Alan Bleasdale, the Liverpudlian screenwriter and playwright, is in the spotlight this week as a stage version of his iconic 1980's TV series 'Boys from the Blackstuff' opened at the National Theatre. Born in Liverpool, an only child who first went into teaching, his first public work was 'Scully' for Radio Merseyside, a kind of Liverpudlian Adrian Mole, which he wrote whilst he was still teaching. But it was 'Boys from the Blackstuff' that made him a household name with one of the characters, Yosser Hughes' line 'Gissa job' providing a chant on the stands of his beloved Liverpool Football Club. His work has courted controversy with successive governments, although he says he's not political, only voting for the first time at the age of 38. Now in his late 70's and 40 years on from the original television series, he's back in the spotlight. Stephen Smith talks to friends and colleagues about his work, phobias and how to tell if you're having a heart attack. CONTRIBUTORS
Peter Ansorge, former Script Producer, BBC Drama and Commissioning Editor
James Graham, Playwright and Screenwriter
Robert Lindsay, Actor
Sir Michael Palin, Actor and Author
Tony Schumacher, Author and Screenwriter
Trevor Stent, former teaching colleague PRODUCTION TEAM
Presenter: Stephen Smith
Producers: Julie Ball, Diane Richardson
Researcher: Marianna Brain
Editor: Bridget Harney
Sound: Neil Churchill
Production Co-ordinator: Maria OgundeleCREDITS
Boys from the Blackstuff, BBC Drama
GBH, Channel 4
Scully's New Years Eve, BBC

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