Gathercole Bunch

Gathercole Bunch (The Kids from 47a)

1973-05-30
26m

Four siblings find they have to take care of themselves when their mum leaves for hospital.

Actor and writer Charlotte Mitchell created the children's drama The Kids from 47A for ATV in 1973. This episode, the first in the series, introduces the viewer to the four Gathercole siblings: 16 year-old Jess (Christine McKenna), sporty Willy (Nigel Greaves), clever Binny (Gaynor Hodgson) and playful eight year-old George (Russell Lewis). Life for 'The Gathercole Bunch' is about to change; the viewer watches their pensive and distracted widowed mother (Mary MacLeod) prepare to leave for a stay in hospital. The kids seem resilient and cheerful, but as the time gets closer to the taxi arriving, the cracks start to show.

Unbeknown to the audience and the kids, the first episode is the only appearance of the Gathercoles' mum, and when their elderly aunt doesn't show to take care of them, the drama's central conceit reveals itself. The kids are alone, and must do everything they can to take care of themselves and stop nosy neighbours from reporting them to the authorities.

While the plight of children fending for themselves is evergreen territory for drama, The Kids from 47A quickly distinguished itself for its smart characterisation and dialogue. Later in the series run it would showcase the early talents of upcoming television writers, including Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante and Phil Redmond, mastermind of Grange Hill and Brookside.

Mrs. Gathercole is taken ill and Aunt Olive doesn't show up so the kids try to
preserve the family unit.

Kid's TV

Our relationship with the small screen starts early in life, opening our square eyes to a heady mix of drama and comedy; fantasy and fact.

Dedicated children’s programming has been part of the television mix from its earliest years, growing from short intervals “For The Children” after WWII, to a plethora of standalone channels today. The start of the BBC’s long-running “Watch With Mother” series in 1953 set much of the template for pre-school television, blending puppets, song and animation, with the implicit expectation that mum - assumed to be a housewife - would supervise. Catering for older children, meanwhile, sought to balance the kinds of programmes children want to watch with those their parents want them to see. Eventually a fuller menu of drama, comedy, factual and magazine programmes for children - in other words, versions of 'grown-up' programmes for 'small people' - came to fill the schedules of weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings. Sadly, the segregation of children’s television to its own satellite, cable and digital channels has made its much less likely for adults to experience the frequent delights of kids’ TV. But our collection welcomes all ages! (Though please note that some programmes maybe flagged as unsuitable for young children.)

48 videos in this collection

The Story of the Caveman

1971-01-05

Diane's Panda Party [28/09/72]

1972-09-28

Animal Kwackers [09/10/75]

1975-10-09

Witches' Brew [28/12/72]

1972-12-28

Origami [09/04/70]

1970-04-09

Mr. Trimble [21/02/73]

1973-02-21