Valentine Park is a British sitcom series created by Glen Cardno and Nicholas Hyde which ran for two series between 19 June 1987 and 26 August 1988 on the ITV network. The series focuses on the comedic, often chaotic daily life of a park staff, featuring Tom (Ken Jones) and his run-ins with a new, strict boss, alongside eccentric staff member Mrs. Giles, played by Liz Smith. It was produced by Central Independent Television.
Plot A rather curious sitcom. There was nothing wrong with the cast - Ken Jones, Liz Smith and Danny Peacock were involved - but the humour was roundly criticised for being juvenile. Sure enough, when LWT brought it back for a second series, it went out in a children's time-slot, Fridays at 5.15pm, albeit in school-holiday time.
Jones was cast as Tom, the head gardener in a large public park, proud of his marigolds but saddened to see that the park has a new employee, his errant godson Max (David Thewlis). Also working there are two laddish young men, Bodie (Daniel Peacock) and Doyle (Bernard Padden), who - as their names suggest - like to think of themselves as players in The Professionals, and, as the park's security officers, have the licence to behave accordingly. Max, who boards with the mad landlady Mrs Giles (Liz Smith), falls in love with Claire (Katy Newell), who lives with her irrational mother Maggie (played by Penny Morrell, real-life wife of George Cole).
Valentine Park was co-created and the first series was co-written by Nicholas Hyde, a 30 year-old public parks gardener from Kent with no previous writing experience.
Cast Ken Jones as Tom David Thewlis as Max Daniel Peacock as Bodie Liz Smith as Mrs. Giles Katy Newell as Claire Penny Morrell as Maggie Bernard Padden as Doyle (Series 1) Kenneth Farrington as Philip (Series 2) Ellis Dale as Gordon Smackley (Series 2)
Episodes Series overview
Series 1 (1987)
Series 2 (1988)
Reception
References
External links
Valentine Park at the Phill.co.uk Comedy Guide