HOWARD'S WAY From Start - Drama Channel

[mum2jakie]

Starting today - Howard's Way is showing every week day at 2pm on the Drama Channel.

That theme tune takes me right back to the eighties and Sunday evenings!!! I grew up in the Midlands so had no idea about half of the terms but loved it!

[lifeissweet]

Also loving poor Samantha, Charles' PA running around after him with a notebook and calling him Sir. I can guarantee that woman isn't paid enough to organise his sex life.

[Tree543]

Just looked up some of their ages.
Actor who played Tom was 46 in 1985.
Jan Harvey was 38! She looked so much older. I agree it was the short buffount hair and flounce 80s fashion.
Ken Masters actor Steven Yardley was 43.
Didn't realise Jan Harvey and Steven Yardley were married in real life!

[marmiteadict]

Absolutely no idea Jan and Ken were married in real life.

Did know that Lynne and Charles Frere were married in real life

[marmiteadict]

From memory Charles Frere was always buying marina developments.

How many were there in the Southampton area? Surely he ran out

[Iamthewombat]

Actor who played Tom was 46 in 1985.

He looks 60!

Jan Harvey was 38!

HOW CAN THIS BE??? Yes, it must be the hair. I laughed when she was doing the sexy pose by the bathroom doorway in the baby doll nightie and granny hair. Even more when she told Tom, “it wasn’t Ken who turned me on”

[red4321]

Absolutely no idea Jan and Ken were married in real life.

Nooooo! This can't be true. And yes, she looked a lot older than 38 although that may be due to her voluminous clothing.

[Iamthewombat]

I’m actually quite excited about watching the boutique opening, in my defence it is January and I’ll take all the thrills I can get. I am kind of hoping that the gin & tonic set on their way to Periplus (bizarre name for implausible boutique) will catch a glimpse of Ken Masters in his lemon acrylic v neck worn over a bare chest and run screaming from the chandlery.

[Jellywobblescobbles]

It’s brilliantly crap and funny. I’m watching from the beginning. Lynne is such a spoilt madam and Leo is mardy. Polly Urquart is amusing. I remember most of the programme. I used to love watching this on Sunday evenings and humming along to the theme tune 😊

[DramaAlpaca]

So I downloaded and watched the whole series and now I'm bereft... hope series two is shown as well.

[Iamthewombat]

Do not fear. It is in the schedule. Our Virgin box informs me that series 2 starts on Drama on 19 January.

[DramaAlpaca]

Thank you @Iamthewombat!

Can't wait!

[RaraRachael]

I'd forgotten that essential 80s fashion accessory - the headband worn across the forehead 😂

I agree that some of the characters look a lot older than they actually are. I think it's the short bouffed hairstyles that are mainly to blame. If I look at photos of myself in that era, I look older then than I do now. However Tom looks at least 10 years older than the 44 he's meant to be.
Leo is like a weird manchild mooning over Avril and goodness knows what the guy who impregnated Abby must have been thinking - was he wowed by her amazing sense of style or her sparkling personality? Maybe not.

[Jellywobblescobbles]

@RaraRachael

I'd forgotten that essential 80s fashion accessory - the headband worn across the forehead 😂

I agree that some of the characters look a lot older than they actually are. I think it's the short bouffed hairstyles that are mainly to blame. If I look at photos of myself in that era, I look older then than I do now. However Tom looks at least 10 years older than the 44 he's meant to be.
Leo is like a weird manchild mooning over Avril and goodness knows what the guy who impregnated Abby must have been thinking - was he wowed by her amazing sense of style or her sparkling personality? Maybe not.

Hahaha it’s amusing to watch. I’m getting drawn into watching more episodes…. Even though it’s not particularly good 😂

[Iamthewombat]

This might be a false memory but doesn’t Abby morph into a pound shop Alexis Carrington in later series? Hostile takeovers etc etc.

Yes, Jan’s headband (worn to bizarre tango dancing business dinner with Ken Masters, who was sporting a white dinner jacket) attracted my attention!

[PerkingFaintly]

I keep reading Charles Frere's numberplate as "Cheeky Fucker 1".

Thank you, MN.

[lifeissweet]

@PerkingFaintly

I keep reading Charles Frere's numberplate as "Cheeky Fucker 1".

Thank you, MN.

😂

Quite apt, though.

Everyone is so emotionally detached. Tom shags Avril and Jan says 'That's crap. Oh well. Never mind'... and just moves on with a few wistful comments here and there. It doesn't go like that in real life, does it? It causes utter devastation almost universally, regardless of how shit the marriage has been.

[PerkingFaintly]

Something I've never seen discussed, and has always slightly puzzled me: the series seems to have been written for/about the actress Jan Harvey.

Our heroine's name is Jan, and although her married name is Howard her parents' surname is Harvey.

Am I being dim, and there's a well-known explanation which has completely passed me by?

[Nat6999]

The actor who played Tom came in to the tax enquiry office I worked in when Howard's Way had just started.

[PerkingFaintly]

Quite apt, though.

Though I don't think Frere would make it to Number 1 in the Howards' Way cheeky fucker league.

Faaar too much competition!

[lifeissweet]

I've remembered the other parts of my Dad's Howards' Way Bingo.

Every time someone says 'let's discuss this further over dinner' (with a massive neon flashing subtext) or offers someone a drink. It happens in almost every scene.

Considering how frowned upon Jack's drink problem is, they are none of them far off rampant alcoholism. I've no idea how they get anything done.

[Iamthewombat]

@PerkingFaintly

Something I've never seen discussed, and has always slightly puzzled me: the series seems to have been written for/about the actress Jan Harvey.

Our heroine's name is Jan, and although her married name is Howard her parents' surname is Harvey.

Am I being dim, and there's a well-known explanation which has completely passed me by?

I assumed that they were just a bit lazy.

We need a name for Tom’s wife. What’s the actress called? Jan? Yeah that’ll do!

We need a surname for Kate, the nauseating mother in law. Someone think of a surname. Harvey? Yeah, that sounds a bit posh, that’ll do!

I had a good laugh at today’s episode.

Ken Masters strutting towards CF 1’s cabin cruiser in white polo neck’n’action slacks combo with nautical blazer slung over his shoulder! He could have been wearing a hat saying ‘I am quite sleazy’.

CF1 saying, “she’s a very attractive woman” about Jan, in ‘wolffish’ voice.

The clothes wholesaler, Mr Rosen, being a massive stereotype. And the state of the ‘top of the range’ trumpet-sleeved chiffon blouse (“feel the material”).

[Tree543]

Reminds me of the Extras episode where Keith Chegwin gets confused about being called his characters name so they change the characters name to Keith.

[red4321]

I confess that I'm strangely absorbed by it again. Even my other half said it wasn't bad although with the caveat 'for his time'.

I still feel very uncomfortable at my lack of disdain for Ken. Is this what a 30 year gap has done to my taste?

How old is Avril meant to be? Surely nearer Leo's age than Tom and Charles?

[red4321]

*for it's time

[red4321]

Aagh *its