Rita, Sue and Bob too

[BeachBlondey]

As a Happy Valley fan, I was surprised to find out that the actors who played Nev and Clare in Happy Valley, were actually in two main roles of the Rita, Sue and Bob too film from the 80s.

It's made me think about that old film again, and I'm actually shocked that it was made at all.

There is some discussion online today about the film, and most comments are along the lines of "great film", "a British Classic", and so forth.

The plot (for those who haven't seen it), is centered around a fully grown married man, who seduces grooms two 15 year old school girls and engages in lots of sex with them, mainly in his car (iirc).

How the hell was this okay, to put this out as a comedy, even back then? And how can the majority of people who remember the film, still think it's a great British classic?

I don't see why not. Realism and kitchen sink drama are legitimate genres that many people like and the play did well...that's why it was made into a film.

But there are so many people on this thread saying it wasn’t sold as a comedy, when it clearly was.

Don't know why you'd think that.

Kitchen sink dramas were massively popular both in the cinema and on tv: 'The Wednesday Play' and 'Play for Today' series on BBC attracted huge audiences and plays like Cathy Come Home and Poor Cow actually influenced a lot of social change.

Although, I suppose the people that put RS&BT out might very well have been trying to attract a different kind of audience.

I strongly suspect the point of the message Andrea Dunbar was trying to put across would have gone right over the heads of those drawn to it looking for a 'raucous sex comedy'.

Yes but it was quite dishonest of the film promoters. Also awful how they changed the ending against the wishes of the author. They made money from it presumably, but it seems nobody from the entertainment, arts world befriended Andrea Dunbar and assisted her in having a better life? Her talent was exploited and she died so young, tragic.

It shouldn't have been that way, I think of the guy who wrote 'Shameless', Paul something? He grew up fairly neglected on a rough estate in a household similar to the one depicted in the show. Yet he's broken away and enjoyed his success. Why couldn't it have been like that for Andrea?

Paul Abbott

PE teacher is a dodgy one too, grooming pupils, photos, blackmail , her parents said he was a teacher at Jo's school, he had persuaded her not to worry about exams and uni but to marry him instead so a breach of trust. One of the thugs threatens Faisal with his daughter being in line for being raped.
One thing to take from the series is it isn't just the drug addicts and those on the margins of society who commit crimes, policemen, accountants, teachers, pharmacists(2) business owners, would-be politicisns, farmers.(incest) ... probably more that I've forgotten,all commit crimes.

😂😂😂

It's a great film, and more grim than funny. Sue's home life was especially awful with her alcoholic, abusive father.

It may have been sold as a comedy, but it certainly wasn’t written as one. Andrea Dunbar was not a comedic writer, she wrote about real life. Her own life was hard- if anyone is interest there’s a film/docudrama about her called The Arbour.

16 Age of Consent is BS in the UK when most of them are at it by 15. What, one day you're illegal and a minute later you're legal. Should have been made 15 long ago in the UK, girls are maturing much younger. Until V recently the AoC in Spain was 13! Definitely don't agree with that though....

Is your assertion based on recent research or is it your own experience?

"Blimey it looks like a frozen sausage" is the one that always sticks in my mind.

I'm V aware and sensitive to the fact that many on here have Dau's and dread all this. I'm just posting an opinion based on what I hear & see on social media plus Gov't "research" etc. The past Spanish AoC is fact.

I wouldn't be using social media as a source to be honest, facts are often distorted or exaggerated.

My eldest was 15 not all that long ago, I think a couple of her friends were sexually active at 15/16 but they seemed to be in the minority. That's just a small sample though.

No way should it be legal for a grown man to have sex with 14 or 15 year old girls. I'd argue it should be raised to 18 but with an allowance where 14-17 year olds are allowed to have sex with someone within 2 years of their age.

I haven’t read all the posts. CBA. But drama isn’t about how the world should be but how it is.

It was based on the Buttershawe Estate in Bradford which is still like that today (but far more violence, drugs and community degeneration now). 15 year olds girls having sex with much older men - it was very normal then. The film was very well acted, if a bit grim.

Do you think the behaviour in Happy Valley is acceptable? Just because behaviour is depicted doesn’t mean it’s condoned.

FFS - No one said it was ‘ok’ It was a drama for god’s sake. Written to make people think. What do you want from drama? Andy Pandy and Rag Tag and Bob Tail?

First time I watched it when I was very young my reaction was ugh what a perv and 2 girls well, er, loose and and rough as hell. Defo a bit disturbing and as a young girl I couldn't imagine being in that situation. I did enjoy it, lots of funny but along with it dark threads. X

I remember it and remember thinking at the time that I wouldn't have wanted to be the girl he screwed second! YUK! Pretty pervy film, and yes, especially as it was two 15 year olds.

Probably because she was a working class woman.

It’s a very well-realised film that depicts the seedier side of life for some teenagers in the 1980s, with a dark humour and iconic scenes and one-liners.

Unfortunately I don’t think as much has changed as it should have in the past 35 years, when we have the likes of Wayne Lineker not only hiding in plain sight, but actually lauded for dating much younger women.

From the point of view of the characters, Rita and Sue, Bob represented an aspirational lifestyle - compare his large, detached house in a leafy culdesac to the decaying slum accommodation and bleak estate where they lived. He had his own car and, by their standards, plenty of money. In their minds, shagging Bob gave them status, as well as sexual enjoyment - sex with the experienced Bob would be better than the fumblings they might expect from their peers.

It's not so much a comment on Bob, who was an opportunist and took what was offered to him, but a comment on society - the low expectations and standards the girls had; the misery of their home lives which made shagging a randy estate agent seem an attractive way to escape normality.

Lesley Sharpe who plays Bob's wife in the film isn't much older than Michelle Holmes or Siobhan Finneran.

Wonder what age his wife was supposed to be?