Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Series 4

Broadcast begins Sunday 4th January 2004 on BBC 1

Confimed- Tim Healy (Dennis Patterson), Kevin Whately (Neville Hope), Jimmy Nail (Leonard 'Oz' Osbourne), Timothy Spall (Barry Taylor), Christopher Fairbank (Albert Moxey), Pat Roach (Brian 'Bomber' Busbridge) and Noel Clark (Wyman Norris)

Other cast - Julia Tobin (Brenda Hope), Sandra James-Young (Chrissie), Branka Katic (Tatiana), Sara Stewart (Heather Lane), Alexander Hanson (Tarquin), Clive Russell (Gary Turnbull), Caroline Harker (Pru Scott-Johns), Zoe Eeles (Tina), Josefina Gabrielle (Orfelia Ortiz), Gary Lammin (Cockney Brickie)

Confirmed Crew - Production Designer - Simon Elliot, Art Designer - Bill Crutcher, Costume Designer - Justine Luxton, Make-Up Designers - Nichola Bellamy and Helen Barrett, Director of Photography - Tony Miller, Directors - Maurice Phillips for Episodes 1 - 3 and David Innes-Edwards for Episodes 4 - 6,  Executive Producers - Laura Mackie and Franc Roddam, Producer - Chrissy Skinns

To be broadcast - Spring season 2004

Length - 6 Episodes

Locations - St. Petersburg, Russia and Havana, Cuba

Episode Titles:

1 - Brittania  waives the rules (Broadcast 4/1/04)

2 - Our men in Havana (Broadcast 11/1/04)

3 - A gift from Fidel (Broadcast 18/1/04)

4 - Moonlighting (Broadcast 25/1/04)

5 - Dangerous liasons (Broadcast 1/2/04)

6 - The end of the affair (Broadcast 8/2/04)

Storyline.  The lads are back together again in a reworking of the storyline that was planned for the original unmade series 3 back in 1988.  This time, after a job in St. Petersburgh, Russia goes badly wrong and with the help of serendipity and exaggeration,  the boys are in Havana, Cuba, rebuilding parts of  the British Embassy following hurricane damage.  A requisite in the law states that only British Nationals may work on the repair and construction of British diplomatic buildings.  Enter the Magnificent Seven.  The story was inspired when Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais encountered a similar situation at the British Embassy in Prague.

• The Series begins in St. Petersburg.  These scene's were filmed in Surrey with the help of snow machines.
• Wyman has chosen to take his father's surname Norris
• Dennis is the gaffer again, not just of the lads, but the entire job, and this puts a lot of pressure on him.  He also and has a fling with Wyman's mother, much to Wyman's embarressment.
• Oz has developed an 'interest' in ballet, and falls in love for the first time in his life.
• Barry, so traumatised by the recent events which have unravelled his life, cannot get through one day without phoning his psychiatrist in Solihull, therefore runs up massive phone bills.  Dennis and Oz persuade him to come on the job
• Neville  has been conscripted by MI6 for a special mission within Embassy, although his secrecy leads the lads to believe that he is having an affair.
• Brenda appears in two episodes.
• Bomber's relationship with Lainie is still going strong, and the Native Americans have helped his immensely with his illness.
• Moxey gets involved in gambling, but not in the conventional way.  He does not loose any money.  He discovers the curious local past time of 'Guinea Pig Roulette'
• We learn more about Wyman by meeting his mother Chrissie.
• Julia Tobin returns as the ever faithful Brenda in two episodes.
• Tatiana is also back on the scene.  She and Barry are now divorced.
• Wyman has a fling with the PA of the Chancery, Tina
• One time star of Punk Group Cock Sparra Gary Lammin has a small role.
• Although set in Cuba, filming permission was not granted there, and the series was shot in the neighbouring Dominican Republic.
• Surrey doubles up as St. Petersburg in Episode one with the help of RAF Snow machines.
• "Why Aye Man" is being retained as the series theme song.

The Tom Cruise/Russell Crowe rumours have been confirmed as untrue.

Dick Clement has stated that I can quote him on this... "I think the new series will be the best ever."

He goes on to say "I've now seen all six episodes of the new series and can honestly say that Ian and I think it is the best ever.  Great performances, terrific direction and sets, it looks really classy.  We're thrilled"

Although a few one of one off specials has been considered, this is very likely to be the last series of Auf Wiedersehen, Pet proper.  Dick tells us "There are plans afoot for some kind of life beyond the current series.  Too early to reveal what yet."

Current state of play. - Broadcast begins on Sunday January 4th 2004

Click images to enlarge (Pictures Courtesy of BBC Worldwide)

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