King Street Junior is a radio comedy which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 between March 1985 and November 1998. The show ran for ten series and the cast included Peter Davison, James Grout and Karl Howman. The series is written by Jim Eldridge.
Research for the show was done at Newtown Road School in Carlisle.
A continuation series aired in 2002 and was named King Street Junior Revisited.
Episodes closed with a children's choir singing "See the Farmer Sow the Seed," a hymn written by Baptist minister Frederick Arthur Jackson (1867-1942).
Cast
Peter Davison as Mr. Eric Brown (Series one and two) James Grout as Mr. Harry Beeston Karl Howman as Mr. Philip Sims (From series three onwards) Tom Watson as Mr. Fred Holliday Margaret John as Mrs. Dorothy Stone Vivienne Martin as Mrs. Lillian Rudd Paul Copley as Mr. Geoff Long Marlene Sidaway as Miss. Glenda Lewis Deirdre Costello as Mrs. Yvonne Patterson
Episodes
Series 1
Broadcast in 1985
All episodes written by Jim Eldridge
The New School Year Starts Here
Redeployment
Crime And Punishment
The Principle Of The Thing
Scale Points
Language Units
Christmas At King Street
Series 2
Broadcast in 1987
Priorities
Dispute
Barn Dance
Problem Parents
The Sound Of Music
Assemblies
Parents' Evening
The Outing
Sports Day
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Series 3
Broadcast in 1988. Peter Davison's character is no longer in the show, having taken a position at another school; from here on is Karl Howman as Philip Sims.
Back To School
Fireworks
The Spirit Of Christmas
The History Game
Pressures
Facts Of Life
Under Canvas
The School Fete
Series 4
It's Only Rock'n'Roll
Closure
Opting Out
Fundraising
Health
The Succession
It's Not Cricket
That Old Time Religion
Series 5
Broadcast in 1990
D-Day Minus One
Is This A Career I See Before Me? Good Times, Bad Times Choices Bon Voyage Work The Reunion
Series 6
In Real Terms
Travellers
Safety First
A Good Read
Emergency
A Day At The Centre
Thursday's Child
The Games Children Play
Series 7
Broadcast in 1992
Back In The Jug Again
Witch Hunt
Is There A Father Christmas? Fatal Attraction Horses For Courses Beside The Seaside Taking The Rap Endings & Beginnings
Series 8
Back after a few years in 1995
Mr Chips - by Paul Copley
Settling In
Beginnings & Endings
Left Out, Roped In
Confusion - by Richard Stoneman
Internal Enquiries
Series 9
Responsibilities by Richard Stoneman
Danger Zone by Jim Eldridge
A Bridge To Afar by Paul Copley
Relative Value by Andy Rashleigh
With Love by Jim Eldridge
Crossed Lines Richard Stoneman
Financial Times by Paul Copley
Gridlocked by Jim Eldridge
Series 10
Broadcast in 1998
Proposals
The Rivals
Accusations
Target Practice
Incidental Music
Final Thoughts
Broadcast History
For most of its run, it was broadcast in Radio 4's lunchtime comedy slot at 12.27, with later series moving to a morning broadcast. Repeats have also been aired on BBC Radio 7 and BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Critical reception
The series was described as follows:
Multimedia
The ten series of the show are published by Penguin and available to purchase at Audible.
Book
Jim Eldridge, who created the show and wrote 87 episodes, also wrote a 2006 book, King Street Junior – The Inside Story, describing the history of the show including the behind-the-scenes conflicts.