Spatz S3E1 (1992) - FULL EPISODE

High Flier. A sudden outbreak of workplace competence leads to Dexter being headhunted by a customer looking for new recruits for his own business, so a new member of restaurant staff is required. Meanwhile, Karen is on the lookout for some sort of free special giveaway offer to lure in the public. This episode was originally broadcast on Friday, 28th February, 1992.

Yes: Friday. With the third series of Spatz came a sort of promotion of its own, in the sense that it was elevated to the CITV 'golden slot' of last thing on a Friday - the place on the schedule reserved for the shows that do the best in the surveys and guaranteed ratings-winners. The sad thing, of course, is that we only got seven episodes this series, and then that was it altogether, thanks to the demise of Thames, but the candle that burns twice as bright etc. etc.

Let's not write the obituaries just yet, though, as there are some absolutely cracking episodes this series, and this is a great way to start. We pick up more or less where we left off (i.e. all main cast members return, and everything's just how it was), and the way Dexter's exit to take on a role in "catering distribution" develops is done very organically. I love the way he very meticulously burns every last one of his bridges on the way out, and the silliness of the clockwork Grand National going on in the back room is equally in-character for all involved. Karen's stubbornness due to her supreme (misplaced) confidence in her own judgement hits a new high, as does Vince's wheelings and dealings. Really top-notch stuff all round, with the possible exception of the "Flipping heck" in the first exchange of the series. The only slight plot hole - if you can call it that - is, well, if you were offered (a) the chance to sue a fast food restaurant for every penny they had, or (b) a job in that same fast food restaurant, which would you choose?

Special mention to Adam Tedder, who plays the linguistically-challenged Eric. Adam would later find relative fame as Lazlo Vig, the Serbian goalkeeper in the Mike Bassett: Manager series. Adam was born in Nottingham. Meanwhile, I think the headhunter is David Fielder, who has surprisingly few credits on IMDB, but at least Superman III is one of them (and what a brilliantly extraordinary character he cooks up out of nothing here). Needless to say, Gladys Crosbie - who is sadly no longer with us - was a professional Queen Mother lookalike.

Stay tuned at the beginning and end for some CITV continuity presented by Tommy Boyd, plus a few ads at the start to help get the retro juices flowing.

Grateful thanks to Joe for lending me this tape.

(To the best of my knowledge, the contents of this video have never been available commercially anywhere in the world. Please also note that I don't monetise any of my uploads. Nevertheless, if you are a copyright holder and have an objection, please don't hesitate to contact me.)