The sad decline of Dalziel and Pascoe'.
Both parts of "The Cave Woman" have finally screened on ABC television in Australia, (we're only one and a half series behind) ... and this once great series is hitting the skids for reasons that are obvious to Blind Freddy.
Because they believed that the character of Ellie Pascoe was unpopular, the producers dumped her, instanly making unavailable some of the books, among the best in the series, in which her character was central. A good example being the excellent "Arms and the Woman"
Warren Clarke became executive producer, and all the other characters became peripheral. The diminished role for Peter Pascoe and most sadly, Edgar Weild, possibly the most intriguing character in the series, was a fatal mistake.
The character of Dalziel became less subtle, less humorous and infinitely more unlikeable.
The most original of the books, strongly featuring Sgt. Weild was "Pictures of Perfection". Though it would have needed careful adaptation, could have been, with imaginative direction , a high-point of the whole series. It is obvious that imagination, humour, witty and lively use of regional language and many of the other features that made this show great have been banished. The last really good episode was "On Beulah Height", again based on a Reginald Hill original. What a shame.
PS. it's obvious the ABC programmers think, that as long as it's English, any ten year old rubbish will satisfy their audience. In the "new series" of "Grand Designs", the presenter is suddenly ten years younger ... bah! humbug!
But you ARE Blanche ... and I AM.