The Grand (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Grand was a British television drama series first broadcast on ITV
in 1997-1998. It was written by Russell T Davies and set in a hotel in Manchester
in the 1920s.
There were two series: eight episodes in the first series were broadcast from 4 April 1997 to 23 May 1997 and ten in the second series from 30 January 1998 to 3 April 1998. All 18 episodes were written by Russell T Davies. The cast included Susan Hampshire
, Julia St. John
, Tim Healy
, Michael Siberry
, Stephen Moyer
and Mark McGann
.
John Bannerman, played by Michael Siberry
, owned and ran the hotel, with his wife, Sarah (Julia St. John
). Their son, Stephen (Stephen Moyer
) worked with his parents when he returned from fighting in World War One. Their daughter, Adele (Camilla Power
), helped occasionally but not often as she was still at school. Frequent visitors to the hotel were John's widowed mother, Mary, John's younger brother, Marcus (Mark McGann
), and his lady friend, Ruth Manning (Amanda Mealing
).
The main staff members featured were Jacob Collins (hall porter), played by Tim Healy
, Mrs Harvey (housekeeper), chambermaids Kate Morris (Rebecca Callard
), Lynn Milligan, Brenda Potter, Monica Jones (Jane Danson
)
and Olive Clegg, footmen/bar staff Clive and Alfred and former chambermaid Janet Brady (Liza Walker
).
Guests that featured in the series were Miss Esme Harkness (Susan Hampshire
),
a retired prostitute, who took a shine to Monica, James Cornell (Daniel Casey
), Maggie Rigby (Lucy Davis
), a school friend of Adele's, and her father, Lawrence, John Middleton
.
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...
in 1997-1998. It was written by Russell T Davies and set in a hotel in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in the 1920s.
There were two series: eight episodes in the first series were broadcast from 4 April 1997 to 23 May 1997 and ten in the second series from 30 January 1998 to 3 April 1998. All 18 episodes were written by Russell T Davies. The cast included Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, OBE is an English actress, best-known for her many television and film roles.-Early life:Susan Hampshire was born in Kensington, London, the youngest of four children. She had two sisters and one brother...
, Julia St. John
Julia St. John
Julia St. John is an English actress. Her television appearances include A Touch of Frost, The Brittas Empire, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Lewis.-Selected film and television roles:...
, Tim Healy
Tim Healy (actor)
Timothy Malcolm Healy is an English actor. He is best known for playing Dennis Patterson in the television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He is married to the actress Denise Welch.-Career:...
, Michael Siberry
Michael Siberry
Michael Siberry is an Australian stage and screen actor. He most recently starred as King Arthur in the National Tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. In September 2008, he assumed the role of King Arthur on Broadway....
, Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer is an English actor who has starred as vampire Bill Compton in the HBO series True Blood since 2008.-Early life and career:Moyer was born in Brentwood, Essex...
and Mark McGann
Mark McGann
Mark McGann is an English actor, director and musician.- Acting career :McGann first appeared on stage in 1981 in the production Lennon at the Everyman Theatre and the London Astoria where he portrayed John Lennon, role which won him the first of his two Olivier Award nominations for best actor in...
.
Characters
The series featured the Bannerman family that owned and ran the hotel, the staff that lived in the basement and occasional guests.John Bannerman, played by Michael Siberry
Michael Siberry
Michael Siberry is an Australian stage and screen actor. He most recently starred as King Arthur in the National Tour of Monty Python's Spamalot. In September 2008, he assumed the role of King Arthur on Broadway....
, owned and ran the hotel, with his wife, Sarah (Julia St. John
Julia St. John
Julia St. John is an English actress. Her television appearances include A Touch of Frost, The Brittas Empire, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Lewis.-Selected film and television roles:...
). Their son, Stephen (Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer
Stephen Moyer is an English actor who has starred as vampire Bill Compton in the HBO series True Blood since 2008.-Early life and career:Moyer was born in Brentwood, Essex...
) worked with his parents when he returned from fighting in World War One. Their daughter, Adele (Camilla Power
Camilla Power
Camilla Power is an Irish-born English actress who is most notably remembered in her role as Jill Pole in BBC's TV adaptation of the book The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis...
), helped occasionally but not often as she was still at school. Frequent visitors to the hotel were John's widowed mother, Mary, John's younger brother, Marcus (Mark McGann
Mark McGann
Mark McGann is an English actor, director and musician.- Acting career :McGann first appeared on stage in 1981 in the production Lennon at the Everyman Theatre and the London Astoria where he portrayed John Lennon, role which won him the first of his two Olivier Award nominations for best actor in...
), and his lady friend, Ruth Manning (Amanda Mealing
Amanda Mealing
Amanda Jane Mealing is a British actress best known for playing Connie Beauchamp in the BBC One medical drama series Holby City.-Early life:...
).
The main staff members featured were Jacob Collins (hall porter), played by Tim Healy
Tim Healy (actor)
Timothy Malcolm Healy is an English actor. He is best known for playing Dennis Patterson in the television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. He is married to the actress Denise Welch.-Career:...
, Mrs Harvey (housekeeper), chambermaids Kate Morris (Rebecca Callard
Rebecca Callard
-Early life:The daughter of Coronation Street actress Beverley Callard, she was born Rebecca Jayne Atkinson, but took her stepfather's surname when her mother married Steven Callard in 1989. In her early roles she used her father's surname and was credited as Rebecca Sowden.As a child Callard lived...
), Lynn Milligan, Brenda Potter, Monica Jones (Jane Danson
Jane Danson
Jane Danson is an English actress, most famous for playing the role of Leanne Battersby in Coronation Street.-Acting:...
)
and Olive Clegg, footmen/bar staff Clive and Alfred and former chambermaid Janet Brady (Liza Walker
Liza Walker
Liza Walker is an English actress. She is the former girlfriend of 1990s pop star Chesney Hawkes.-Filmography:*El Sueno Del Mono Loco, 1990*Buddy's Song, 1990*Teenage Health Freak, 1991 TV Series*Century, 1993...
).
Guests that featured in the series were Miss Esme Harkness (Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire
Susan Hampshire, Lady Kulukundis, OBE is an English actress, best-known for her many television and film roles.-Early life:Susan Hampshire was born in Kensington, London, the youngest of four children. She had two sisters and one brother...
),
a retired prostitute, who took a shine to Monica, James Cornell (Daniel Casey
Daniel Casey
-Early life:The son of journalist and television presenter Luke Casey, he grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and attended Grey College, Durham, graduating with a BA in English Literature before pursuing a career in acting.-Career:...
), Maggie Rigby (Lucy Davis
Lucy Davis
Lucy Clare Davis is an English actress. She is best known for playing the character Dawn Tinsley in the BBC comedy The Office and as Dianne in the horror-comedy movie Shaun of the Dead.-Career:...
), a school friend of Adele's, and her father, Lawrence, John Middleton
John Middleton (actor)
John Middleton is an English actor well known for his part in ITV's Emmerdale as Reverend Ashley Thomas...
.
External links
- The Grand at the British Film InstituteBritish Film InstituteThe British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
Film & TV database (includes full cast and credits, and episode synopses)