To Hill and Back © BFI

It is a rare publication that comes along these days that can be deemed an essential purchase. This is one of them.

Don’t let the title mislead you – let the subtitle do the talking. While “The Hill” mentioned is Grange Hill, arguably one of the most ground-breaking series ever made for children, the show is just one of hundreds given exactly the right level of coverage, and placed in its true historical context.

Indeed, some of us could argue that Grange Hill marked the end of a fantastic childhood for an entire generation. Fantasy ceased to be the common currency in Children’s TV, paving the way for soaps to increase their stranglehold on this up-and-coming “general public”. However, we can see that there are still attempts to wean young minds to the more otherworldly possibilities in story telling, right up to the present day, in such entries as Dark Season, The Demon Headmaster, The Magician’s House, and Life Force.

Reaching back into the vaults right to the 1950s, the brief of the book is firm in what it will cover: only British series – with primarily British funding, and live-action in nature, with what the authors describe as “emotional realism”. It’s good to see shows like Follyfoot, The Changes and even Rogue’s Rock get more than a passing mention.

Consider this the next purchase to make at your bookstore, be it on-line or down the High Street.

AJG