Boon
Starring...MICHAEL ELPHICKwithDavid DakerandNeil Morrissey
 
 
 
 
 
“Boon” was a light-hearted drama centred around two middle-aged ex-firemen, Ken Boon and Harry Crawford, who were starting out in business together, initially in Birmingham and later in Nottingham, after leaving the fire brigade. During the seven series (1986–1992), Ken worked his way up from odd-job man to private investigator while Harry ran two hotels, a ballroom, a country club and finally a security firm. Over the years they were assisted by Doreen Evans, Rocky Cassidy, Debbie Yates, Margaret Daly, Laura Marsh and Alex Wilton. The series was created by Jim Hill and Bill Stair who wrote several episodes in the first series. Later, individual episodes were written by various writers such as: Geoff McQueen, creator of “The Bill” and “Stay Lucky”; Anthony Minghella, who has since written the screenplays for several episodes of “Inspector Morse” as well as for the film “Truly, Madly, Deeply”; and Kieran Prendiville, former presenter of “Tomorrow’s World” and creator of the BBC dramas “Roughnecks” and “Ballykissangel”. Seven series, each of thirteen episodes, were made by Central Television between 1986 and 1992. Series 1–3 were set in Birmingham and Series 4–7 were set in Nottingham. A Christmas episode, “The Night Before Christmas”, was shown after Series 6 and was dedicated to Bill Stair who died in 1991. An additional one-off episode, “Thieves Like Us”, was made in 1993 and first shown in 1995, three years after the end of Series 7. The personalities of Ken and Harry were soon established. Ken was a rough but romantic biker who was devoted to his red and silver BSA A65L Lightning motorbike, ‘White Lightning’, read Raymond Chandler detective stories and day-dreamed about being a modern-day Lone Ranger. Harry was a rather pompous and yet strangely naïve man who was always planning yet another money-making business venture which required him to ingratiate himself with the Masons or the local Golf Club. Harry was recently divorced; Ken had never married but in the past had been involved in his fair share of relationships which had never lasted. It was not unknown for Ken to be employed by a client to watch a suspect, but to end up sympathising with the suspect especially if she was a vulnerable and attractive woman! Judging by the number of times that Harry and Ken waived their fees or never collected them because their client went off without paying, it is a wonder that CBS ever remained solvent! In several episodes, such as “Daddy’s Girl”, “Help Me Make It Through The Night” and “Whispering Grass”, brief glimpses of maps were shown. These were identifiable excerpts of real Ordnance Survey maps, with some place-names changed and specific details, such as roads or railway lines, added or removed. The title song, “Hi Ho Silver” by Jim Diamond, reached number 5 in the Charts in 1986. Jim originally wrote it in 1985 as a tribute to his father who had recently died and who, like Ken and Harry, had been a fireman. Series Information
Credits
MENU                    CDs, DVDs and Books
Title Sequence
Click the photo to see one of the many ‘BOON’ title sequences Jim Diamond – Title Music
The Official Blue Shoes Website (find out more about ‘Hi Ho Silver’ man Jim Diamond) Dean Friedman – Incidental Music
The Official Dean Friedman Website Spin-Offs
‘The Heist’ – BBC Children In Need 1990Gary Leeke describes the BBC “Children In Need event that was held on Friday, November 23rd 1990 in Nottingham. The cast of “Boon” were present to investigate the theft of “Children In Need” funds and to apprehend the “thief”. And Gary (lucky bugger) managed to sneak a kiss with Elizabeth Carling... The Return Of The Lone Ranger – Interview with Michael Elphick
An exclusive interview with Michael Elphick conducted by Gary Leeke on Saturday 19 June 1999 at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. Whilst visiting Nottingham as star of the successful touring theatre production ‘Loot’, Michael Elphick kindly took time to participate in an exclusive interview for the Boon site. It’s been seven years since Michael hung up his crash helmet but, like his character, he remains just as warm, friendly and approachable as ever... Multimedia Man – Interview with Dean Friedman
Amongst his numerous accomplishments, Dean Friedman provided the majority of the incidental music for Series 2-7 of Boon. Gary Leeke spoke to him on 1 July 1999 about his long-standing association with the programme. Dean Friedman has now (June 2003) released a CD of the songs and incidental music from Boon.
“Hi Ho Silver” – Its Origin
Central TV commissioned Jim Diamond to write and record the title song for “Boon” in 1985 and showed him the first script so he could produce something with the right feel to it, leaving the exact choice to Jim. The script was headed “Ken Boon: Fireman”. By coincidence, Jim’s father had been a fireman and, like Ken Boon, enjoyed cowboy and country-and-western music. Although Jim wrote and recorded “Hi Ho Silver” for use in “Boon”, he wrote it in memory of his father. Thanks to Alan Williams who sent me this piece of information. HI HO SILVERSometimes I sit yeah! Feeling alone Hi ho Silver! Here come the Lone Ranger (Jim Diamond) For complete lyrics, e-mail Alan Williams AcknowledgmentsI’d like to thank Gary Leeke (Nottingham locations), Martyn Cadogan (guest stars) and Alan Williams (publicity photos, site design) for the information that they’ve supplied for this site. Gary has also spent many hours noting down locations and then visiting them to confirm their identity and current ownership, and he’s also responsible for the interviews with Michael Elphick and Dean Friedman for the site. Mailing ListsSubscribe to the Boon mailing list
Contacts and site construction
(Site Author) 
(Additional information / Site design) (Nottingham locations and publicity photos) (Birmingham locations)
|
