Shine on Harvey Moon
Encyclopedia
Shine on Harvey Moon is a British
television
series made by 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 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 remaining series filmed at newly-constructed facilities in Nottingham
.
The series was revived by Meridian Television in 1995, this time set during the 1950s, with Nicky Henson
taking over the role of Harvey.
.
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...
series made by Central Television 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...
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
Maurice Gran
Maurice Bernard Gran is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran. He co-wrote popular sitcoms The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart with Laurence Marks. He is also the co-author of Prudence at Number 10, a fictional diary supposedly written by Gordon Brown's P.A.-External links:...
. The series is set in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
shortly after the Second World War. Upon being demobbed RAF serviceman Harvey Moon returns home and finds his family involved in various troubles. His wife Rita, played by Maggie Steed
Maggie Steed
Maggie Steed is an English actress and comedienne.-Youth:After studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, she left the theatre for several years.-Career:...
, is not interested in resuming their relationship, and works in a seedy nightclub frequented by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
servicemen. He becomes involved with the Labour Party and the union movement
Union Movement
The Union Movement was a right-wing political party founded in Britain by Oswald Mosley. Where Mosley had previously been associated with a peculiarly British form of fascism, the Union Movement attempted to redefine the concept by stressing the importance of developing a European nationalism...
.
The name of the series is a wordplay on the title of the popular 1908 song 'Shine On, Harvest Moon
Shine On, Harvest Moon
"Shine On, Harvest Moon" is the name of a popular early-1900s song credited to the married vaudeville team Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth. It was one of a series of moon related Tin Pan Alley songs of the era. The song was debuted by Bayes and Norworth in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908 to great acclaim...
'. The first series was commissioned and recorded by ATV
Associated TeleVision
Associated Television, often referred to as ATV, was a British television company, holder of various licences to broadcast on the ITV network from 24 September 1955 until 00:34 on 1 January 1982...
(the forerunner to Central Television) at their Elstree
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
studios with the remaining series filmed at newly-constructed facilities in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
Regular cast
- Harvey Moon - Kenneth CranhamKenneth CranhamKenneth Cranham is a film, television and stage actor. He starred in the title role in the popular 1980s comedy drama Shine on Harvey Moon. He also appeared in Layer Cake, Gangster No. 1, Rome, Oliver! and many other films. He is probably best known to horror genre fans as the deranged Dr...
- Rita Moon - Maggie SteedMaggie SteedMaggie Steed is an English actress and comedienne.-Youth:After studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, she left the theatre for several years.-Career:...
- Maggie Moon - Linda RobsonLinda RobsonLinda Patricia Mary Robson is an English actress. She played Tracey in the BBC comedy, Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998.-Personal life and education:...
- Violet "Nan" Moon - Elizabeth SpriggsElizabeth Spriggs-Early life and career:Born in Buxton, Derbyshire as Elizabeth Jean Williams, Spriggs had an unhappy childhood and grew up entirely without affection, particularly from her distant, domineering father, a master builder and farmer. She studied at the Royal College of Music and taught speech and...
- Stanley Moon - Lee WhitlockLee WhitlockLee Whitlock is a British television and film actor.At age 12 he gave his debut in the British television series The Gentle Touch in 1980. In 1982 he appeared as Stanley Moon, the son of Harvey Moon, in the series Shine on Harvey Moon and as Falstaff's page Robin in The Merry Wives of Windsor. In...
- Lou Lewis - Nigel PlanerNigel PlanerNigel George Planer is an English actor, comedian, novelist and playwright.Planer is perhaps best known for his role as Neil Pye in the cult BBC comedy The Young Ones. He has appeared in many West End musicals, including Evita, Chicago, We Will Rock You, Wicked and Hairspray...
- Harriet Wright - Fiona Victory
- Erich Gottlieb - Leonard FentonLeonard FentonLeonard Fenton is a British actor, best known for his role as Dr. Harold Legg in the BBC soap opera, EastEnders.-Early life:...
- Frieda Gottlieb - Suzanne BertishSuzanne BertishSuzanne C. Bertish is an English actress.A former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Bertish has appeared in many productions with them, including their marathon eight-and-a-half hour version of Charles Dickens's The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, in which she played three roles...
- Veronica - Pauline QuirkePauline QuirkePauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
The series was revived by Meridian Television in 1995, this time set during the 1950s, with Nicky Henson
Nicky Henson
Nicholas Victor Leslie "Nicky" Henson is an English actor who has portrayed many roles since 1963. He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1977. He was born in London.-Early life:...
taking over the role of Harvey.
DVD Release
Shine On Harvey Moon (Series 1 and 2) is currently available on DVD as a 3 disc set and Series Three is also available from 29 October 2007 as a 3 disc set. Both distributed by Acorn Media UKAcorn Media UK
Acorn Media UK is a DVD publisher which distributes and sells home video products with a particular focus on British television.- Company history :The company was founded in 1997 when Lesley Fromant set up a branch of parent company Acorn Media in the UK....
.