'The Wackers' was Vince Powell's first sitcom as sole creator, his previous shows having been conceived in partnership with Harry Driver. It was set in Liverpool, and starred the excellent Ken Jones ( whom you may remember as 'Ives' in 'Porridge' ) as 'Billy Clarkson', who returns to his family having spent two years in prison ( to conceal their shame, they have told neighbours he was at sea ). Jones' real-life wife Sheila Fay was Billy's wife 'Mary'. Two of the three children were played by performers who went on to greater things - Alison Steadman ( cast as 'Bernadette' ) and Keith Chegwin ( as the youngest son 'Raymond' ). The third offspring was 'Tony' ( David Casey ). This was a house divided alright - half were Catholic and half Protestant, while another half supported Everton and another Liverpool F.C. So there was plenty of scope for conflict in the show. On top of that the eldest son and daughter were sexually liberated ( Bernadette thought she was pregnant one week ). Because he'd been away so long, Billy had a tough time accepting his 'kids' had grown up.
In his autobiography 'From Rags To Gags', Powell rightly called the show a forerunner to 'Bread'. There was even an equivalent 'Grandad' figure in the shape of Joe Gladwin's incontinent 'Joe Farrell'. As well as 'Bread', it was also the forerunner to Clement and LaFrenais' 'Going Straight' ( 'Fletcher' also had a son called 'Raymond', played by Nicholas Lyndhurst ).
Though a Mancunian, the writer had lived in Liverpool for four years and knew something of that unique brand of humour. The theme tune was 'In My Liverpool Home' sung by The Spinners ( with a touch of Cilla Black's 'Liverpool Lullaby' thrown in for good measure ). Despite occupying a 9.30 slot on Wedsnesday nights, 'The Wackers' was heavily criticised for its heavy reliance on bad language ( though in reality it was no worse than what was to be found in 'Till Death Us Do Part' ). As it reached the end of its run, I.T.V. announced it would not be coming back. Few were sorry to see it go. It still exists in the archives.
In his autobiography 'From Rags To Gags', Powell rightly called the show a forerunner to 'Bread'. There was even an equivalent 'Grandad' figure in the shape of Joe Gladwin's incontinent 'Joe Farrell'. As well as 'Bread', it was also the forerunner to Clement and LaFrenais' 'Going Straight' ( 'Fletcher' also had a son called 'Raymond', played by Nicholas Lyndhurst ).
Though a Mancunian, the writer had lived in Liverpool for four years and knew something of that unique brand of humour. The theme tune was 'In My Liverpool Home' sung by The Spinners ( with a touch of Cilla Black's 'Liverpool Lullaby' thrown in for good measure ). Despite occupying a 9.30 slot on Wedsnesday nights, 'The Wackers' was heavily criticised for its heavy reliance on bad language ( though in reality it was no worse than what was to be found in 'Till Death Us Do Part' ). As it reached the end of its run, I.T.V. announced it would not be coming back. Few were sorry to see it go. It still exists in the archives.