British Television Drama

This work discusses the varied history of British television drama from its beginnings on the BBC in the 1930s and 40s to its position at the beginning of the 21st century and the multi-channel digital era. It examines significant developments, such as: live TV drama before the 60s; the shift to the pre-recorded and filmed drama of the 60s and 70s; the impact of ITV populist dramas ("Emergency Ward Ten", "Coronation Street") and single play strands like "Armchair Theatre"; the wave of BBC 60s drama; ITV telefantasies such as "The Avengers"; the drama-documentaries of the 60s and 70s ("Law and Order"); the response to Thatcherism in the 80s ("Boys From the Black Stuff"); the heritage dramas of the 80s and 90s ("Brideshead Revisited"); and concluding with the stylish 90s dramas such as "Queer As Folk", "This Life" and "Cold Feet".