Hugely popular saga novel Catherine Cookson had seen surprisingly few of her novels dramatised for film and TV until these high profile, big budget productions came along. There had a couple of 1950’s movies starring John Gregson (Jaqueline in 1956 and Rooney in 1958) and a well remembered series based on her books about the Mallen family but that was it.
In 1989 Tyne Tees decided to adapt The Fifteen Streets and it was a major hit making Sean Bean a big name in the process. They continued presenting an adaptation at the rate of one or two a year. The first few stories were feature length most of the others were three parters. All had high profile casts (including the likes of Nigel Havers, Juliet Stevenson, Bob Peck, Janet McTeer, Denholm Elliott and Catherine Zeta Jones to name just a few.
Most of the stories are set either in Victorian times or occasionally in the early part of the 20th century but never modern day and with a Cookson tale you know there is going to be a star crossed love story, hard times and mostly an happy ending.
production details
UK / ITV – Tyne Tees – Worldwide International – Portman – Festival / Broadcast 20 August 1989 – 8 December 2000
Novels: Catherine Cookson
THE STORIES
1. THE FIFTEEN STREETS (20 Aug 1989)
2. THE BLACK CANDLE (26 May 1991)
3. THE BLACK VELVET GOWN (2 Jun 1991)
4. THE MAN WHO CRIED (2 parter / 3-4 Jan 1993)
5. THE CINDER PATH (3 parter / 17 Apr – 1 May 1994)
6. THE DWELLING PLACE (3 parter / 8-20 May 1994)
7. THE GLASS VIRGIN (3 parter / 6-20 Jan 1995)
8. THE GAMBLING MAN (3 parter / 26 Feb-12 Mar 1995)
9. THE TIDE OF LIFE (3 parter / 5-19 Jan 196)
10. THE GIRL (3 parter / 16 Feb – 1 Mar 1996)
11. THE WINGLESS BIRD (12-26 Jan 1997)
12. THE MOTH (3 parter / 28 Feb – 14 Mar 1997)
13. THE RAG NYMPH (3 parter / 3-17 Oct 1997)
14. THE ROUND TOWER (3 parter / 9-23 Jan 1998)
15. COLOUR BLIND (3 parter / 16-22 Dec 1998)
16. TILLY TROTTER (4 parter / 8-29 Jan 1999)
17. THE SECRET (3 parter / 21 Jan – 4 Feb 2000)
18. A DINNER OF HERBS (6 parter / 24 Nov – 8 Dec 2000)
