Our Friends in the North 1979 (Season 1, Episode 6)
TV-MA
TV Episode | 70 min | Drama, History

Our Friends in the North

1979 (Season 1, Episode 6)

TV-MA

TV Episode | 70 min | Drama, History

Tosker and Mary's marriage has disintegrated to the point where it is completely over, but for the sake of their children, Anthony and Bernadette, they stay together. Depressed and worried about the loss of his hair, Tosker frequents local...See moreTosker and Mary's marriage has disintegrated to the point where it is completely over, but for the sake of their children, Anthony and Bernadette, they stay together. Depressed and worried about the loss of his hair, Tosker frequents local nightclubs with Geordie and together they have continual one-night stands. Nicky has returned to more conventional politics and wins selection as the Labour Party candidate in the constituency next door to Eddie Wells MP, who has since rejoined the Labour Party himself. His Conservative opponent Claudia Seabrook, the daughter of the now disgraced former Home Secretary Claude Seabrook, is given Colin Butler as an agent by the regional office, and he begins to run an extreme smear campaign against Nicky. Geordie, now living next door to Nicky, has been making a living selling drugs for corrupt Newcastle policemen. Shortly before his flat is raided by the police, he discovers that Julia has committed suicide and is convinced that Benny Barratt was responsible. He travels to London, leaving his flat empty for a disillusioned and depressed Anthony to enter. The police find Anthony in Geordie's flat hours later, drunk and waving a gun around. In London, Geordie confronts Barratt, who has recently been released from prison, although Barratt denies anything to do with Julia's death. The now retired Roy Johnson, who has become a neighbour and friend of Felix, requests a meeting with Commissioner Jellicoe to vent his frustration about the brutality of the police force and how his report was never read years ago, but he is called away to deal with an attack on his allotment. The culprit is Anthony, who having escaped from the police has angrily vandalised the allotment, but on Mary's insistence he later apologises to Johnson, forming a tentative friendship with him. Horrified at the smear campaign he has run and his extreme beliefs, Claudia sacks Butler as her agent, but the damage to Nicky's campaign is irreversible. Felix, meanwhile, begins to show early signs of memory loss. At a disco, Tosker meets a woman named Elaine and completely falls in love with her. He finally asks Mary for a divorce, but he cannot bring himself to tell Anthony and Bernadette, who have grown to heavily dislike him. Returning to Newcastle to find his flat raided and the police looking for him, Geordie goes on the run again, bidding farewell and good luck to Nicky. It is announced that the Willow Lane flats that Nicky worked with Donohue to build and whose existence he had campaigned against ever since are to be demolished. Nicky is unable to find happiness in this long-desired goal being fulfilled as he is certain to lose the election, despite bringing Mary onboard to help him at the last moment. After the election, which Nicky appears to have come to terms with, he watches the demolition of the flats with Mary. Despite their feelings for each other being evident, and with Tosker now engaged to Elaine, Mary tells Nicky that she must put the needs of her children first and leaves him. Written by GusF See less

Contacts

+ Add

Become a member to see contact information for 1979.

Cast	+ Add Cast
32 cast members

Name	Known for
Daniel Craig Geordie Peacock Geordie Peacock See fewer	No Time to Die (2021)
Mark Strong Tosker Cox Tosker Cox See fewer	1917 (2019)
Julia Hampson Olive Olive See fewer	Bookie (1988)
Libby Davison Sarah Sarah See fewer	Ain't Misbehavin' (1997)
Christopher Eccleston Nicky Hutchinson Nicky Hutchinson See fewer	Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Mary Woodvine Alison Alison See fewer	Space Precinct (1994)
Neil Armstrong Ben Ben See fewer	Killing Time (1998)
David Haddow Detective Inspector Martin Oldfield Detective Inspector Martin Oldfield See fewer	The Gambling Man (1995)
Peter Michael McGowan Detective Sergeant Conway (as Peter McGowan) Detective Sergeant Conway (as Peter McGowan) See fewer	Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
Nick Figgis Anthony Cox Anthony Cox See fewer	Our Friends in the North (1996)
Emma Lightfoot Bernadette Cox Bernadette Cox See fewer	The Basement (IV) (2010)
Gina McKee Mary Cox Mary Cox See fewer	Notting Hill (1999)
Judith Parker Mrs Noble Mrs Noble See fewer	Jane Eyre (1996)
Freda Dowie Florrie Hutchinson Florrie Hutchinson See fewer	The Omen (1976)
Peter Vaughan Felix Hutchinson Felix Hutchinson See fewer	Straw Dogs (1971)
Tony Haygarth Roy Johnson Roy Johnson See fewer	Chicken Run (2000)
Robert Putt Taylor Taylor See fewer	Lucas and Albert (2019)
David Bradley Eddie Wells Eddie Wells See fewer	The World's End (2013)
Malcolm McDowell Benny Barratt Benny Barratt See fewer	A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Sam Lathem Bouncer Bouncer See fewer	The Shaft (2001)
Pearce Quigley Detective Detective See fewer	The Way Back (I) (2010)
Chris Walker Detective Chief Inspector Paul Boyd Detective Chief Inspector Paul Boyd See fewer	Doctors (2000)
Granville Saxton Commissioner Jellicoe Commissioner Jellicoe See fewer	Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Paul Rainbow Inspector Inspector See fewer	Robin Hood (1984)
Pete Lee-Wilson Colin Butler Colin Butler See fewer	Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool (2017)
Larry Lamb Alan Roe Alan Roe See fewer	EastEnders (1985)
Steph Bramwell Beattie Beattie See fewer	The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die (2023)
Saskia Wickham Claudia Seabrook Claudia Seabrook See fewer	Clarissa (1991)
Tracey Wilkinson Elaine Craig Elaine Craig See fewer	Bad Girls (1999)
Sion Probert Journalist Journalist See fewer	Grand Slam (1978)
Stephen Thirkeld Journalist (as Stephen D. Thirkeld) Journalist (as Stephen D. Thirkeld) See fewer	Killing Time (1998)
Jean Southern Mrs Rashleigh Mrs Rashleigh See fewer	Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)