Drama Connections

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet was a massive telly hit and here we learn how it first made it onto our screens. The tale of British brickies abroad started, appropriately enough, with someone getting maudlin in a Newcastle pub. Documentary-maker Franc Roddam was supping alone because all his mates were working overseas. Ping! He had the idea of making the TV comedy drama that would follow the misadventures of likely lads Oz, Neville, Bomber, Moxey, Dennis, Wayne and Barry (right). This reveals how Jimmy Nail turned up for a job as an extra and landed a starring role.