Teachers: Series 1

Starring: Andrew Lincoln, Nina Sosanya Director: Jeremy Lovering, Richard Dale, Sallie Aprahamian Original UK Premiere: 2001 Dvd Release: 11th August, 2003 Number Of Discs: 2 Format: Box set, PAL, Region 2 Encoding

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Teachers is a British television sitcom produced by Channel 4. The series has few obvious jokes, but rather follows a group of secondary school teachers as they show themselves to be just as immature as their students. Originally centred around Andrew Lincoln the show has changed dramatically with few original characters remaining in the fourth series. Some of these were explained by people moving on, others were mysteriously killed off without explaination. The series is filmed at the former Lockleaze school & other locations around Bristol, England. On 21 December the first Teachers Christmas special was broadcast. Like many sitcoms Teachers has certain themes that it maintains through every episode. Appearances of animals in unusual places, particularly donkeys. Every day begins with some form of journey, usually to school, with the name of the day written in the scenery or a prop. The end credits involve a comedic situation being repeated & slowly exagerated.

DVD Extras: Teachers, Series 1 bucks the take-it-or-leave-it convention of many television series releases by actually providing some interview material as part of this two-disc set. Simple extras such as this cost little enough to include & do at least add some value to the package.

Depending on where you get your recommendations, youll see Teachers described as a comedy, a drama, an irresponsible depiction of the teaching profession & a sympathetic reminder of how teachers are expected to be morally unimpeachable despite being ordinary human beings like the rest of us. In fact, its all of the above, which perhaps does more for the shows realism than all its supposedly controversial elements put together.

The series stars Andrew Lincoln as the feckless Simon, who, like several of his colleagues, is no more mature or advanced in terms of his ability to manage his own life than his pupils. The staff at the fictitious Bristol school are given to in-fighting, petty factionalism, bad behaviour, inappropriate nookie & dishonesty, both on & off-duty. That said, they also have to wrestle with professional & moral dilemmas & deal with their dysfunctional relationships: sometimes they succeed, often they dont. It makes for a superb, bittersweet concoction. If you want yet more social comment, its worth noting that the series was filmed in a disused, empty LEA school.

Richard Dale was an officer in the United States Navy. Dale was born 6 November 1756 in Norfolk, Virginia, was appointed a midshipman in the Continental Navy in 1776. Captured by the enemy in 1777 while serving in the Continental brig Lexington, he was imprisoned in Mill Prison, England, but escaped to France to join John Paul Jones. He was First Lieutenant in Bonhomme Richard when she captured Serapis in the celebrated engagement of 23 September 1779. During 1781 & 1782 he commanded Queen of France & made several captures. Commissioned a Captain in the United States Navy 4 June 1794, he commanded Ganges during the Quasi-War with France, 1798 - 1801, then commanded the Mediterranean Squadron in the operations against Tripoli in 1801. He resigned from the Navy 17 December 1802 & died at Philadelphia 26 February 1826.

Editors Choice: Walking With Cavemen, Teachers, View DVDology

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