← Back to series
G.B.H.

G.B.H.

6,3 /10 (17 Votes)
1991 EN 1 Seasons

Overview

GBH was a seven-part British television drama written by Alan Bleasdale shown in the summer of 1991 on Channel 4. The protagonists were Michael Murray, the Militant tendency-supporting Labour leader of a city council in the North of England and Jim Nelson, the headmaster of a school for disturbed children. The series was controversial partly because Murray appeared to be based on Derek Hatton, former Deputy Leader of Liverpool City Council — in an interview in the G.B.H. DVD Bleasdale recounts an accidental meeting with Hatton before the series, who indicates that he has caught wind of Bleasdale's intentions but does not mind as long as the actor playing him is "handsome". In normal parlance, the initials "GBH" refer to the criminal charge of grievous bodily harm - however, the actual intent of the letters is that it is supposed to stand for Great British Holiday.

First air date

06/06/1991

Votes

17

Popularity

2.8

Genres

Status

Ended

Type

Miniseries

Created by

Alan Bleasdale

Networks

Channel 4

Language

EN

Last air date

1991-07-18

Episodes

7

Episode runtime

81 min

No poster

Specials

1 episodes

No poster

Season 1

7 episodes • 1991

Michael Palin

Michael Palin

Jim Nelson

Robert Lindsay

Robert Lindsay

Michael Murray

Lindsay Duncan

Lindsay Duncan

Barbara Douglas

Julie Walters

Julie Walters

Mrs. Murray

Dearbhla Molloy

Dearbhla Molloy

Laura Nelson

Tom Georgeson

Tom Georgeson

Lou Barnes

Andrew Schofield

Andrew Schofield

Peter Grenville

No photo

Alan Igbon

Teddy

Michael Angelis

Michael Angelis

Martin Niarchos

David Ross

David Ross

Mr Weller

Philip Whitchurch

Philip Whitchurch

Franky Murray

Daniel Massey

Daniel Massey

Grosvenor

Jane Danson

Jane Danson

Eileen Critchley

Peter-Hugo Daly

Peter-Hugo Daly

Bubbles McGuire

Paul Daneman

Paul Daneman

Mervyn Sloan

No photo

Bill Stewart

Geoff

Julia St. John

Julia St. John

Diane Niarchos

No photo

Gareth Tudor Price

Richard Grenville

Colin Douglas

Colin Douglas

Frank Twist

Jimmy Mulville

Jimmy Mulville

Philip

John Henshaw

John Henshaw

Murray's Minder

Anna Friel

Anna Friel

Susan Nelson

No photo

Hayley Fairclough

Jessica Nelson

No photo

Edward Mallon

Mark Nelson

No photo

Daniel Street-Brown

Robbie Burns

No photo

Serena Harragin

Miss Hutchinson

No photo

Stephen Hall

Young Michael Murray

No photo

Michelle Atkinson

Young Barbara

No photo

Ayesa Toure

Monica

No photo

Michael Fernandez

Jake

No photo

Paul Oldham

Joey

No photo

Gary Mavers

Billy

Wayne Foskett

Wayne Foskett

Macker

Niall Tóibín

Niall Tóibín

Michael Murray Snr

Steve Halliwell

Steve Halliwell

Bubbles' Friend

Clifford Rose

Clifford Rose

Judge Critchley

William Gaunt

William Gaunt

Hunningdon

Amanda Mealing

Amanda Mealing

Beth

No photo

Cliff Howells

Joseph Cartwright

Paul Butterworth

Paul Butterworth

Terry

No photo

David J. Nicholls

Poacher Terry

Freddie Fletcher

Freddie Fletcher

Poacher Vic

Peter Armitage

Peter Armitage

Mr Burns

No photo

Arthur Spreckley

Grandfather Burns

Jean Anderson

Jean Anderson

Dr Goldup

William Franklyn

William Franklyn

Distinguished Gent

No photo

James Tomlinson

Stan

Jake Abraham

Jake Abraham

Black Waiter

Noreen Kershaw

Noreen Kershaw

Maureen Murray

No photo

Chris Hargreaves

Scrawny Thug

No photo

Judith Barker

Margie

No photo

Debra Gillett

Sylvia

No photo

Chris Darwin

Barry

Ken Kitson

Ken Kitson

Vince

Kulvinder Ghir

Kulvinder Ghir

Ravi

No photo

Norman Mills

Redneck Councillor

No photo

Ray Emmet Brown

West Indian

No photo

Anthony Benson

Norman

Keith Clifford

Keith Clifford

Coach Driver

Original Soundtrack

Loading soundtrack videos…

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

2025-04-16

⭐ 7

This is a terrific piece of political drama from Channel 4 and Alan Bleasdale that shines a light on a myriad of topics whilst set amidst the polarisation of Mrs. Thatcher’s 1980s Britain. Despite her fairly comprehensive election win in 1983, most of the urban population remained unconvinced by her policies and it’s in one such city that the fictional character of “Michael Murray” (Robert Lindsay) rules the roost. He is determined to thwart the government at every step, and calls a general strike throughout his un-named city. There’s a pretty rock solid turn out, except for one teacher - “Jim…

Read full review →