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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mel O&#039;Drama" data-source="post: 439406" data-attributes="member: 23">2.04-2.09; 3.01 The guest stars continue to add interest. Norman Wisdom was a surprise, and his image was used to good effect for a little twist. Art Malik - soon to go on to big things - was very endearing in his central role, with a smile that melts the heart a little. Richard Griffiths was a key figure in another episode. Hammer Girl Barbara Shelley purred her way through her episode with her icy cool demeanour wrapped up in a velvet voice. Playing her daughter was Tracey Childs, soon to become Lynn Howard. Car spotting also fun. All those delightful objects that formed the street furniture of the early Eighties, captured here in a little time capsule. I did notice a continuity error featuring a yellow Renault 5 in one episode (I think it was the Birdman episode with Richard Griffiths). In some scenes the car had hollow head rests which I think were attached to bucket seats. In others it had padded head rests. I assume it was two different cars and find myself wondering why this would be. The only logical reason I can think of would be if some scenes were filmed on the mainland while others were filmed on Jersey. Charlie Hungerford throwing his hat into the political ring has added a certain something. All the same, it’s amusing how someone in practically every story is somehow an old acquaintance of Charlie in the same way everyone seemed connected to the tourism industry in Series One when Francine was about. Marianne, too, seems to have connections to some of the stories or visiting characters. And likewise, everyone stays or socialises at Diamante Lil’s hotel where she’s shown to have a keen eye, a sharp memory and a good instinct for anything off-kilter. Meanwhile, poor Crozier and Charlotte haven’t had any stories of their own.Unless you count Charlotte taking a tumble from her bike… and even that happened off-screen (seems it was written in to explain a cut on Annette Badland’s face from riding into a tree).I suppose I will have to get by without most of them at some point, though. This Third Series is the last for Charlotte and I already feel a little sad at the thought of the series without Annette Badland’s eyebrows raising and furrowing furiously as she gives her all to every line, be it in English or French. The opening of Series Three also saw the final appearance of my favourite recurring character LeJeune. He brought something very special to the series, and I’m sorry he won’t appear again. insouciantly smoking over his flammable chemicals.And I’ve now watched every episode featuring Celia Imrie’s Marianne Bellshade. She’ll be missed by me, but it seems not by anyone else since apparently she is never mentioned again beyond her last episode (which was left open with no sign the character was going anywhere). I thought she was a good match for JimFrom the initial opening episode, it’s pleasing to see that there isn’t an immediate new love interest stepping in for Jim. It’s time we saw him as an independent person rather than quickly moving in yet another short-term girlfriend. Effectively replacing Celia Imrie in the opening credits is Deborah Grant, which opens up more possibilities in my eyes. Deborah is the character who perhaps made the least-favourable first impression. Back in those first couple of episodes it was all bitterness and criticism and felt to me as though the primary objective with her character was to elicit viewer sympathy for Jim. The good news is that she’s had the most dramatic turnaround in my opinion, going from a shrew to someone with more shades. Her verbal sparring with Jim has been great fun. It’s usually Jim who gets the last word, but Deborah has been very sporting about it, seeming to enjoy and perhaps even admire his wit. Through Series Two she’s hit all the right notes, albeit sometimes from the peripheries.Series Three has started with strength, with Ninety Per Cent Proof being a very densely plotted episode. A lot happened in those fifty five minutes and, appropriately, Deborah really came into her own as she stepped up for Jim to support him through a difficult time. The idea of someone pouring booze down the unconscious Jim’s throat is a stretch, but that was kind of the point. Why would anyone believe such a tale instead of the simpler idea that he has simply taken a drink after a period of sobriety? It was certainly a test of strength for him, and that helped make it one of the most compelling stories yet. I think you had a narrow escape, BF.  With those breezy rides in his car, it would cost a fortune in hairspray.</blockquote>

Verification: Who played JR Ewing?