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| - :This article is about the British television series Press Gang. For the old military practice of 'pressing' men into service, see Impressment.
Press Gang is a British children's television comedy-drama consisting of forty-three episodes across five series that were broadcast from 1989 to 1993. It was produced by Richmond Film & Television for Central, and screened on the ITV network in its regular weekday afternoon children's strand, Children's ITV.
Aimed at older children and teenagers, the programme was based around the activities of a children's newspaper, the Junior Gazette, produced by pupils from the local comprehensive school. In later series it was depicted as a commercial venture. The show interspersed comedic elements with the dramatic. As well as addressing interpersonal relationships (particularly in the Lynda-Spike story arc), the show tackled issues such as solvent abuse, child abuse and firearms control.
Written by ex-teacher Steven Moffat, over half of the episodes were directed by Bob Spiers, a noted British comedy director who had previously worked on classics such as Fawlty Towers. Critical reception was very positive, particularly for the quality of its writing, and has attracted a cult following with a wide age range.
Some of the team are "star pupils". However, some members have reputations of delinquency. One such pupil, Spike Thompson (Dexter Fletcher) is forced to work on the paper rather than being expelled from school. He is immediately attracted to editor Lynda Day (Julia Sawalha), but they bicker, throwing one-liners at each other. Their relationship develops and they have an on-off relationship. They regularly discuss their feelings, especially in the concluding episodes of each series. In the final episode for the third series, "Holding On", Spike unwittingly expresses his strong feelings to Lynda whilst being taped. Jealous of his American girlfriend, Zoe, Lynda puts the cassette on her personal stereo, ruining their relationship. The on-screen chemistry between the two leads was reflected off-screen as they became an item for several years.
Although the Lynda and Spike story arc runs throughout the series, most episodes feature self-contained stories and sub-plots. Amongst lighter stories, such as one about Colin accidentally attending a funeral dressed as a pink rabbit, the show tackled many serious issues. Jeff Evans, writing in the Guinness Television Encyclopedia, writes that the series adopts a "far more adult approach" than "previous efforts in the same vein" such as A Bunch of Fives. Some critics also compared it with Hill Street Blues, Lou Grant "and other thoughtful US dramas, thanks to its realism and its level headed treatment of touchy subjects." The first series approached solvent abuse in "How To Make A Killing", and the NSPCC assisted in the production of the "Something Terrible" episodes about child abuse. (en)
- Reportergänget (engelska Press Gang) är en brittisk TV-serie som gick 1989-1994 och handlade om ett gäng ungdomar som gör en tidning. Redaktör var den intelligenta men manipulativa Lynda Day, som ägnade en stor del av serien åt ett trassligt förhållande med Spike Thomson. Spike hamnade på tidningen som en sista chans istället för att bli relegerad från skolan, men hade givetvis ett hjärta av guld och blev en riktigt bra reporter med tiden.
Andra karaktärer i serien var den pengagalna Colin, supersnällisen Kenny, den försynta Sarah, Frazz som verkade korkad men inte alltid var det, två mer eller mindre utbytbara blondiner vid namn Julie och Sam (de var aldrig med i serien samtidigt), samt Tiddler som var yngre än de andra och ofta klagade på att de inte tog henne på allvar. De vuxna reportrarna Matt Kerr och Chrissie Stuart dök också upp ibland, liksom gymnasieskolans rektor Mr. Winters och dess engelsklärare Mr. Sullivan.
Serien vann en BAFTA för avsnittet "Something Terrible" och blev även nominerad för avsnittet "The Last Word". Julia Sawalha, som spelade Lynda, har senare bland annat blivit känd som Saffron i Helt hysteriskt (engelska Absolutely Fabulous). Spike spelades av Dexter Fletcher. Seriens skapare Steven Moffat har gått vidare till att skriva TV-serien Coupling samt vissa avsnitt av nya Doctor Who, bland annat det prisbelönta "The Empty Child".
Reportergänget har gått i flera omgångar på svensk TV, senast på Barnkanalen. (sv)
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