Spend Spend Spent - ITV Yorkshire - 25th August @ 8pm

I usually wouldn't ask for such a request lol - but typically my touring digi-recorder has gone tits up (why do i bother?!) and i would really like to catch this programme but obviously i have to organise rebelling in argentina instead (one of the cast got a broken wrist this week!...the joys!) so if anyone who gets ITV yorkshire could maybe record this and upload it to the site that shall not be named then i would be reeeeealy greatful and i'd be suprisingly good for you.....see what i did there haha!

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Updated On: 8/23/08 at 10:54 AM

nope neither - its a newly made documentary about Viv Nicholson which shows how she spent the money, then looks a bit at the musical and now what shes doing now. Tis from 8 - 8:30pm

God i wish it was the musical showing - i loved the musical!

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OK now i get you! I've seen 2 or 3 docs about her in the last few years which have been interesting, I'm not sure if the one you mention is one of these or something new. The original docs from the 70s show her as being a bit of a brass but with a heart. The BBC play for today was an amazing piece of drama. Sadly, now she just comes over as being a bit of a sad old lady with no money and just being there for sensationalism at any given opportunity.

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Updated On: 8/23/08 at 10:24 PM

The musical tried out at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in 1998 and, recast and redirected, moved into the West End (Piccadilly) the following year. It picked up Oliviers for Best Musical and Best Actress in a musical (Barbara Dickson - as the older Viv, looking back on the events and antics of her younger self) but didn't find an audience. Great performances also from Rachel Leskovac as the younger Viv and Steven Houghton as her husband.

A CD was recorded but only available for sale at the theatre. When the show closed the remaining CDs all went to Dress Circle where they remained on sale before being destroyed in the fire there a few years ago - so they are very hard to get hold of. I spent the money I was saving for a digi-recorder on an autographed copy I saw on E-bay.

There's a great anthem for the miners (see the current quote in my signature), a beautiful duet for the younger and older Viv when she's been widowed, some fun sixties-type stuff and the sequence where they win the money is good as well. It does tend to run out of steam in Act II. I think it's well worth getting a copy of but I am prejudiced in its favour due to local connections.

If they'd had the budget and director of Billy Elliot it would have been a much bigger success.

Thanks for that scripps2.

damn sounds like it may have been some good! my parents in finally got their tv tuned to yorkshire (with 3 minutes to go) so they've caught her singing my way........great lol

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I can remember seeing the previews of the TV play when I was a child and asking to be allowed to stay up past my bedtime to watch it. No such luck!

Years later I asked for an explanation as to why I hadn't been allowed to watch it and was told "because she was a very vulgar and common woman".

Ouch!