The Greener side of Peckham (The Green Green Grass)

Member Name: blissman70

Product:	The Green Green Grass
Date:	27/04/09 (132 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fine sitcom with good comical humour from some real characters.

Disadvantages: not as good as the show it spun from

Directors: Tony Dow and Dewi Humphreys.
Producer: Gareth Gwenlan.
Creator: John Sulliven
Writer: John Sullivan, Keith Lindsay, Jim Sullivan, Derren Litten,James Windett, Paul Alexander, Gary Lawson, David Cantor, Robert Evans, John Phelps
Stars: John Challis, Sue Holderness, Jack Doolan, David Ross, Ella Kenion, Peter Heppelthwaite, Ivan Kaye, Lisa Diveney, Alan David, June Whitfield and Samantha Sutherland.

This BBC sitcom began its life in September 2005, creating 32 episodes split into four series, 29 thirty minute episode and three 45 minute special episodes), and filmed in Oakham in Shropshire.


** BRIEF IDEA...

Boycie (John Challis), his wife Marlene, (Sue Holderness), and there very dim witted teenage son Tyler, (Jack Doolan), are still living in Peckham, with Boycies second hand car dealership keeping the family as happy and wealthy as they always were.
Things are going well until Boycie gets on the wrong side of the dreaded Driscoll brothers, (Roy Heather and Christopher Ryan), so fearing for his life, and the lives of his family, he decides to sell up and head off to the country, much to the annoyance of Marlene.
In a moonlight flit the three of them flee for there lives to a farm in the middle of Shropshire, hoping that the isolation will hide them from the Driscolls and the great idea of running a working farm.
Unfortunately for Boycie he soon realises that running a successful farm has many hidden pitfalls, especially when he meets the workforce who seem to have come with the farm itself.
The workforce seem to be 'country bumpkins', with Elgin Sparrowhawk, (David Ross) as the farm manager, Jed, (Peter Hepplethwaite) and Bryan, (Ivan Kaye), as the labourers and Imelda Cakeworthy, (Ella Kenion) as the housekeeper.
Then there's Llewellyn, (Alan David), the welsh madman who owns the neighbouring farm.

So, with the Boyce family now in hiding they try to live their new life the best they can, but things aren't as simple as they hoped, especially considering Boycie's luck and the fact that his workforce have a combined IQ lower than plankton.


** BRIEF EPISODE PLOTS...

* Series one... (The DVD includes 2005 Christmas special)
(First aired on BBC in September 2005, DVD released in October 2006)

1) Keep on running... With Boycie hearing that the Driscoll brothers have found out it was him that gave evidence which sent them to prison he has no option but to go into hiding, so he decides to sell his second hand car business and his house in London to start a new life in the country, much to the disgust of his wife and son.
When the family get to there new house in the Shropshire countryside they get more than they hoped for when they meet the locals, especially the hired hands for his farm.

2) A rocky start...
With Boycie, (now known as Farmer Boyce by his staff) trying to impress the locals, Marlene trying to understand her new housekeeper and Tyler trying to find somewhere to use his skateboard things at the new house seem to be baffling. But when Boycie buys a prize winning bull, named Rocky, in the hope of making money through breeding he soon realises that Rocky maybe not be up for the job in hand.

3) The country wife...
Marlene terrifies Boycie and Tyler when she announces she is going to cook them a meal.
Meanwhile, Boycie and Tyler meet their rather mad welsh neighbour, leading to a very tricky situation regarding Rocky and a broken fence.

4) Hay fever...
Boycie and Marlene are fed up with life in the country, not only because they have a bull who doesn't much like cows, or even the fact that they have a mad Welshman as a neighbour, but they are fed up with Tyler being around the house all day everyday, so it's time for him to enrol in the local school.
Meanwhile, Boycie has bought a heard of cows, much to Marlens disappointment.

5) Pillow talk...
With Marlene unable to sleep due to the excessive silence surrounding the farm Boycie comes up with a plan, with the help of Jed and a trip to London, unfortunately Jed gets the wrong end of the stick, much to Marlene's horror.
Meanwhile, Tyler is enjoying his first day at school and is especially happy with his new teacher.

6) Sex and the Country...
Tyler interests in his new teacher becomes worrying for Boycie and Marlene, until Boycie discovers the truth about the teachers real feelings.
Meanwhile, the farm hands are trying to come up with ideas to get the Bull interested in the cows, unfortunately, Boycie spoils their best plan.


2005 Christmas special... One flew over the cuckoo nest...

An invite to the country club ball leads to a lot of trouble for Boycie and Marlene when they are approached by someone offering a get rich scheme, a trip to Switzerland and even a knighthood for Boycie, but, as always, things don't quite go to plan, which may turn out quite well for the Boyce clan in the end.

********

* Series two... (the DVD includes the 2006 Christmas special)
(First aired on the BBC in September 2006, DVD released in April 2008)

1) Testing Times...
Boycie and Llewellyn are at loggerheads, concerning artificial fertiliser and the EU. Unfortunately, Elgin and the rest give Boycie more hair loss worries when they concoct a medicine which carries more trouble than it cures.

2) Here's to you, Mrs Boyce...
A home tutor for Tyler develops a thing for Marlene, only for Boycie misinterpret the situation, leading to some rather strange results.
Meanwhile, Tyler is trying to impress a young lady with his so called Rugby skills

3) Bothered and bewildered...
Boycie tries to make cut back in his work force and decides to sack Mrs Cakeworthy, leading to some very strange events occurring around the house, making Boycie re-think his decisions.

4) Mother Earth...
Marlene almost cripples Boycie when she decides to set up a beauty parlour from home.
Meanwhile Tyler and his new friend, Beth, are becoming closer, but Beth is a little concerned about the way things are happening at the house, especially when she see more of Boycie than she wanted to.

5) School French...
A misunderstanding concerning a French exchange student leads to some rather bizarre results, leading to many arguments amongst the household members.
Meanwhile, Tyler is in trouble with Beth when he gives her a family heirloom.

6) More question than answers...
The pub quiz is in full swing with Llewelyn and Boycie at each others throat, and things get even more complicated when Tyler suddenly discovers his brain.
Meanwhile, Mrs Cakeworthy is holding séances from the farm, leading to some strange events.

7) Brothers and sisters...
Marlene invites her sister to the farm, much to Boycie's horror, especially considering they are still hiding from the Driscoll brothers. Unfortunately, Boycie's fears come true when the sister brings more than her luggage.

2005 Christmas special 2006...
* From here to paternity...
There's trouble between Boycie and Llewellyn surrounding the amorous meeting between there dogs, leaving a bun in the oven. Unfortunately, a few misunderstanding leads to a lot of confusion, with everyone believing everyone else may be in the pregnant.
Meanwhile, the farm hands are terrified that the past has come back to haunt the farm.

********

* Series three... (The DVD includes the 2007 Christmas special)
(first aired on the BBC on November 2007, to be released on DVD in June 2009)

1) But is it Art..?

Boycie is beginning to act his old snobbish self again after a visit to a country mansion.
Meanwhile, Elgin has moved into Bryans caravan after an argument with his wife, but things soon heat up for the pair, much to Boycie's anger when he uncovers Marlene's plan.

2) The Lonely Herdsman...
Marlene takes Boycie and Tyler to visit her mother, Dora, in Bournemouth, leaving the household staff on there own, much to there happiness of course. But Bryan is a little depressed and Mrs Cakeworthy is trying to cheer him up by means of on-line dating, only the dating agency she is using is not quite what it seems.

3) If you go down to the woods...
When Earl, (Boycie's dog) goes missing, Marlene is so distraught that she offers a reward for his return, much to Tylers delight but Boycie's horror.
Meanwhile, Mrs Cakeworthy tries to confort Marlene by cooking her some cakes, only things don't quite go to plan, as usual.

4) Sweet sorrow...
Tylers education is on Marlene's mind when his A level results arrive, leading to her realise that his university life may be just a pipe dream. Whilst Boycie is just angry about wasting all that money on a private school.
Meanwhile, with Beth getting offers from many Universities Tyler is starting to feel a little like a failure.

5) Fifteen minutes...
A reality show comes to the village, much to Boycies delight as he realises that his not so intelligent farm hands have entered the show, especially with some of the competitions being blindfolded sheep shearing and speed milking.


6) The Final curtain...
Marlene's is not having a good day at all, not just because Boycie is refusing to pay for a holiday, claiming to be broke, but also because Tyler has been suspended from University for his wild way of life and is back under her feet.
Meanwhile, Boycie's on-line experiences leave him a little flustered.

7) Lust in Translation...
Bryan is happy to be meeting his on-line friend but when she arrives with extra luggage the only person that is happy is Llewellyn. But things get a little worse for him when he accidentally mixes his date up.


Christmas special 2007....
* The special relationship...

It's an explosive time on the farm when a dangerous discovery is made on the farmland, leaving Boycie an unintentional hero. But as the whole truth begins to emerge about the discoveries on the farmland it attracts a lot of attention, including a visit from a rather rich man who claims to have fathered a child in the village during the 1970's.

********

*Series four...
(First aired on the BBC in January 2009, not yet released on DVD)

1) The path to true love...
Boycie and Marlene are heading for a break up but will marriage counselling help or will the councillor simply spread gossip around the village.

2) Home brew...
Boycie uncovers some rather interesting artefacts in the loft of the farmhouse, including scrolls which were left behind by the previous owner and recipes for a local liquor named 'ye old Cyder'. So when he discovers that he is allowed to make and sell the drink he gets to work, using the barn as a distillery, with the help of the terrible trio.
Unfortunately, a couple of unwanted visitors arrive on the doorstep.

3) Calendar boys...
Marlene takes up charity work to help stem the boredom of daily life, but Boycie see this as an opportunity to aid his chances of becoming a lord.
Meanwhile, Marlenes calendar idea stirs up a bit of trouble.

4) Animal Instincts...
The villagers are terrified when animal rights activist pay them a visit, staring with the mad welsh man Llewellyn, so Boycie comes up with the idea of forming a patrol to protect his farm from attack.
Meanwhile, Tyler is performing at a charity gig.

5) Your cheating art...
Tyler is worryin Marlene with his loss of apatite, but when Mrs Cakeworthy discovers why Tyler is depressed she tries to help cheer him up, but things don't go according to plan, even with the help of Dora.

6) The departed...
Marlene and Boycie take Tyler to his bands first gig, the household staff soon discover that they can make a few thousand pounds when a ghost hunting team come to the village.

7) I done it my way...
Boycie sits back and tells his life story, starting with his life back in Peckham with Del-boy, Rodney, Trigger, Mike and the rest of the gang, although his memoirs are more comical than interesting to Marlene.

8) One man's junk...
When the Antiques road show arrives Marlene and Boycie hope to make a profit with some of the belongings from the house, although the staff have the same idea, leading to some rather unfortunate results.

9) For richer for poorer...
With the happy couples 40th Anniversary approaching Marlene is busy setting up for a massive party, but when she receives information from the Peckham solicitor she has to think about her marriage to Boycie.


** IN CONCLUSION...

For all those who remember the brilliant classic which was 'only fools and horses', surrounding the lives of the Trotter family and their friends, will remember two of the supporting characters, namely Boycie, with his second hand car empire and his machine-gun sounding laugh, together with his loving but very dippy wife Marlene and her desperate need to become a mother.
For those who have never heard of the Trotter trials then the Boyce clan will be something new to you.

For me, as I am a big fan of Only fools and horses, I thought this spin off featuring two of those supporting characters would be just as much fun, with the same type of dry humour and somewhat ridiculous scenarios.
Sadly, this show failed to make me laugh as much as 'only fools' did.

Don't get me wrong, it is still is a funny series with some cracking laughs and some strange story lines, but for me it falls very short from the entertainment that was 'only fools'.

If this show involved only the Boyce family, living in a farmhouse, hiding from the Driscoll brothers, then it would have fell at the first hurdle, so the idea to bring in some supporting characters was a good one, especially as the characters involved really do give the series that uniqueness that it needed.
There's their grown up son Tyler who has turned out to be a lazy slob with no hope for the future.
Mrs Imelda Cakeworthy, the so called housemaid who seems to have her job description all wrong.
Elgin Sparrowhawk, the farm manager who only just manages to remember to breath. Then there's Jed and Bryan, the cattle man and ploughman, who would make a rocking horse look intelligent.
And finally, there's Llewelyn, the mad Welshman who is soon infuriated by Boycie, mainly because he's English.

As for the acting, well, this is just brilliant, with each actor bringing something new into the series, all combining to give the audience some very comical scenarios indeed.
Challis as Boycie is just as comically annoying as he was in 'Only Fools, with his arrogant ego and glass rattling laugh, honestly believing he is a cut above everyone, especially his newly acquired farmhands.
Holderness continues to be the same doting wife to the annoying laughing one, with her ability to put him in his place, although her slight stupidity and naivety can make you feel sorry for her.
Ross, Hepplethwaite and Kaye are simply fantastic as the farm hands, pulling off the perfect dim witted country bumpkin type villagers.
As for Kenion as the very lazy housekeeper, well, she really does take this role on with perfection, somehow managing to delegate her household chores, even getting Marlene to do them for her. She comes across as being so dim witted but she seems to be a genius in manipulating others to do as she wants.
The stories are very well written with the jokes seeming to roll along at a good speed, enough to keep the audience happy anyway.

In all, a nice spin off from what was a very popular and very funny sitcom (Only fools and horses), keeping the brilliant characteristics of two of those supporting characters, (Boycie and Marlene), to bring another comical sitcom to enjoy.
If you liked Only fools and horses and you liked that form of humour then you'll love this spin off. But even if you have never heard of the trotters, you may still like this dry, witty and comical show.

If you want to get a copy of the first 3 series then get to www.amazon.co.uk and pick up a copy for between £7.00 and £12.00, giving you many hours of humour.
Although unfortunately, series four is not yet released on DVD as yet.

Summary: The hammer laugh and the simple one move to the country