Redcoats (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Redcoats was a docusoap which ran for three series of half hour episodes, originally aired between 2001–2003, which followed the daily lives and activities of Redcoats working at Butlins
Holiday Resorts in the UK.
between 2001 and 2003, it focused on many aspects of working life at both camps, as well as filming the selection process and giving an insight into how productions came together behind the scenes, as well as providing an insight into the lives of Redcoats after they had finished their employment there. Well known Children's television presenter Andy Crane
provided the narration for the entire three series, produced by Pilgrim Productions.
where it was repeated on a number of channels including Sky Travel
, Sky Three
and Sky Real Lives until 2010 when the series unfortunately ceased to be shown on any channel for the first time since it's inception. The final episode of series three can still be seen on Sky Player
.
Redcoat Tori featured in two series of Redcoats and was well known for her glamourous appearance and friendly nature. She has since worked as a Television Presenter for price-drop tv
and the Honda 4-stroke Power Boat Championships, as well as numerous music-related slots
Redcoat Dan (James)
Redcoat Dan was one of the most popular Redcoats, although not with the management, as his continued lateness, sadly, led to his dismissal. Dan was considering a music career at the time and his performance of "To Your Heart" can be heard on series two. Dan is still performing today and has performed for P & O Cruise Ships and the Bellini Grande club in Singapore
. He has also modelled part-time for First Choice
Magazine and Trident Splash.
Redcoat Nicki
Redcoat Nicki was known and loved for her dry and witty and sometimes offbeat sense of humour, as well as being one of the most honest and open Redcoats. She was also dismissed for holidaying with her partner Seth under circumstances she stated in the first episode of series three that "weren't allowed". In their final participation in the series, the couple spoke of the possibility of saving to travel to America
and attend Clown School. It is not known whether they achieved this dream or where they are now.
Redcoat Jem
Redcoat Jem was the only prominent cast member to feature in all three series. Jem was well known for her bubbly, bright personality and sense of humour. Jem has since also tried her hand at entering the music industry, some of which can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/JemLou/music
Redcoat Kim
Redcoat Kim was also known for her sense of humour and was arguably the most popular Redcoat with the guests. Sadly, this didn't prevent her from having her contract not renewed in series two, episode three. Kim also suffered an asthma attack on-site while partying in series one, episode three. It is not known what industry Kim is working in today.
Redcoat Pete
Redcoat Pete was known for his practical jokes, including pretending to destroy Jem's comfort blanket in one episode. His easy-going, friendly nature made him very popular with both staff and resident campers. Pete was last heard working in the pantomime
business.
It is not known whether the series will be released on DVD
or repeated again at any point in the future.
Butlins
Butlins is a chain of large holiday camps in the United Kingdom. Butlins was founded by Billy Butlin to provide affordable holidays for ordinary British families....
Holiday Resorts in the UK.
Production
Originally airing on ITVITV
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...
between 2001 and 2003, it focused on many aspects of working life at both camps, as well as filming the selection process and giving an insight into how productions came together behind the scenes, as well as providing an insight into the lives of Redcoats after they had finished their employment there. Well known Children's television presenter Andy Crane
Andy Crane
Howard Andrew 'Andy' Crane is an English television and radio presenter, best known for presenting Children's BBC , amongst many others.-Career:...
provided the narration for the entire three series, produced by Pilgrim Productions.
| Season | Episodes | Originally Aired |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | 2001 |
| 2 | 17 | 2001–2002 |
| 3 | 14 | 2003 |
Airing and Popularity
Popularity of the show was high enough to warrant a purchase of the entire series by Sky TelevisionSky Television
Sky Television may refer to:*British Sky Broadcasting in the United Kingdom**Sky Digital , the television network run by BSkyB...
where it was repeated on a number of channels including Sky Travel
Sky Travel
Sky Real Lives was an in-house channel from BSkyB that showed extensive programmes about travel, adverts for travel agencies and documentaries. The channels closed on 19 August 2010.-History:...
, Sky Three
Sky Three
Pick TV is a British television channel, available free-to-air on Freeview and TalkTalk TV, and free-to-view on satellite via Sky, Freesat from Sky and Virgin Media. The channel was originally launched on 31 October 2005 as Sky Three...
and Sky Real Lives until 2010 when the series unfortunately ceased to be shown on any channel for the first time since it's inception. The final episode of series three can still be seen on Sky Player
Sky Player
Sky Go is an online television service from Sky which launched in January 2006. The service allows users to watch live and on demand video content from their Mac, Windows PC, mobile phone or Xbox 360 via a broadband or Wi-Fi internet connection...
.
Prominent Cast Members
Redcoat ToriRedcoat Tori featured in two series of Redcoats and was well known for her glamourous appearance and friendly nature. She has since worked as a Television Presenter for price-drop tv
Price-drop tv
Price Drop is a British television shopping channel based in the UK, that runs daily live reversed auctions. It was the first reverse auction channel of its kind in the world. The channel first launched as Price-Drop.TV. The channel is owned by Bid Shopping....
and the Honda 4-stroke Power Boat Championships, as well as numerous music-related slots
Redcoat Dan (James)
Redcoat Dan was one of the most popular Redcoats, although not with the management, as his continued lateness, sadly, led to his dismissal. Dan was considering a music career at the time and his performance of "To Your Heart" can be heard on series two. Dan is still performing today and has performed for P & O Cruise Ships and the Bellini Grande club in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. He has also modelled part-time for First Choice
First Choice
First Choice may refer to:* First Choice * First Choice , owned by TUI Travel PLC** First Choice Airways, its in-house airline* First Choice Haircutters, a Canadian hairdressing company...
Magazine and Trident Splash.
Redcoat Nicki
Redcoat Nicki was known and loved for her dry and witty and sometimes offbeat sense of humour, as well as being one of the most honest and open Redcoats. She was also dismissed for holidaying with her partner Seth under circumstances she stated in the first episode of series three that "weren't allowed". In their final participation in the series, the couple spoke of the possibility of saving to travel to America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and attend Clown School. It is not known whether they achieved this dream or where they are now.
Redcoat Jem
Redcoat Jem was the only prominent cast member to feature in all three series. Jem was well known for her bubbly, bright personality and sense of humour. Jem has since also tried her hand at entering the music industry, some of which can be heard at http://www.myspace.com/JemLou/music
Redcoat Kim
Redcoat Kim was also known for her sense of humour and was arguably the most popular Redcoat with the guests. Sadly, this didn't prevent her from having her contract not renewed in series two, episode three. Kim also suffered an asthma attack on-site while partying in series one, episode three. It is not known what industry Kim is working in today.
Redcoat Pete
Redcoat Pete was known for his practical jokes, including pretending to destroy Jem's comfort blanket in one episode. His easy-going, friendly nature made him very popular with both staff and resident campers. Pete was last heard working in the pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
business.
Legacy and Possible DVD release
Redcoats gave a ground-breaking non-sensationalist, honest approach and focus on the Redcoats' lives both in and out of the camp which made it fascinating and entertaining.It is not known whether the series will be released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
or repeated again at any point in the future.