Blackpool [DVD]

After that comes a complex story of love, murder, mystery, betrayal, greed, guilt etc. etc. ..... A story that is punctuated and illustrated at regular intervals by songs as scenes shift effortlessly from narrative to musical and back to narrative with the characters themselves initiating the moves between dialogue and song.

The overall story is excellent and revolves around a murder, so in this respect it's a detective story. But it's far, far more and as a TV production, it really shows what the BBC can achieve when it takes a chance.

This is an outstanding drama full of well-developed and quirky characters and with enough conflicts between them to keep any fan of Eastenders happy!

Comparisons with 'The Singing Detective' or 'Pennies from Heaven' are obvious - but despite certain imilarities, 'Blackpool' still stands on its own as a breathtaking piece of drama.

I must admit at first I was very cautios about watching this kind of drama. Although I’m a fan of well made musicals and 99% of great BBC programme, this particular drama has managed to surprise me. Very pleasantly indeed.

What to say about this gem?

First of all, I don’t think that people who never watched a musical in their life, will be left bored or disappointed. In fact I find this drama a perfect foray for them into the world of musical programme.

Another thing I’d like to point out is that this is not your typical musical—and the musical part should be considered just as an occasional break or commical relief from the serious, dramatic parts.

When I say not your typical musical—I mean there is no original just-for-movie/series-made music, like let’s say from "Moulin Rouge", which is in some aspects similar to this. That being the fact that the popular music was incorporated into the story. The real difference here is that the actors don’t sing the way the do in MR. In "Moulin Rouge" you hear their voices and the music accompanies them.

In this piece you hear the music, watch the actors dance and play but basically sing along with the original songs and their performers (exception being the male/female Gabrielle impersonator). There are parts where they just start humming along or suddenly cut in along with the original singers.
It’s sort of like watching musical videos.

Why the comparison with Moulin Rouge?

Well it’s colorful, flashy in some parts and dark and dramatic in others. There’s seriousness added with murder and the police investigation and then there’s fun and comedy, mixed with musical numbers and dancing. And let’s not forget like in "Moulin Rouge", it’s also a love story but with a happier ending.

To put it into equation—80% DRAMA + 20% MUSIC = FUN

The characters are very colorful, emotional, funny, sarcastic and also very lovable.

From Ripley Holden, played brilliantly by David Morissey to Natalie Holden—exeptional Sarah Parish, their not so perfect children Danny and Shayanne, Ripley’s business partners, employees and let’s not forget the fantasticaly quirky but lovable DI Peter Carlisle who adds much to the fun part of the story, as well as to its seriousness.

Feauturing the music from the eighties as well as some modern hits. The choriography is brilliant and the music goes well with the story.

I have already seen it several times and each time it gets better and better.

Looking for the extras you won’t find interviews, outtakes or deletes scenes but a separate place to find all those exeptional musical numbers.

Well done BBC! Here’s hoping to see more of these kind of dramas in the future.