Press Releases & Press Packs

With a cast of Geordies, a script so sharp it hurts and one liners straight out of a Viz comic, new BBC CHOICE series Breeze Block is not your run of the mill BBC comedy drama. Set against the epic scenery of contemporary Newcastle, Breeze Block is a raw, down-to-earth, six part comedy drama about the lives and hopes of a working-class Geordie family who live in a downtrodden council estate.

Written by award-winning writer Ian Pattison (Rab C Nesbitt) and with an impressive cast, Breezeblock comes to BBC CHOICE on Monday 4 March at 10.30pm.

Tim Healy (Auf Weidersehen Pet) takes the lead role of Ralph Breeze. Joining him in special guest appearances are real life geordies Donna Air (Big Breakfast) and comedian Ross Noble, who play his fruitcake neighbours Kiki and Trevor, and Jayne Middlemiss (She’s Got To Have It). Tim Healy’s real life wife - Denise Welch (Coronation Street) also cameos in the series.

The Breeze family are a tough-talking, no nonsense bunch determined to take life on the chin, no matter how hard it hits them. The series tells the gritty but witty story of how unemployment, depression and the day to day grind of family life affects each of them and their relationships with each other.

Since losing his job at the tank factory, times have been hard for Ralph Breeze (Healy). His heart’s in the right place but no-one’s sure where his head is. He can’t even make it out of the house anymore, and spends most of his days questioning his sanity. Despite being unemployed, Ralph’s hands are constantly full, dealing with his dozy but loveable family.

His wife Iris (Su Elliott- Purely Belter) would like a job in the supermarket but can’t get the hang of the till; Eric (David Nellist) is their lazy, lippy, window-cleaning son who just can’t stop getting into scrapes; Carol (Alison Mac - Badger) is their gorgeous but gobby 20-year-old daughter who’s got all kinds of trouble with her letching fishmonger boss Mr. Shields (Mark Benton - Barbara) and their other son is sweet hearted 19 year old Billy (Craig Heaney), who’s become a jigilo as it sure beats signing on.

Berwick Kaler provides some of the sharpest lines in the series as Uncle Tommy, who has an eye for Iris, a head for money making schemes, a mouth straight out of the gutter but a heart of gold which he keeps very well hidden.

International award-winning writer Ian Pattison has achieved fantastic success with no less than eight series of BBC TWO’s hit comedy Rab C. Nesbitt. Breeze Block is directed by John Stroud (Harry Enfield, Game On, My Hero), produced by Stephen McCrum (Two Pints Of Lager) and Executive produced by Geoffrey Perkins (The Fast Show, Harry Enfield, Father Ted).