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Written by Steven Moffat REGULAR CAST: Lynda Day Julia Sawalha, James "Spike" Thomson II Dexter Fletcher, Kenny Philips Lee Ross, Sarah Jackson Kelda Holmes, Colin Mathews Paul Reynolds [not 1], Frazer "Frazz" Davis Mmoloki Chystie [not 6], Toni "Tiddler" Tildesley Joanna Dukes [1,4,6].
Directed by Bob Spiers The Junior Gazette is now running commercially, although without Spike who has returned to America. An investigation into a property developer leads Lynda into trouble with the paper's owner, as well as a reunion with a certain visitor from the USA... GUEST CAST: Matt Kerr Clive Wood, Zoe Toni Barry, Gordon Coles Paul Williamson, Councillor Eric Folkestone Simon Mattacks, David Campbell John Benson, Security Man (Jeff Fielding) Beresford Leroy, Waiter Paul Abbey.
NOTES: The new season brings about a number of changes. Gabrielle Anwar has left the series
(Sam is not even mentioned)
and the large number of semi-regulars has been phased out; only Clive Wood reappears
who would make an annual appearance as Matt Kerr. New footage of the regulars is used
in the title sequence and the end credits no longer use voiceovers. A new newsroom
set is used; it is identicle to the one from series two, but with a new colour scheme
to reflect the fact that the paper is now running commercially. The working title
for this episode was Hello, Junior Gazette. As usual, the season opens
with a pre-titles sequence.
TRIVIA: Kate is now head of the graphics department (Sophie Newton appears uncredited);
she has held the post for a week. Spike has been in California since he left Norbridge.
CONTINUITY: The Junior Gazette's original red telephone (introduced in Photo Finish)
can be seen in a frame on one of the newsroom walls. Several more Junior Gazette front
pages can also be seen on the walls, including the child abuse special from Something
Terrible Part Two and the one about Mr Sullivan from The Big Finish?
One of Gordon Coles developments is the Wellside
Leisure Complex, presumably the successor to the Wellside Sports Centre that the Junior
Gazette was trying to save in Breakfast At Czar's. Another deal concerns
an office block in Creslaw Road, which was the one that exploded in
The Rest of My Life. Mr Campbell, the paper's owner reappears (he was previously
in At Last A Dragon), although he is played by a different actor and his
first name has been changed from Cameron to David.
CHOICE QUOTES:
Kenny: "I think I'm going to enjoy being grown up." Lynda: "You were never anything else."
Directed by Lorne Magory Spike is searching the newsroom for his passport that Lynda has stolen. Sarah is also there; she has been stood up on a date, but is soon distracted when the newsroom receives a series of phone calls from someone who wants to speak to Rod and insisting that he hasn't got the wrong number. It soon becomes clear that this is either a clever hoax, or Sarah is talking to a killer... GUEST CAST: Jack Jake Wood, David Banks Richard Charles, Police Constable Rasaak Adoti, Mr Loranzo Rick Kennedy.
NOTES: Jake Wood previously appeared briefly in The Rest of My Life.
TRIVIA: Sarah has her own telephone extension (ext. 3), but Kenny does not! Lynda
is ext. 6). While he was in America, Spike appears to have been in or around the city
of Oakland, as he’s wearing an Oakland A’s baseball cap.
CONTINUITY: On Kenny's bedroom wall we can see a poster for his concert (Rock Solid and
The Big Finish?) and the poster for Jason Wood's album (initially feature in
Friends Like These but also seen on Kenny's wall in Rock Solid).
Kenny's guitar is also visible in the room. Also, an old style Junior Gazette can be seen in
the wreckage of Mr Loranzo's shop, and it is mentioned that the Folkestone/Coles story from
The Big Hello has had to be dropped due to legal reasons. Spike refers to
the time he gave Sarah some assertiveness training in How To Make A Killing.
CHOICE QUOTES
Colin: "Spike, baby. I didn't know you were back from Birmingham." Spike: "America,
Colin. I went home to America." Colin: "No kidding - I thought you were from Birmingham."
Directed by Bob Spiers Kenny is a philosophical mood when he discovers that he owes his existence to chance. Meanwhile, Colin has been asked out by Judy Wellman, a new and desirable member of the newsteam, and he isn't quite sure what to do... GUEST CAST: Judy Wellman Claire Forlani, Kelly Aisling Flitton, Clark Kent Tim Dutton, Head Waiter Nigel Williams, Janet Lisa Davies, Lucy Cavey Lee, Head Waitress Samantha Janus (credited but does not appear), Kenny's Grandfather (Sean Philips) Peter Stockbridge (credited but does not appear).
NOTES: Due to the episode over-running the scenes featuring Samantha Janus and Peter
Stockbridge were cut, but their credits remained.
CONTINUITY: Aisling Flitton returns as the Dublin Girl from Love And The Junior Gazette
and her character is named as Kelly.
CHOICE QUOTES:
Judy (after asking Colin out): "You must be thinking that I'm kind of forward." Colin:
"No, you're just the right shape."
Directed by Lorne Magory The newsroom is invaded by a masked gunman who holds the team hostage to protest about a story concerning gun clubs. As a siege develops it becomes clear that one member of the team is not going to make it out alive... GUEST CAST: Clown (Donald Cooper) Christien Anholt, Detective Inspector Hibbert Hugh Quarshie, Kate Sophy Newton, Trevor Hambly Carl Rigg, Male Reporter Mark Anstee, Female Reporter Emma Forbes, TV Presenter Sally McClaren, The News Team: Rebecca Bradley, Victoria Bradley, Louise Conran, Isabel Diez, Rebecca Hamilton, Maggie Jones, Justine Prior, Pamela Virgo, Hannah Wyn Davies, Nick Dutton, Colin Hazeldean, Robbie Hearn, Jeremy Hodge, Mitchell Knight, Tim Stringer, Dennis Victory, Andy Wright.
NOTES: The idea for this episode arose as a way of writing out Spike when it was thought
that Dexter Fletcher was leaving the show. This is the only episode outside of the
second season to credit the news team. Sophy Newton gets her own credit as Kate (with
a different spelling) although she does no more or less than the other members of the
news team.
CHOICE QUOTES:
Lynda: "You and me Spike, we're held together by a force even stronger than true
love." Spike: "Which is?" Lynda: "We both want the last word."
Directed by Lorne Magory It is the aftermath of the siege and questions are being asked of the police since the gunman was able to escape. However, immediately before the funeral of the person who was called, Inspector Hibbert is given a document that reveals precisely what happened inside the newsroom... GUEST CAST: Donald Cooper Christien Anholt, Detective Inspector Hibbert Hugh Quarshie, Billy Homer Andy Crowe.
NOTES: Andy Crowe makes his only proper appearance as Billy Homer
in the last three seasons of the show.
TRIVIA: In his clue to Spike, Billy mentions the mystery writer, a reference to the
character's introduction in Interface.
CHOICE QUOTES:
Colin: "Can I just interject at this point?" Donald (with gun): "Shut up."
Colin: "Fine. That's valid."
Directed by Bob Spiers Spike and Lynda find themselves unexpectedly attached when they investigate a stage hypnotist with a cruel sense of humour. Which is inconvenient, since Spike is due to return to America with his girlfriend... GUEST CAST: Zoe Toni Barry, Mister Maringo (John Hardy) Steve O'Donnell, Alec Conell Paul Mark Elliott, Moira Conell Rebecca Stevens, Shoe Man Louis Hillyer.
NOTES: On its original transmission this episode was preceded by a warning from presenter
Tommy Boyd due to its frequent use of the phrase "Divorce the bitch", which is quite
strong language for a "children's" programme.
TRIVIA: Spike dreams that Lynda is the editor of the Daily Chronicle (a post she got in
the year 2005) and has an employee Damien Campbell, presumably a descendent of Junior Gazette
owner David Campbell.
CONTINUITY: Toni Barry reappars as Zoe from The Big Hello. Colin's gunshot injury
from The Last Word Part Two flares up again when his scheme is discovered.
CHOICE QUOTES: "You're something special, Lynda Day. Not easy. No way easy. But
very very special." (Spike).
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