Shine on Harvey Moon

*Shine on Harvey Moon*
Shine on Harvey Moon
Created by	Laurence Marks; Maurice Gran
Starring	Suzanne Bertish; Kenneth Cranham; Leonard Fenton; Nicky Henson; Nigel Planer; Pauline Quirke; Linda Robson; Colin Salmon; Elizabeth Spriggs; Maggie Steed; Fiona Victory; Lee Whitlock
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	5
No. of episodes	41 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer	Allan McKeown
Producers	Central Television; (1982–1985); Meridian Broadcasting; (1995); Witzend Productions; (1982–1985, 1995)
Running time	30 minutes (series 1 & 5); 60 minutes (series 2 – 4);
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	8 January 1982 –; 18 August 1995

Shine on, Harvey Moon is a British television series made by Witzend Productions and Central Television for ITV from 8 January 1982 to 23 August 1985 and briefly revived in 1995 by Meridian.

This generally light-hearted series was created by comedy writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran. The series is set in the East End of London shortly after the Second World War. Upon being demobbed RAF serviceman Harvey Moon, played by Kenneth Cranham, returns home and finds his family involved in various troubles. His wife Rita, played by Maggie Steed, is not interested in resuming their relationship, and works in a seedy nightclub frequented by American servicemen. He becomes involved with the Labour Party and the union movement.

The name of the series is a wordplay on the title of the popular 1908 song "Shine on, Harvest Moon!". The first series was commissioned and recorded by ATV (the forerunner to Central Television) at their Elstree studios, with the second series recorded in the same studios under the ownership of Central Television and with the remaining series filmed at Central's newly constructed facilities in Nottingham.

Regular cast

Frieda Gottlieb – Suzanne Bertish
Harvey Moon – Kenneth Cranham
Erich Gottlieb – Leonard Fenton
Lou Lewis – Nigel Planer
Veronica – Pauline Quirke
Maggie Moon – Linda Robson
Violet "Nan" Moon – Elizabeth Spriggs
Rita Moon – Maggie Steed
Harriet Wright – Fiona Victory
Stanley Moon – Lee Whitlock

The series was revived by Meridian Television in 1995, this time set during the 1950s, with Nicky Henson taking over the role of Harvey. It also brought in a new regular character, Noah Hawksley, played by Colin Salmon, an old friend of Harvey's who was facing racial prejudice.

DVD releases

Three 3-disc DVD box sets have been released by Acorn Media UK. The first comprises all episodes from series 2 and selected episodes from series 1 and the other, released in 2007, contains all episodes of series 3. In 2012 a three dics set was released containing all episodes of series 4.^[1]^[2]

References

^ "Shine on, Harvey Moon! Series 1 & 2". Acorn Media. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
^ "Shine On Harvey Moon Series 3". Acorn Media. Retrieved 29 January 2012.

External links

Shine on Harvey Moon! at IMDb.

[1] "Shine on, Harvey Moon! Series 1 & 2". Acorn Media. Retrieved 29 January 2012.

[2] "Shine On Harvey Moon Series 3". Acorn Media. Retrieved 29 January 2012.

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