“...Some hick country town”: Watching ‘A Country Practice’

[Carrie Fairchild]

I have wondered if ITV always intended to air Richmond Hill in the daytime, or if - had the series not been cancelled in Oz - they would have had a go at the early evening, which was the big ratings hitter for Neighbours.

There was the 5.10pm slot that prior to Home & Away, was the home of various gameshows. I’d imagine if Richmond Hill hadn’t been axed so soon, ITV would’ve split the hour long episodes and stripped it 4-5 days a week in that timeslot. It also mentions on Wikipedia that the vacated 6.30pm Crossroads slot could’ve been another option, but again that is just speculation.

Of course, Home and Away began just four months after RH on ITV, so presumably that was being lined up as the great hope even before RH began airing.

Both Richmond Hill and H&A premiered in January 1988 in Australia. I’d imagine ITV prioritised acquiring RH, given the Neighbours connection. When that plan fell apart, H&A was the Plan B. Given that H&A didn’t start on ITV until January 1989, I’m guessing that they didn’t acquire it until late in 1988.

 

[Mel O'Drama]

I’d imagine if Richmond Hill hadn’t been axed so soon, ITV would’ve split the hour long episodes and stripped it 4-5 days a week in that timeslot. It also mentions on Wikipedia that the vacated 6.30pm Crossroads slot could’ve been another option, but again that is just speculation.

Given that H&A didn’t start on ITV until January 1989, I’m guessing that they didn’t acquire it until late in 1988.

Yes - that's pretty much my thought process on it as well. It's strange to think of a world where Richmond Hill took off and H&A wasn't given the support of a British channel, or ended up relegated to the 3:30pm Sons and Daughters/The Young Doctors slot.

The way it worked out was inevitable really. H&A was really strong right from the start. From what I remember, Richmond Hill - despite the familiar Watson/Grundy pairing and some well-known faces* - was fairly lifeless.


* It's kind of funny that Gwen Plumb appeared in the original cast of both, but when H&A was picked up from the pilot, she opted to go with RH. It's understandable as Mum Foote was more of a departure for her, whereas gossip Doris Peters was Ada Simmonds redux.

 

[Carrie Fairchild]

The way it worked out was inevitable really. H&A was really strong right from the start. From what I remember, Richmond Hill - despite the familiar Watson/Grundy pairing and some well-known faces* - was fairly lifeless.

From what I’ve read, Richmond Hill suffered in its first few months, because a lot of the storylines were pretty grim. It lightened up and ratings were actually good when it was cancelled in Australia. It reportedly only got the chop because the network was trying to cut costs after spending $10m on Olympics coverage and the head of drama wanted it off the schedules to make way for E Street.