The Spongers (1978)
January 24, 1978Release Date
The Spongers (1978)
January 24, 1978Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
Christine Hargreaves
Pauline
Bernard Hill
Sullivan
Peter Kerrigan
Peter
Paula McDonagh
Paula
Gary Todd
Gary
Grace Allen
Grace
Dawn Booth
Baby Dawn
Angela Catherall
Jackie
Gertie Almond
Gertie
Elaine Lindsay
Mrs Johnson
Bernard Atha
Councillor Conway
Fred Pearson
Director of Social Services
Ina Clough
Deputy Director of Social Services
Donald Gee
Dr Whitehead
Roger Sloman
Presenting Officer at Tribunal
Frances Cox
Supervisor at Home
Josephine Antosz
Warden at Hostel
Lesley Nightingale
Asst Supervisor at Home
Marion Shakespeare
Chair of Tribunal
Ann Haydn-Edwards
Clerk
Ann Aris
Tribunal Committee
Len Annett
Tribunal Committee
Joanna Clay
Jubilee Committee Chair
Eileen Beldon
Jubilee Committee
Ken Rose
Jubilee Committee
Gwen Harris
Jubilee Committee
Joe Kenyon
Group Policy Meeting Leader
Barry Hart
Roads Committee Chair
Johnny Allan
Planning Committee Chair
Jack Platts
Housing Committee Chair
Anthony Dutton
Education Committee Chair
Peter Ellis
Left Wing Councillor
David Hatton
DHSS Clerk
Yvonne Nicholson
DHSS Clerk
Joan Peters
Social Services Committee
Fred Gaunt
Social Services Committee
Peter Lawrence
Pauline's GP
Phil Kernot
Bailiff
Gwyll Williams
Bailiff
Johnny Hackett
Foreman
Ted Carroll
Workman
Emrys Evans
Comedian/Club MC
Bill Moores
Local in Pub
Mick Miller
Policeman
Stuart Lee
2nd Policeman
Judy Steele
Production Design
Bill Shapter
Editor
Robin Stubbs
Costume Design
Media.
Details.
Wiki.
"The Spongers" is the 14th episode of eighth season of the British BBC anthology TV series Play for Today. The episode was a television play that was originally broadcast on 24 January 1978. "The Spongers" was written by Jim Allen, directed by Roland Joffé, produced by Tony Garnett, and starred Christine Hargreaves, Bernard Hill, Peter Kerrigan, and Paula McDonagh.
Set against the backdrop of Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II, the play depicts a single mother's struggles as welfare cuts affect the poor and disabled. The derogatory term "spongers" is used by British tabloid press to describe people who are dependent on welfare support, however the play presents the case of a family who really need the help of welfare support. The title sequence shows the title of the play, "The Spongers", superimposed over a picture of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, denoting them as "the real spongers".