Pennies From Heaven

Pennies From Heaven was the television drama where Dennis Potter truly found his voice. The six part series – debuting on 7 March 1978 - told the story of music salesman Arthur Parker’s struggles in 1930s Britain, helped by the innovative use of a soundtrack of contemporary songs. It made a star of Bob Hoskins, with great work from a cast including Cheryl Campbell, Gemma Craven and Hywel Bennett. Pennies From Heaven was Potter’s biggest success at that time and won the BAFTA for Most Original Series.

Pennies From Heaven used the sweet romantic songs of the Thirties to counterpoint the daily grind of life during the Great Depression. At times the characters spontaneously burst into song - lip synching and dancing to the hits of Al Bowlly, Lew Stone or Arthur Tracey - as they might in a Hollywood musical. The drama was fairly grim – culminating in Parker's execution for a crime he didn’t commit – but the optimism in the songs pointed up the endurance of hope.

A film version of Pennies From Heaven was made in 1981, starring Steve Martin. Potter revisited the musical drama form in The Singing Detective and Lipstick on Your Collar. He died in 1994 but in 2000 Pennies From Heaven was voted 21st in the BFI 100 poll of the Greatest British Television programmes. Potter's influence can be seen in dramas such as the 2004 musical murder mystery Blackpool.