JimReaper

[JimReaper]

It makes me sad too Ian. The pain was real but always seemed mixed in with real love as well… It’s all such complicated stuff.

We’ll never know for sure, but I think that’s very feasible. I’ve been thinking about this a lot since Rob died, especially as we’ve been revisiting the build-up to the split in our Smegazine and Re-Disc-Overy casts, plus reading up on the Grant Naylor years for the obituary. If it is the case that Rob was unwell, then I can totally understand why he needed to suddenly break away. I can also totally understand how tough that would have been for Doug to be left to pick up the pieces. It would have perfectly reasonable for both of them to feel resentful towards the other, and it’s naturally going to damage a friendship. It’s just really, really sad that they never worked through it, and never got back what they once had.

[JimReaper]

I’d very gently suggest – from what Doug says here and what Craig said recently in his tribute – that it seems as if Rob maybe had a work related mental health crisis in an era where such things were not as readily recognised and pulled away / shut down in an act of self preservation. But the deadlines and commitments GNP had made had to be maintained, which meant Doug was left to carry everything or face the consequences. It sounds horrible all round.

It would explain the sudden break up and the lack of explanations that Doug and the cast received about what happened with Rob. The man might have been unwell for a while. 

I’ve worked as a TV writer for years (nothing glamorous, mostly BBC Continuing Dramas) and have experienced a fraction of the success that Rob & Doug had but I know how awful, unrelenting and suffocating the pressures can be. The desire to shut down and just run away is real. I’ve come close to doing that a number of times and had a breakdown myself after writing for a certain Saturday-night-hospital-based-drama known for treating its writers very badly.

Both Rob (RIP) and Doug have my utmost sympathy for what they went through in 1994.

[JimReaper]

I’m a big fan of the Dave era (the odd bumpy bit aside) so still really enjoying Kat and Paula’s reactions. 

As someone who grew up on 1-VI it is fascinating to see how people watching the show all-in-one-go take to these newer episodes. The Gals seem very very happy with X – they don’t seem to see or feel any major quality difference with the early 90s stuff. X just feels ‘right’ to them.

It’ll be interesting what they make of XI and XII where (for my money) the ambition ups but there are more fumbles as the time and budget constraints of doing 12 eps in a row bite.

[JimReaper]

Yeah, sorry, I meant I’m sad that UK viewers who haven’t watched the newer stuff won’t have it on iPlayer.

But as someone said, hopefully seeing the Gal’s watch an episode and enjoy it might be enough to draw people to grabbing a DVD etc.

[JimReaper]

Anyone else notice that the Dave era is no longer on iPlayer? Its vanished just as the GGs reached it – which is a shame as I’d hoped a lot of their “I’ve never seen the new stuff” commentators would give them a go.

ps… I’m so glad they’re nearly beyond S8. It’s not nice watching them deal with Krytie TV and Pete.

[JimReaper]

Cheers mate!

Where I got Headcanon from : https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Headcanon

[JimReaper]

Heading in the right direction!

[JimReaper]

I guess as BBC part-owns UKTV, such a deal wouldn’t be impossible to draw up.

[JimReaper]

I’m wondering if the delay in announcing XIII is because there’s discussions going on about whether it’ll continue on Dave or go back to the BBC. Total speculation but it would fit with the general trend.

[Author]

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