Rent Shoestring: Series 1 (1979)

Excellent entertaining gentle 1979 TV detective series - Shoestring: Series 1 review by PV

I remember watching this as a kid first time round though no specific episodes. I liked the complex dishevelled Eddie Shoestring character, created by a writer who'd been in TV drama since late 50s, and it does have that dated tone, even for 1979 and despite an ethnically mixed cast for the time.

Yes it is dated BUT not that much - funny how some jokes Shoestring males would definitely now be cut so as not to offend, esp jokes about women and gender - but all harmless actually. Just shows these days the world is too woke to take a joke! It adds to Eddie Shoestring's character and is true to it.

Great too to spot actors who found fame later - Peter Beale who got famous as Pete from Eastenders plays TWO characters in different episodes a copper and a wildlife park assistant keeper! Gordon Kaye aka Rene from Allo Allo rocks up in an episode as an unlikely ex-soldier. Harry S Corbett aka Steptoe obviously needed the cash to take a role in this.

Best of all is episode 9 which features TOYAH who plays a singer called TOOLA with her real band, who got famous in 1980 with IT'S A MYSTERY top 5 hit. Her manager is Christopher Biggins who does not quite convince as a violent womaniser drugdealing gangster. The same episode features Mick Jagger's brother Christopher. And also a bit part for Kevin WHitely - later Lewis in Morse after Auf -Pet - though the lack of continuity is hilarious. He plays a rich footballer and has 3 lines in a travel agent as a Geordie; later this character calls up the radio show and his accent has miraculously become pure London! Mad!

Great fun and I enjoyed it for the nostalgia and lack of woke pc nonsense of today's preachy box-ticking issue-laden TV drama which I have stopped watching. 4 stars.