Mitch (TV Series starring John Thaw) - 1983

[Palmer]

Has anyone seen this show Starring John Thaw?!

Mitch is a journalist (played by Thaw) who uncovers many different things on his extensive travels.

I purchased the DVD from Network but have only dipped in and out a little bit!

It seems a shame it wasn't more popular but then maybe it just wasn't meant to be...

[Vienna]

I did have the DVD set a few years ago - before selling it on eBay - and thought it was quite good. Although shown in 1984, it was actually filmed in early 1982 and was shown late in the evening, which may have partly explained why it didn't become popular at the time. I think John Thaw was frustrated by the lack of exposure the series got.

Vi

[Dirty Epic]

I got this in the recent Network sale too but haven't got round to it yet. I will have a butchers soon hope it's a good un.

[Peter Picard]

Only one series of Mitch was made but it's definitely worth watching. It was created by Roger Marshall who also wrote some of the episodes, so the scripts are strong and realistic, and with John Thaw in the title role the acting is of a high standard as well.

It's unfortunate that only one series was made, as a national crime reporter scenario could have allowed for a varied and interesting range of storylines and lengthened the programes life.

[Dirty Epic]

I just watched Mitch on DVD this week.

It was the first time I’d seen Mitch since seeing bits and pieces of it as a kid in 1984 and didn’t really remember much of it up to now. I felt it was better than just 'alright' but not quite good enough to make it a very good/excellent series. Despite being the early 1980’s it had more of a 70’s feel to it. As usual John Thaw is very good in and as Mitch and it is him who lifts the series beyond something I’d have no interest in if somebody else was in the title role as do supporting cast members like David Calder. In fact none of the cast are 'wooden' in it it’s just nobody really standouts neither. It also feels at times a little weak at times especially/naturally in it's earlier episodes and despite the influence of things like The Sweeney, Pro’s and even other more current drama's like Alan Clarke/Alan Bleasdale’s work around that time Mitch overall feels a slight step back to something more similar to the George Sewell era Special Branch rather than something more instep with the grittier drama’s that emerged during the 1980’s and 90’s. I can’t put my finger on it just feels like something is missing! Yes the stories are well written (Roger Marshall/Tony Hoare etc.), directed (Terry Green etc.) and acted but the episodes feel like they end before something exciting happens – something you could never accuse The Sweeney of and the studio/videotape feel of Mitch – although fashionable at the time, also feels dated when looking back at it now.

Retrospectively Mitch seems to work better when it starts exploring ‘Sweeney’ style territory and some episodes like Business As Usual, Fit-Up and Postman’s Knock could very easily be adaptations from The Sweeney. Maybe for these reasons and the typecasting of Regan/similarities of Mitch's character - separated, work-a-holic etc. John Thaw wanted to explore different roles like Home to Roost, Cry Freedom and arguably his joint signature role of Morse. Maybe that reason and the feeling it doesn’t/didn’t grip you as much as The Sweeney explains it got one and only series of ten episodes. That said I've seen much worse drama from the 1980’s I used to think was the bee’s knee’s back then and if you’re a fan of The Sweeney, John Thaw generally or anything similar I’d recommend it to you.

Overall I’d rate it a bit above 7/10 and not a bad piece of 1980’s television.