''Hardwicke House'' is a seven-episode

sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...

produced by

Central Independent Television ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central, ITV1 for Central England and commonly referred to as simply Central, is the Independent Television franchisee for the Midlands. It was created following the rest ...

for the ITV network. It was originally produced in the beginning of 1987. It was so negatively received that only the first two episodes were transmitted.

Plot and episode titles

The series is set in the large comprehensive school of the title, the staff of which are as dysfunctional as the pupils. One teacher is a multiple murderer while the deputy headmaster lusts after male pupils. One teacher, Moose Magnusson, is on an extended exchange placement because his own school in Iceland refuses to have him back. * Episode 1 – "The Visit" (24 February 1987) * Episode 2 – "The First Day of Term" (25 February 1987) * Episode 3 – "Interview Day" (scheduled for 4 March 1987) * Episode 4 – "Prize Giving" (scheduled for 11 March 1987) * Episode 5 – "Old Boys" (scheduled for 18 March 1987) * Episode 6 – "An Inspector Calls" (scheduled for 25 March 1987) * Episode 7 – "Passion Play" (scheduled for 1 April 1987)

Production and curtailed broadcast

The series was extensively trailed and also mentioned on the front cover of the ''

TV Times ''TV Times'' is a British television listings magazine published by Future plc. It was originally published by Independent Television Publications, owned by the participating ITV companies. The magazine was acquired by IPC Media in 1989, which ...

'' for the week of the first two episodes: a double-length premiere and a regular episode, which were shown on consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Later episodes were scheduled for subsequent Wednesdays, but the public and press outcry against the series was so great that the series was pulled and replaced with repeats of '' Chance in a Million'' before the third episode was aired. The decision to pull the show was taken at such short notice that ''TV Times'' was unable to change its listings and the ''Hardwicke House'' feature.

References

External links

* 1987 British television series debuts 1987 British television series endings 1980s British sitcoms ITV sitcoms 1987 controversies Television shows produced by Central Independent Television English-language television shows Television controversies in the United Kingdom Television shows set in Nottinghamshire {{UK-tv-prog-stub