''No Problem!'' is a

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a fourth television service ...

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 ...

that ran from 1983 to 1985, created by the Black Theatre Co-operative. The show was written by Farrukh Dhondy and Mustapha Matura, from the Black Theatre Co-operative. Twenty-seven episodes were broadcast of the programme, which focused on a family of Jamaican heritage, the Powells, living in a council house in

Willesden Green Willesden () is an area of northwest London, situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933, and has formed p ...

, London. It was voted Britain's 100th best sitcom in a poll carried out by the

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Synopsis

British black community

The show's producers made a conscious decision to focus on comedy rather than "race issues", which drew some criticism. Writing for the

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website

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, critic Mark Duguid said:

The 1980s saw television moving with the times and beginning to respond, albeit awkwardly, to calls for greater sophistication in black representations. ''No Problem!'' (ITV, 1983–85) drew its cast and creators from the Black Theatre Co-operative, and concerned the teenage and twenty-something Powell kids, left to fend for themselves in a
Willesden Willesden () is an area of northwest London, situated 5 miles (8 km) northwest of Charing Cross. It is historically a parish in the county of Middlesex that was incorporated as the Municipal Borough of Willesden in 1933, and has forme ...
council house after their parents have returned to Jamaica. But the accent was on comedy, not politics, and the show quickly alienated some black activists, who objected to the narrow roles allotted to its female characters, to its casual jokes at the expense of Asians (ironic given its Asian co-writers, Farukh Dhondy and Mustapha Matura), and even to the scenario itself, which, in the words of cultural critic
Paul Gilroy Paul Gilroy (born 16 February 1956) is an English sociologist and cultural studies scholar who is the founding Director of the Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Race and Racism at University College, London (UCL). Gilroy is the 2019 ...
, put "voluntary repatriation at the heart of the situation".

Cast

*Bellamy: Victor Romero Evans *Beast: Malcolm Frederick *Sensimilia:

Judith Jacob Judith Jacob (born 13 December 1961) is a British actress best known for her role as the health visitor Carmel Roberts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', a role she played from 1986 to 1989.Janet Kay Janet Kay Bogle (born 17 January 1958) is an English actor and vocalist, best known for her 1979 lovers rock hit "Silly Games". Biography Janet Kay Bogle was born in Willesden, North West London. She was discovered singing impromptu at a rehea ...

*Susannah:

Sarah Lam Sarah Lam is a British-Chinese actress known for UK television roles. Career She played Susannah in the sitcom '' No Problem!'', Linda Mo in ''Angels'', Anna Lee in ''Howards' Way'' and Caroline Choi in ''Brookside''. Other TV credits include ' ...

*Terri: Shope Shodeinde *Toshiba: Chris Tummings *Melba:

Angela Wynter Angela Wynter is a Jamaican-British actress. She is known for her role as Yolande Trueman in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', appearing from 2003 to 2008, with a guest appearance in 2017. In 2021, she joined the cast of the BBC soap opera '' ...

*Director/producer: Micky Dolenz of

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References

External links

* Guide to Comedy *{{IMDb title, id=0085064
No Problem! – Episode GuideNo Problem – Series 1 – Episode 1 – Part 1
– from Janet Kay's official YouTube channel
No Problem – Series 1 – Episode 1 – Part 2No Problem – Series 1 – Episode 1 – Part 3
Black British sitcoms Channel 4 sitcoms 1983 British television series debuts 1985 British television series endings 1980s British sitcoms English-language television shows Television series by ITV Studios London Weekend Television shows