2.8 Harry's Game

We return from our Christmas break for more of our second season of
an A to Z of UK TV Drama... We begin 2023 by looking back at the
Granada mini-series Harry's Game. First broadcast in 1982, this
hard-hitting drama is best remembered now for it famous end credits
theme by Clannad, however, it has much more to recommend it. Set
during the height of The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the series
follows British agent Harry Brown (Ray Lonnen) attempts to uncover
and arrest an IRA gunman Billy Downs (Derek Thompson), while his
nervy handler Davidson (Benjamin Whitrow) tries to keep him alive
from back in England. Written by former journalist Gerald Seymour
and directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark, Harry's Game covers a bleak
period of recent history and is a stark reminder of the fragile
peace reached through the Good Friday agreement, currently under
threat due to the self-serving machinations of Brexiteer
politicians. Andy & Martin find much to enjoy here but fail to
resist the temptation to break into some 'Norn Irish', for which
they can only apologise.