Mid-Term Report

Mid-Term Report

Summary

A masterclass in media studies from the creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks. Described in Parliament as 'excellent' by Ed Vaizey, The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport


GRANGE HILL

Swimming pool disasters. Drugs, and just say ‘no’. Flying sausages. School like you’d never seen it before.

BROOKSIDE

Lesbian kisses. Bodies under patios. Exploding shops. Suburban life like you’d never seen it before.

HOLLYOAKS

Bad boys on bikes. Loveable geeks. Leggy blondes. Students like you’d never seen them before.

PHIL REDMOND

Three classic TV programmes. One TV genius. This is the behind-the-scenes story of how a working-class lad from the Liverpool suburbs went from living on a housing estate to buying one, and from comprehensive school dinners to lunch with the Queen. Along the way he learned a lot of lessons, broke all the rules, and changed television for ever.

Reviews

  • a behind-camera legend gives a masterclass in media studies
    Mark Lawson, Guardian

About the author

Phil Redmond

Phil Redmond is best known for creating three of Britain's longest-running drama series Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks. Redmond came up with the concept for Grange Hill in 1978 and has written extensively for TV, radio and stage, running independent company Mersey Television for 25 years until 2005. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and was made a CBE in 2004. Since 2005, Redmond has chaired many public sector initiatives pro bono, including National Museums Liverpool and the Advisory Panel to UK City of Culture. Highbridge is his return to writing fiction.
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