Roughnecks (TV series)

Roughnecks is a British television drama series, created and principally written by former Tomorrow's World presenter Kieran Prendiville, that first broadcast on BBC1 on 16 June 1994. Produced by First Choice Productions, Roughnecks ran for two series, with the final episode broadcasting on 21 December 1995. The series centres on the working and personal lives of the crew of the fictional oil rig "The Osprey Explorer" in the North Sea. Offshore filming was undertaken on the oil rig Dan Countess, which was not in use at the time.[1]

This article is about the BBC series. For the animated series in the Starship Troopers franchise, see Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles.

Roughnecks
GenreDrama
Created byKieran Prendiville
Written by
  • Kieran Prendiville
  • Steve Coombes
  • Bryan Elsley
  • Dave Robinson
  • Alan Whiting
Directed by
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerMichael Wearing
Producers
  • Moira Williams
  • Charles Elton
Production locationsAberdeenshire, Scotland
Cinematography
  • Hubert Taczanowski
  • John Daly
Editors
  • Bryan Oates
  • Don Fairservice
Running time50 minutes
Production companyFirst Choice Productions
Release
Original networkBBC1
Original release16 June 1994 (1994-06-16) –
21 December 1995 (1995-12-21)

The series boasted a high calibre cast, including the likes of Liam Cunningham, Teresa Banham, James Cosmo, Bruce Jones, Clive Russell, Ricky Tomlinson, Paul Copley and Ashley Jensen. Notably for a British television series, the main theme was written and composed by renowned American television composer Mike Post.[2] An official guide to the series, written by Tom McGregor and featuring interviews with the cast and crew, was published on 29 September 1995, prior to the broadcast of the second series.[3] Neither series has been made available on DVD.

Cast

Cast listed as per order of credits in the opening title sequence

Episodes

Series 1 (1994)
Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"Episode 1"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson16 June 1994 (1994-06-16)
As the crew are flown across the North Sea to the hazardous world of an exploration rig, they are distressed to find that a colleague has died suddenly of a massive heart attack under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, a strike is threatened when a wallet goes missing.[4]
2"Episode 2"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson23 June 1994 (1994-06-23)
Tessa, the new female mechanic, creates a stir on the rig and helps an oilman's widow to come to terms with her grief. Meanwhile, the stakes are high as a team from the Osprey Explorer challenge the crew of another rig to a quiz.[4]
3"Episode 3"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson30 June 1994 (1994-06-30)
When they get shore leave, the crew of Osprey Explorer pick up the pieces of their private lives. Archie rushes to the hospital where his ex-wife has been taken after a car crash. Ian and Hilary have a great day walking in the Highlands but later face a problem over their relationship. Tom is worried because his daughter Heather is spending too much time with Chris – a playboy twice her age.[4]
4"Episode 4"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson7 July 1994 (1994-07-07)
A journalist is flown on to the Osprey Explorer, putting Chris in the spotlight.[4]
5"Episode 5"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson14 July 1994 (1994-07-14)
While Tom and Izzy's worse fears for Heather are realised, something is wrong on the Osprey.[4]
6"Episode 6"Kieran PrendivilleSandy Johnson21 July 1994 (1994-07-21)
Dawn breaks and the stunned survivors wait on Osprey for news of their missing mates. Someone is responsible for the accident and the fingers point at the driller. Why isn't Chris there to defend himself?[4]

Series 2 (1995)
Episode Title Written by Directed by Original airdate
1"Episode 1"Kieran PrendivilleAisling Walsh9 November 1995 (1995-11-09)
The crew return to the Osprey Explorer for the first time since their colleague Ian's death.[4]
2"Episode 2"Kieran PrendivilleAisling Walsh16 November 1995 (1995-11-16)
The crew are held at gunpoint in the coffee shack by a group of masked men. As tempers rise, Cinders is transformed into a reluctant hero.[4]
3"Episode 3"Steve Coombes & Dave RobinsonAisling Walsh23 November 1995 (1995-11-23)
There's an outbreak of gambling on the Osprey and a young steward soon finds himself addicted. Cinders, a reformed gambler, decides to teach him a lesson – but who pays dearest in the end?[4]
4"Episode 4"Steve Coombes & Dave RobinsonAisling Walsh30 November 1995 (1995-11-30)
Following a crane accident on the rig, Archie and Village must face a full-scale enquiry. Heather is quite taken with Chris's long-lost brother.[4]
5"Episode 5"Alan WhitingAisling Walsh7 December 1995 (1995-12-07)
Pressure testing problems cause trouble on the Osprey and tension mounts when some of the crew are forced to take a five per cent pay cut. Cinders is furious and sparks are flying at Greenacres too, where Izzy walks out leaving Tom in charge of the boarding house.[4]
6"Episode 6"Alan WhitingAilsing Walsh14 December 1995 (1995-12-14)
Love is in the air as the promise of romance touches several of the crew.[4]
7"Episode 7"Brian ElsleyAisling Walsh21 December 1995 (1995-12-21)
After an accident on the rig, work stops and the crew takes a break in Norway.[4]

References
  1. "Roughnecks – Aberdeen City and Shire". Aberdeen City and Shire. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  2. "Roughnecks – Title Sequence (BBC, 1994)". 21 August 2008. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  3. Roughnecks by Tom McGregor (Hardcover, 29 Sep 1995). ASIN 0752207369.
  4. "Search Results – BBC Genome – Roughnecks – BBC One London". BBC Genome. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
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