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High Hopes (TV series)
Encyclopedia
High Hopes is a sitcom made in Wales, produced and directed by Gareth Gwenlan
for BBC Wales
and is set in a fictional area of the South Wales Valleys
called Cwm-Pen-Ôl (which is Welsh for 'Backside Valley'). It stars Margaret John
as widow Elsie Hepplewhite, Robert Blythe as her son Richard Hepplewhite, Steven Meo
as Hoffman and Oliver Wood (formerly Ben Evans) as Charlie.
It revolves around Elsie's son Richard (known as Fagin) and his dodgy business ventures, assisted by the two boys, who attempted to rob the Hepplewhites' house in the first episode.
The pilot was shown on BBC
all over the UK in 1999, with slight differences to future cast and plot.
The series started in 2002 to much acclaim, and in March 2007, filming began on its fifth series.
The sixth and final series, consisting of six episodes, was first shown on BBC1 Wales weekly from Tuesday 11 November 2008.
But, before it aired a report in the South Wales Echo (6 October 2008), titled 'Welsh sitcom set to be axed', confirmed that:
A three part 'Best Bits' special was shown on BBC1 Wales, starting 20 Sept, the third episode was on Sun 4 Oct 2009.
Richard (Fagin
Richard Hepplewhite is a wannabe entrepreneur who lives with his mother in the Welsh valleys. Fresh from serving time for second-degree murder at Strangeways Prison, he is claustrophobic
and agoraphobic
, running his business empire from his desk at the house. He takes the boys in during the first episode. In one episode, he is briefly cured of his agoraphobia after falling over, but he still lives in fear of being "sucked off by the sky".
Elsie is Fagin's mother whose husband was captured by Japan in World War II
as a prisoner of war
. He died as a POW in Japan during World War 2 when Fagin was a young boy. So, she shares a dislike for the Japanese with Richard, she because of her husband's death, he because of their technological advances. Her grandfather died after swallowing a silver threepence that was in his Christmas pudding
, not before running down the road for one and a half miles (bearing in mind he was ninety-four!)
Hoffman (his first name Dwayne is rarely used) is a teenage petty criminal whose best friend is Charlie. He and Charlie are apprentices to Fagin's business. Hoffman enters many scrapes, like stealing an iconic Welsh painting "Dafydd ar y Twmp" (or Dafydd and his Hump, according to Hoffman), and trying to escape the clutches of a randy policewoman!
Charlie is the second teenager in the household. He seems not to be brighter than Hoffman, and once made a collage of Charlotte Church
with no clothes on (or, Charlotte Church's inverted head atop a page three girl's body), and also entering a romance with a Victor (who was eventually discovered to be a girl named Victoria - to Charlie's relief).
regular Di Botcher
), PC Claude Cox (Keiron Self
), a friend of the family, with a fondness for cake, plastic sex doll
s and pornographic films. Also present is show co-writer Boyd Clack
who plays Sergeant Ball.
The series' theme tune is an instrumental
version of the 1959 song "High Hopes
" played on a Welsh harp by Dai Brown.
The backdrop village seen on the show's credits(opening too) is Fochriw
.
Gareth Gwenlan
Gareth Gwenlan is a British television producer, best known for his work on shows such as The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, To the Manor Born, Only Fools and Horses, and High Hopes. In 1983 he was appointed Head of Comedy for BBC.-External links:...
for BBC Wales
BBC Wales
BBC Cymru Wales is a division of the British Broadcasting Corporation for Wales. Based at Broadcasting House in the Llandaff area of Cardiff, it directly employs over 1200 people, and produces a broad range of television, radio and online services in both the Welsh and English languages.Outside...
and is set in a fictional area of the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
called Cwm-Pen-Ôl (which is Welsh for 'Backside Valley'). It stars Margaret John
Margaret John
Margaret John was a Welsh, BAFTA award-winning actress, best known for her role as Doris in Gavin & Stacey. She has been described, by fellow actress Ruth Jones, as "an absolute national treasure".-Early life:...
as widow Elsie Hepplewhite, Robert Blythe as her son Richard Hepplewhite, Steven Meo
Steven Meo
Steven James Meo is a Welsh television actor. He is known for playing Dwayne Hoffman in BBC Wales sitcom High Hopes , Grant in the BBC Three show Grownups , and Owen in the BBC Wales drama series Belonging...
as Hoffman and Oliver Wood (formerly Ben Evans) as Charlie.
It revolves around Elsie's son Richard (known as Fagin) and his dodgy business ventures, assisted by the two boys, who attempted to rob the Hepplewhites' house in the first episode.
The pilot was shown 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...
all over the UK in 1999, with slight differences to future cast and plot.
The series started in 2002 to much acclaim, and in March 2007, filming began on its fifth series.
The sixth and final series, consisting of six episodes, was first shown on BBC1 Wales weekly from Tuesday 11 November 2008.
But, before it aired a report in the South Wales Echo (6 October 2008), titled 'Welsh sitcom set to be axed', confirmed that:
- "High Hopes will not be re-commissioned beyond 2009, a BBC spokesman confirmed.
- He said: “The next series of High Hopes is due to go out this autumn. The series has not been re-commissioned for next year.”
- He added that High Hopes – currently in its fifth series – could return at a future date."
A three part 'Best Bits' special was shown on BBC1 Wales, starting 20 Sept, the third episode was on Sun 4 Oct 2009.
Richard (FaginFaginFagin is a fictional character who appears as an antagonist of the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, referred to in the preface of the novel as a "receiver of stolen goods", but referred to more frequently within the actual story as the "merry old gentleman" or simply the "Jew".-Character:Born...
) Hepplewhite
- Played by: Robert Blythe
Richard Hepplewhite is a wannabe entrepreneur who lives with his mother in the Welsh valleys. Fresh from serving time for second-degree murder at Strangeways Prison, he is claustrophobic
Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is the fear of having no escape and being closed in small spaces or rooms...
and agoraphobic
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation from which it is perceived to be difficult to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions...
, running his business empire from his desk at the house. He takes the boys in during the first episode. In one episode, he is briefly cured of his agoraphobia after falling over, but he still lives in fear of being "sucked off by the sky".
Elsie "Mam" Hepplewhite
- Played by: Margaret JohnMargaret JohnMargaret John was a Welsh, BAFTA award-winning actress, best known for her role as Doris in Gavin & Stacey. She has been described, by fellow actress Ruth Jones, as "an absolute national treasure".-Early life:...
Elsie is Fagin's mother whose husband was captured by Japan in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
. He died as a POW in Japan during World War 2 when Fagin was a young boy. So, she shares a dislike for the Japanese with Richard, she because of her husband's death, he because of their technological advances. Her grandfather died after swallowing a silver threepence that was in his Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding is a pudding traditionally served on Christmas Day . It has its origins in medieval England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding or plum duff, though this can also refer to other kinds of boiled pudding involving dried fruit.-Basics:Many households have their own recipe for...
, not before running down the road for one and a half miles (bearing in mind he was ninety-four!)
Dwayne Hoffman
- Played by: Steven MeoSteven MeoSteven James Meo is a Welsh television actor. He is known for playing Dwayne Hoffman in BBC Wales sitcom High Hopes , Grant in the BBC Three show Grownups , and Owen in the BBC Wales drama series Belonging...
Hoffman (his first name Dwayne is rarely used) is a teenage petty criminal whose best friend is Charlie. He and Charlie are apprentices to Fagin's business. Hoffman enters many scrapes, like stealing an iconic Welsh painting "Dafydd ar y Twmp" (or Dafydd and his Hump, according to Hoffman), and trying to escape the clutches of a randy policewoman!
Charlie Jenkins
- Played by: Ben Evans (2002-2006), Oliver Wood (2007-2008)
Charlie is the second teenager in the household. He seems not to be brighter than Hoffman, and once made a collage of Charlotte Church
Charlotte Church
Charlotte Maria Church is a Welsh singer-songwriter, actress and television presenter. She rose to fame in childhood as a classical singer before branching into pop music in 2005. By 2007, she had sold more than 10 million records worldwide including over 5 million in the United States...
with no clothes on (or, Charlotte Church's inverted head atop a page three girl's body), and also entering a romance with a Victor (who was eventually discovered to be a girl named Victoria - to Charlie's relief).
Other characters
Other characters include Mrs. Coles, the local shopkeeper (Little BritainLittle Britain
Little Britain is a British character-based comedy sketch show which was first broadcast on BBC radio and then turned into a television show. It was written by comic duo David Walliams and Matt Lucas...
regular Di Botcher
Di Botcher
Di Botcher is a Welsh actress originally from Port Talbot. She has appeared in a series of Post Office advertisements in the UK and she is learning the Welsh language in the Big Welsh Challenge TV show along with Rhod Gilbert and Colin Charvis, with Glyn Wise as her mentor...
), PC Claude Cox (Keiron Self
Keiron Self
Keiron Self Born 1971 in Newport, Wales, is a Welsh actor and writer most famous for playing Roger Bailey Jnr in the BBC sitcom My Family. His other acting credits include Casualty, Lucky Bag and playing PC Claude Cox in the sitcom High Hopes. He has also provided the voice of Police Chief Llunos...
), a friend of the family, with a fondness for cake, plastic sex doll
Sex doll
A sex doll is a type of sex toy in the size and shape of a sexual partner for aid in masturbation....
s and pornographic films. Also present is show co-writer Boyd Clack
Boyd Clack
Boyd Clack is a Welsh writer, actor, and musician.He was born in Vancouver, Canada but grew up in Tonyrefail in Wales. His acting credits include Twin Town, High Hopes and Satellite City. He also co-wrote both High Hopes and Satellite City...
who plays Sergeant Ball.
Pilot and series comparison
The pilot and the series in general can be compared:- In the pilot, the boys knew Fagin already, but in the series, Fagin met them and their knowledge of each other developed very quickly, although he knew them it was not as if he had known them for long.
- The whole of the UK (including Wales) saw the pilot, whereas the series was originally shown only in Wales, but was recently (2006) repeated on BBC2 WalesBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
, which is also available to BSkyB viewers outside Wales as well. - Different actors played Charlie and Hoffman and also PC Cox.
The series' theme tune is an instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
version of the 1959 song "High Hopes
High Hopes (1959 song)
"High Hopes" is a popular song first popularized by Frank Sinatra, with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was introduced in the 1959 film A Hole in the Head, nominated for a Grammy and won an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 32nd Academy Awards.-Description:The song...
" played on a Welsh harp by Dai Brown.
The backdrop village seen on the show's credits(opening too) is Fochriw
Fochriw
Fochriw is a village located in Caerphilly County Borough, Wales. It was well known for its neighbouring collieries, which employed nearly the entire local population in the early 20th century. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan...
.