The Spongers (1978)
January 24, 1978Release Date
The Spongers (1978)
January 24, 1978Release Date
Plot.
Where to Watch.
Cast & Crew.
![Christine Hargreaves](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/44838-christine-hargreaves.webp)
Christine Hargreaves
Pauline
![Bernard Hill](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/685-bernard-hill.webp)
Bernard Hill
Sullivan
![Peter Kerrigan](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/298250-peter-kerrigan.webp)
Peter Kerrigan
Peter
![Paula McDonagh](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Paula McDonagh
Paula
![Gary Todd](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Gary Todd
Gary
![Roland Joffé](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/40128-roland-joffe.webp)
Roland Joffé
Director
![Grace Allen](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Grace Allen
Grace
![Jim Allen](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/89421-jim-allen.webp)
Jim Allen
Writer
![Dawn Booth](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Dawn Booth
Baby Dawn
![Angela Catherall](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Angela Catherall
Jackie
![Tony Garnett](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Tony Garnett
Producer
![Nat Crosby](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Nat Crosby
Cinematographer
![Gertie Almond](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Gertie Almond
Gertie
![Elaine Lindsay](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Elaine Lindsay
Mrs Johnson
![Bill Shapter](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Bill Shapter
Editor
![Bernard Atha](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Bernard Atha
Councillor Conway
![Judy Steele](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Judy Steele
ProductionDesigner
![Fred Pearson](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/22945-fred-pearson.webp)
Fred Pearson
Director of Social Services
![Ina Clough](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Ina Clough
Deputy Director of Social Services
![Donald Gee](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/75011-donald-gee.webp)
Donald Gee
Dr Whitehead
![Roger Sloman](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/26320-roger-sloman.webp)
Roger Sloman
Presenting Officer at Tribunal
![Frances Cox](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Frances Cox
Supervisor at Home
![Josephine Antosz](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Josephine Antosz
Warden at Hostel
![Lesley Nightingale](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Lesley Nightingale
Asst Supervisor at Home
![Marion Shakespeare](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Marion Shakespeare
Chair of Tribunal
![Ann Haydn-Edwards](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Ann Haydn-Edwards
Clerk
![Ann Aris](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Ann Aris
Tribunal Committee
![Len Annett](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Len Annett
Tribunal Committee
![Joanna Clay](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Joanna Clay
Jubilee Committee Chair
![Eileen Beldon](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Eileen Beldon
Jubilee Committee
![Ken Rose](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Ken Rose
Jubilee Committee
![Gwen Harris](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Gwen Harris
Jubilee Committee
![Joe Kenyon](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/566876-joe-kenyon.webp)
Joe Kenyon
Group Policy Meeting Leader
![Barry Hart](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Barry Hart
Roads Committee Chair
![Johnny Allan](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Johnny Allan
Planning Committee Chair
![Jack Platts](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Jack Platts
Housing Committee Chair
![Anthony Dutton](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Anthony Dutton
Education Committee Chair
![Peter Ellis](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Peter Ellis
Left Wing Councillor
![David Hatton](https://images.moviefit.me/p/s/171661-david-hatton.webp)
David Hatton
DHSS Clerk
![Yvonne Nicholson](https://images.moviefit.me/default-images/p/s.webp)
Yvonne Nicholson
DHSS Clerk
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'.