Out (TV series)

1978 British TV crime drama

Out

Actor Tom Bell during the filming of the series

Genre| Drama
Written by| Trevor Preston
Directed by| Jim Goddard
Starring| Tom Bell
Brian Croucher
Lynn Farleigh
Pam Fairbrother
Andrew Paul
John Junkin
Brian Cox
Country of origin| United Kingdom
Original language| English
No. of series| 1
No. of episodes| 6
Production
Executive producer| Johnny Goodman
Producer| Barry Hanson
Editor| Ralph Sheldon
Running time| 50 minutes
Production company| Euston Films for Thames
Original release
Network| ITV
Release| 24 July (1978-07-24) –
28 August 1978 (1978-08-28)
Related
Fox (TV series)

Out is a British television crime drama written by Trevor Preston and directed by Jim Goddard.[1] It was produced by Thames Television in 1978 and starred Tom Bell as Frank ("Frankie") Ross.[2][3] It was hugely popular at the time of its release with an average audience of 10 million viewers.[4] There was one series (6 episodes), with Bell declining to make a sequel.[2]

## Plot summary

[edit]

Frank Ross (actor Tom Bell) returns from an eight-year prison sentence for a robbery that was thwarted because somebody 'grassed' the gang.[5] Nobody knows who put the finger on him, but Ross is determined to find out and seeks revenge on those who betrayed him. Whilst inside, his wife has gone into a home and his son is going off the rails. Little by little, Ross pieces together the trail that leads to a dramatic conclusion.

## Cast

[edit]

The gang included John Junkin, Frank Mills, Oscar James and Peter Blake. Other notable actors included Norman Rodway (as Inspector Bryce - the man who put Ross away), Brian Croucher (Frank's only real friend Chris), Andrew Paul as his son Paul Ross with Linda Robson as Paul's girlfriend Mo, Brian Cox (as gangland rival McGrath), Derrick O'Connor and Bryan Marshall (two of McGrath's heavies).

## Cultural impact

[edit]

In the weeks prior to its broadcast on Monday evenings, brief clips of the programme were shown to rouse viewer interest in which a character provided only the cryptic information that 'Frank Ross is OUT'. Also, around the time of the series, a lot of graffiti saying, "Frank Ross is innocent" appeared around London,[6] an apparent parody of the "George Davis is innocent" campaign slogans still visible on walls at the time. When a rail strike disrupted many people's plans to make it home in time for the final episode, "who grassed Frank Ross?" could be seen scrawled across blackboards at Euston station.[7]

## Awards

[edit]

Tom Bell was nominated for Best Television Actor BAFTA,[8] whilst Ralph Sheldon won for Television Craft/Film Editor, in 1979.[9]

## See also

[edit]

Fox (TV series), 1980 series by Trevor Preston and Jim Goddard

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Roberts, Jerry (2009). Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors. Scarecrow Press. p. 198\. ISBN 9780810863781. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
2. ^ a b Hayward, Anthony (7 October 2006). "Tom Bell - Obituary". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
3. ^ "Out (TV Series 1978– )". IMDb. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
4. ^ Cooke, Lez (2015). "History, Realism and Ideology, 1970-9". British Television Drama: A History. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 128–129\. ISBN 9781844578962. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
5. ^ Joseph, Michael (1980). 25 Years on ITV. London: Independent Television Books Ltd. p. 251\. ISBN 0 900727 81 0. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
6. ^ "Out - 43TV The Retro TV Music and Motor Forum". 43tv.proboards.com. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
7. ^ Farquhar, Simon (4 July 2013). "Jim Goddard: Director whose best work brought a grim, seedy beauty to". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
8. ^ "1979 Television Actor - BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.
9. ^ "1979 Television Craft Film Editor - BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org.

## External links

[edit]

* Out at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Works directed by Jim Goddard

* Out (1978)
* Fox (1980)
* The Black Stuff (1980)
* A Tale of Two Cities (1980)
* The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1982)
* Kennedy (1983)
* Parker (1984)
* Hitler's SS: Portrait in Evil (1985)
* Shanghai Surprise (1986)
* Metamorphosis (1987)
* The Impossible Spy (1987)
* The Four Minute Mile (1988)
* The Free Frenchman (1989)
* De terre et de sang (1992)
* Lie Down with Lions (1994)
* Gadgetman (1996)
* The House of Angelo (1997)

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