A short article and accompanying picture announced the arrival of this series in the Radio Times. Both Davison and Grout had appeared together in the long running "All Creatures Great and Small" and respectively play "the staff room's idealistic recruit Eric Brown, starting his first teaching job at King Street" and "the practical, battle-scarred Headmaster, Mr. Beeston". The article goes on to say:
"This week, radio reunites them, but in a very different environment - as teachers in a tough junior school in the new light drama series 'King Street Junior' . Written by Jim Eldridge, himself a teacher, 'King Street Junior' aims to take a realistic look at the everyday life of an Inner-City school in a so-called Social Priority Area. Interestingly, both actors have drawn on family connections with the teaching profession while preparing for their roles. Peter's sister and brother-in-law are both teachers, and James's brother Richard was for many years Head of St. Michael's in Highgate.
Both feel very much at home with their characters. 'I've got a lot of time for him' says Peter of young Eric. 'He's a bit naïve but his heart's in the right place' . James admits that his interpretation of Mr. Beeston is based 'quite a lot' on his brother - 'though he may not recognise himself!' Beeston loves the job, but he is 'a bit of a cynic'. Peter describes the 7-part series as 'amusing, but not frivolous. There's light comedy, but serious issues are explored, too' . Says James : 'It is definitely more Grange Hill than Whack-O! It's not a sit-com, though a lot of comic things happen in it' . "
| Principal Cast | |
|---|---|
| Eric Brown | Peter Davison (series 1 & 2) |
| Philip Sims | Karl Howman (series 3 onwards) |
| Mr. Beeston, Headmaster | James Grout |
| Mr. Holliday, Deputy Head | Tom Watson |
| Mrs. Stone, School Secretary | Margaret John |
| Mrs. Rudd | Vivienne Martin |
| Mr. Long | Paul Copley |
| Miss Lewis | Marlene Sidaway |
| Mrs. Patterson | Deirdre Costello |
The following series guide has been collated from various sources, but mainly the Radio Times. Episode titles are those that are listed in the Radio Times, however, some did not have titles published, and where this is the case, an appropriate title describing the storyline has been added. These are in no way official titles, but make cataloguing the series easier and are italicised here to distinguish them.
SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Revisited
:: Series 1
Broadcast on Radio 4 in the Monday lunchtime slot (12.27pm) with subsequent repeats the following day at 6.30pm. The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The New School Year Starts Here | 25.3.85 | |
| Redeployment | 1.4.85 | |
| Crime & Punishment | 8.4.85 | |
| The Principle Of The Thing | 15.4.85 | |
| Scale Points | 22.4.85 | |
| Language Unit | 29.4.85 | |
| Christmas at King Street | 6.5.85 |
:: Series 2
Broadcast on Radio 4 in the Monday lunchtime slot (12.27pm) with subsequent repeats the following day at 6.30pm. The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Priorities | 5.1.87 | |
| Dispute | 12.1.87 | |
| Barn Dance | 19.1.87 | |
| Problem Parents | 26.1.87 | |
| The Sound of Music | 2.2.87 | |
| Assemblies | 9.2.87 | |
| Parents' Evening | 16.2.87 | |
| The Outing | 23.2.87 | |
| Sports Day | 2.3.87 | |
| Breaking Up Is Hard To Do | 9.3.87 |
:: Series 3
A further series broadcast on Radio 4 in the Monday lunchtime slot (12.25pm) with subsequent repeats the following day at 6.30pm. The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson. The character Eric Brown (Peter Davison) was replaced as from this series by Philip Sims (played by Karl Howman). This was Howman's first major acting rôle in radio after over 200 TV appearances and a dozen films, as well as a starring part in "Me And My Girl", the hit London Musical. The accompanying article in "Radio Times" states:
"The 3rd. series of this humorous but realistic look at multi-racial, inner-city school life finds him joining the battle-scarred ranks as supply teacher, Philip Sims. Sims is stepping in for the recently-departed Eric Brown, the character created 3 years ago by Peter Davison. So what sort of man is the new recruit? 'His background is working-class, he was educated at Technical College and this is his first attempt at teaching juniors' says Karl. ' As a supply teacher, he's initially coming for one term - but he could stay on' . Karl's own father is a teacher (of music), but he has not drawn on any personal experiences for his characterisation. He sees radio as 'a challenge - it's actually been quite exhausting..........I just dived in and started to paddle!'
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Back To School | 15.2.88 | |
| Fireworks | 22.2.88 | |
| The Spirit of Christmas | 29.2.88 | |
| The History Game | 7.3.88 | |
| Pressures | 14.3.88 | |
| The Facts of Life | 21.3.88 | |
| Under Canvas | 28.3.88 | |
| The School Fête | 4.4.88 |
:: Series 4
This series was broadcast on Radio 4 on a Tuesday evening (6.30pm) with a repeat two days later in the lunchtime slot (12.25pm). The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| It's Only Rock & Roll | 25.4.89 | |
| Closure | 2.5.89 | |
| Opting Out | 9.5.89 | |
| Fund-Raising | 16.5.89 | |
| Health | 23.5.89 | |
| The Succession | 30.5.89 | |
| It's Not Cricket | 6.6.89 | |
| That Old-Time Religion | 13.6.89 |
:: Series 5
A further series broadcast on Radio 4 on a Tuesday evening (6.30pm) with a repeat two days later in the lunchtime slot (12.25pm). The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| D-Day Minus One | 15.5.90 | |
| "Crossed Swords" | 22.5.90 | |
| Good Times, Bad Times | 29.5.90 | |
| "Anguish for Mr. Sims" | 5.6.90 | |
| "King Street Invades France" | 12.6.90 | |
| "The New School Governor" | 19.6.90 | |
| The Reunion | 26.6.90 |
:: Series 6
Another series broadcast on Radio 4 in the familiar slots of Tuesday evening (6.30pm) with a repeat two days later at lunchtime (12.25pm). The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| In Real Terms.. | 4.6.91 | |
| Travellers | 11.6.91 | |
| Safety First | 18.6.91 | |
| A Good Read | 25.6.91 | |
| Emergency | 2.7.91 | |
| A Day At The Centre | 9.7.91 | |
| Thursday's Child | 16.7.91 | |
| The Games Children Play | 23.7.91 |
:: Series 7
This was the first series to be broadcast without an immediate repeat, and used the former repeat slot of Thursday lunchtimes (12.25pm). The series was written by Jim Eldridge and produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Back In The Jug Again | 2.4.92 | |
| Witch Hunt | 9.4.92 | |
| Is There A Father Christmas? | 16.4.92 | |
| Fatal Attraction | 23.4.92 | |
| Horses For Courses | 30.4.92 | |
| Beside The Seaside | 7.5.92 | |
| Taking The Rap | 14.5.92 | |
| Endings & Beginnings | 21.5.92 |
:: Series 8
This series followed the same format as the previous, with just one broadcast a week in the Radio 4 lunchtime slot (12.25pm), but this time it had moved forward a day to Wednesday. The series was the first to not be entorely written by Jim Eldridge, the writers are indicated for each show, but the series continued to be produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Chips | 19.4.95 | Written by Paul Copley |
| Settling In | 26.4.95 | Written by Ivan Shakespeare |
| Beginnings & Endings | 3.5.95 | Written by Jim Eldridge |
| Left Out, Roped In | 10.5.95 | Written by Martin Davies |
| Confusion | 17.5.95 | Written by Martin Davies |
| Internal Enquiries | 24.5.95 | Written by Richard Stoneman |
:: Series 9
In the same Radio 4 lunchtime slot (12.25pm) as the preceeding series, this was the second to not be entirely written by Jim Eldridge. The writers for each show are indicated. The series was, however, produced by John Fawcett Wilson.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Responsibilities | 27.11.96 | Written by Richard Stoneman |
| Danger Zone | 4.12.96 | Written by Jim Eldridge |
| A Bridge To Afar | 11.12.96 | Written by Paul Copley |
| Relative Values | 18.12.96 | Written by Andy Rashleigh |
| With Love | 1.1.97 | Written by Jim Eldridge |
| Crossed Lines | 8.1.97 | Written by Richard Stoneman |
| Financial Times | 15.1.97 | Written by Paul Copley |
| Gridlocked | 22.1.97 | Written by Jim Eldridge |
:: Series 10
By this series, Jim Eldridge had taken up the writing reins again and the series was broadcast in the earlier morning comedy slot (11.30am) on Radio 4 of a Monday. Again, John Fawcett Wilson produced.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Proposals | 28.9.98 | |
| The Rivals | 5.10.98 | |
| Accusations | 12.10.98 | |
| Target Practice | 19.10.98 | |
| Incidental Music | 26.10.98 | |
| Final Thoughts | 2.11.98 |
Whilst Mr. Beeston (Headmaster) played by James Grout retired after the 10th. Series, King Street Junior School remained, and its radio resurrection took place in April, 2002 under a new title "King Street Junior Revisited". Thsi took the form of a 6-part series, again written by the indefatigable Jim Eldridge and produced by the equally indefatigable John Fawcett Wilson. The "Radio Times" issue covering Saturday 20 - Friday 26 April commented:
"Spring has sprung, the clocks have gone forward, the rain has warmed up and the teachers are threatening to strike. So not much change there. But - hark, what is this? It is the dimly but fondly remembered sound effects - bells, shouts and riotous assembly - associated with King Street Junior, the fictional school that featured in no less than 10 series between 1985 and 1998. Now the show has been revamped, with some changes of staff and some changes of school furniture, including the arrival of closed-circuit TV cameras. The stories are told from the staff-room perspective, so there is much plot potential in the snowstorm of initiatives which buries the teachers on a weekly basis. Those who enjoyed the previous run of the show will find plenty of echoes here."
| Principal Cast | |
|---|---|
| Mrs. Devon | Carolyn Pickles |
| Miss Lewis | Marlene Sidaway |
| Mr. Maxwell | Michael Cochrane |
| Miss Reid | Jacqueline Beatty |
| Mr. Long | Paul Copley |
| Miss Featherstone | Teresa Gallagher |
| Mrs. Khan | Janice Acquah |
:: King Street Junior Revisited.
The revival of the series was written by Jim Eldridge and John Fawcett Wilson produced, and it returned to the morning comedy slot (11.30am) on Radio 4.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| A Good Heart | 26.4.02 | |
| The Real Thing | 3.5.02 | |
| The System | 10.5.02 | |
| Oh No It Isn't! | 17.5.02 | |
| Waiting for OFSTED | 24.5.02 | |
| Jour de Fête | 31.5.02 | Mr. Beeston makes a surprise reappearance. |
A second series returned to the airwaves just over a year later.
| Title | Tx. Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Going through the roof | 27.6.03 | |
| The Spirit of Xmas | 4.7.03 | |
| Time | 11.7.03 | |
| Love All | 18.7.03 | |
| Priorities | 25.7.03 | |
| Play On | 1.8.03 |
I would like to thank William Hardwicke, Roger Bickerton, and Rhys William Phillips for the preparation and research of this page.