where the two played "Blag" and "Gargamadua" respectively. Lewis' character in Chelmsford 123 was virtually identical to his character in Brush Strokes.
DVD releases
The first series was released around 2004, but however it had since been out of print and in 2011 (the 25th anniversary of the show's debut) the (13 episode) first series has since been re-released (to celebrate 25 years of the sitcom) under BBC DVD format. The remaining seasons have yet to be released.External links
Comedy Guide- Brush Strokes at British TV Resources