Connie
Encyclopedia
Connie is a 1985 British
television
drama series. Made for ITV
by Central Television, it starred Stephanie Beacham
in the title role. 13 episodes were made and shown throughout the summer of 1985.
Written by Ron Hutchinson
as a dry commentary on Thatcherite values in the 1980s, the series tells the story of a woman returning to the UK
from Greece after years in self-imposed exile, determined to claw back control of her chain of high street clothes shops that is now controlled by her stepsister, and also get her foot back into the "House Of Bea", a family-owned fashion house and factory, run by her father and stepmother, which is now haemorrhaging money.
The series is chiefly memorable for the high octane performance of Stephanie Beacham
as the eponymous Connie, chewing the scenery and snarling her way through such campy, metaphorical 80s big business dialogue such as "My spoon is going into the gravy, my snout is going into the trough."
It was largely on the strength of Connie that Beacham won the role of Sable in The Colbys
, the spin-off series from the American
supersoap Dynasty
which led to a subsequent high profile career in American television.
Other notable cast members in the series included Pam Ferris
as Connie's conniving stepsister Nesta, George Costigan
as her ex-husband Arnie, Richard Morant
as her new love interest Jamieson, Brenda Bruce
as her stepmother Bea and Paul Rogers
as "Hot Pants" Hector, Connie's father.
The theme song entitled "The Show" was written by Willy Russell and series creator Ron Hutchinson
, and performed by Rebecca Storm
. It was released as a single and made it to the top thirty in the UK
pop charts in summer 1985.
have announced plans to release the series on DVD as a 4-disc set, but the release has been repeatedly postponed and there is currently no official release date.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama series. Made for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
by Central Television, it starred Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham is a British television, film and theatre actress. Making her film debut in 1971's The Nightcomers opposite Marlon Brando and becoming more well-known on British television in the BBC series Tenko and the ITV series Connie , her worldwide breakthrough came as a result of playing...
in the title role. 13 episodes were made and shown throughout the summer of 1985.
Written by Ron Hutchinson
Ron Hutchinson (screenwriter)
Ron Hutchinson is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter, known for writing John Frankenheimer's Against the Wall, Robert M. Young's Slave of Dreams, John Frankenheimer's The Island of Dr...
as a dry commentary on Thatcherite values in the 1980s, the series tells the story of a woman returning to the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
from Greece after years in self-imposed exile, determined to claw back control of her chain of high street clothes shops that is now controlled by her stepsister, and also get her foot back into the "House Of Bea", a family-owned fashion house and factory, run by her father and stepmother, which is now haemorrhaging money.
The series is chiefly memorable for the high octane performance of Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham
Stephanie Beacham is a British television, film and theatre actress. Making her film debut in 1971's The Nightcomers opposite Marlon Brando and becoming more well-known on British television in the BBC series Tenko and the ITV series Connie , her worldwide breakthrough came as a result of playing...
as the eponymous Connie, chewing the scenery and snarling her way through such campy, metaphorical 80s big business dialogue such as "My spoon is going into the gravy, my snout is going into the trough."
It was largely on the strength of Connie that Beacham won the role of Sable in The Colbys
The Colbys
The Colbys is an American prime time soap opera, which originally aired on ABC from November 20, 1985 to March 26, 1987. The Aaron Spelling-produced series was a spin-off of Dynasty, which had been the highest rated series for the 1984-1985 U.S. television season...
, the spin-off series from the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supersoap Dynasty
Dynasty (TV series)
Dynasty is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 12, 1981 to May 11, 1989. It was created by Richard & Esther Shapiro and produced by Aaron Spelling, and revolved around the Carringtons, a wealthy oil family living in Denver, Colorado...
which led to a subsequent high profile career in American television.
Other notable cast members in the series included Pam Ferris
Pam Ferris
Pamela Ann "Pam" Ferris is a German-born Welsh actress. She is best known for her starring roles on television as Ma Larkin in The Darling Buds of May, as Laura Thyme in Rosemary & Thyme, and for playing Miss Trunchbull in the movie Matilda...
as Connie's conniving stepsister Nesta, George Costigan
George Costigan
-Early life:Costigan was born in Portsmouth and grew up in Irlams o' th' Height and Weaste in Salford. He attended St. Augustine's C of E Primary School on Bolton Road in Pendlebury, then Wardley Grammar School on Mardale Avenue in Wardley near Swinton.-Career:...
as her ex-husband Arnie, Richard Morant
Richard Morant
Richard Morant was an English actor.Morant was born in Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire. He was a nephew of actors Bill and Linden Travers, and a cousin of actress Penelope Wilton...
as her new love interest Jamieson, Brenda Bruce
Brenda Bruce
Brenda Bruce was a British actress. She had a long and successful career in the theatre, radio, film, and television.-Early life:Brenda Bruce was born in Manchester...
as her stepmother Bea and Paul Rogers
Paul Rogers (actor)
Paul Rogers is an English actor of film, stage and television.Rogers was born in Plympton, Devon, England, and later trained at the Michael Chekhov Theatre Studio at Dartington Hall and made his film debut in 1932...
as "Hot Pants" Hector, Connie's father.
The theme song entitled "The Show" was written by Willy Russell and series creator Ron Hutchinson
Ron Hutchinson (screenwriter)
Ron Hutchinson is an Emmy Award winning screenwriter, known for writing John Frankenheimer's Against the Wall, Robert M. Young's Slave of Dreams, John Frankenheimer's The Island of Dr...
, and performed by Rebecca Storm
Rebecca Storm
Rebecca Storm is a British singer and musical theatre actress, born in Shipley in West Yorkshire, England. She is most notable for her various performances in stage musicals and for her 1985 hit single "The Show", which was the theme to the ITV television series Connie.-Personal life:Storm lives...
. It was released as a single and made it to the top thirty in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
pop charts in summer 1985.
DVD release
Network DVDNetwork DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
have announced plans to release the series on DVD as a 4-disc set, but the release has been repeatedly postponed and there is currently no official release date.