Episode 6: Growing Up

This time AJ and Andy review Growing Up - the very first episode of Secret Army to go before the cameras back in April 1977. It tells the story of a young Belgian boy - Jean-Paul Dornes played by Max Harris - who discovers and assists a downed airman - Sgt Clfford Howson played by Norman Eshley - with tragic consequences.

Once again the Lifeline regulars (in AJ's head 'The Baker Street Irregulars') are somewhat sidelined as the episode takes a 'Play for Today'-style focus centred around the Dornes family and their small mining town existence which, despite Anna Dornes' naive convictions, cannot escape the war. 

They find much to enjoy in the episode: particularly the performances of Max Harris and Brian Glover, and its careful treatment of grief and bereavement. If anyone listening is currently dealing with bereavement you might choose to skip AJ's recollections of dark times in their life which the episode prompted them to revisit. 

Andy is surprised to find Vivien Merchant and Stanley Lebor among the supporting cast, playing the wonderfully named Mademoiselle Gunet (the teacher) and Pierre Bazin (the shopkeeper) respectively. 

Elsewhere, it falls to Ryan to call out Kessler for his unfair treatment of Brandt, Andy reveals a more significant role for Natalie in the original script, and AJ demands that the production team 'give that woman a hair bobble'!

As the episode draws to a close we hear from Simon Jones who selects a possibly surprising favourite regular character. 

Next Time: Lost Sheep