Jossy's Giants facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jossy's Giants |
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| Genre | Comedy |
| Written by | Sid Waddell |
| Directed by | Edward Pugh |
| Starring | Jim Barclay |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC 1 |
| Original release | 23 April 1986 – 8 April 1987 |
Jossy's Giants was a fun TV show about a kids' football team. It was a comedy and drama series that aired on BBC1 from 1986 to 1987. The story followed a boys' football team called the Glipton Grasshoppers. Their manager was an energetic man named Joswell 'Jossy' Blair, who was from Geordie (the North East of England).
The show was written by Sid Waddell, who was also a famous darts commentator. He was also from Newcastle upon Tyne. There were ten episodes made in total. Edward Pugh produced and directed the show. He later became a top producer for children's TV at BBC Manchester. Mike Amatt wrote the catchy theme music for the show.
Filming Locations
The football scenes in Jossy's Giants were filmed at a football ground in Chadderton. This ground belonged to Oldham Town FC at the time, but it has since been taken down. Other outdoor scenes were shot around Stalybridge. The indoor studio parts of the show were filmed at BBC Oxford Road.
Meet the Stars
Many of the young actors from Jossy's Giants later stopped acting. However, some of the main actors continued their careers.
Main Actors and Their Roles
- Jim Barclay played Jossy Blair, the enthusiastic manager of the Glipton Grasshoppers. He also appeared in other TV shows like My Family and Blessed.
- Julian Walsh played Harvey, the team's goalkeeper. He later acted in shows such as Sorted and The Street. You might also have seen him in a Warburton's Bread TV advert in 2007.
- Julie Foy took on the role of Tracey Gaunt, who was the Glipton Giants' biggest fan. She went on to appear in popular shows like Press Gang and Coronation Street. Julie also acted on stage and in films. In 2017, she was an assistant producer for a short film called The Silent Child. This film won an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
- Suzanne Hall appeared in four episodes as Opal, who was Harvey's girlfriend. She later became known for her role in the TV soap opera Hollyoaks.
Full Cast List
Here is a list of the main characters and the actors who played them:
| Character | Played by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jossy Blair | Jim Barclay | The manager of the Glipton Grasshoppers team. He was also engaged to Glenda Fletcher. |
| Albert Hanson | Christopher Burgess | Jossy's assistant manager and business partner. |
| Tracey Gaunt | Julie Foy | The Glipton Giants' biggest supporter. |
| Bob Nelson | John Judd | A handy person who could do many jobs. He was also Ross's father. |
| Ross Nelson | Mark Gillard | The star player of the Glipton team. |
| Ricky Sweet | Paul Kirkbright | The captain of the team. |
| Harvey McGuinn | Julian Walsh | The team's goalkeeper. |
| Glenn Rix | Stuart McGuinness | One of the two strikers with a very unique hairstyle. |
| Ian 'Selly' Sellick | Ian Sheppard | Also a striker with a unique hairstyle. |
| Wayne Chapman | Oliver Orr | A loyal and long-serving player for the club. |
| Daz | Lee Quarmby | A talented young player. |
| Bex | Ray Callister | A funny kid with red hair. |
| Cllr Glenda Fletcher | Jenny McCracken | Jossy Blair's fiancée. |
