Bust The Complete Series One   Starring: Paul Nicholas and Phyllis Logan Fabulous Films & Fremantle Home Entertainment RRP: £24.99 FHED2590 Certificate: 12 Available 29 June 2009

Neil Walsh has always done anything he can to make money. When a cement deal turns sour he is unexpectedly declared bankrupt. To add to his woes his wife demands a divorce and a shady creditor, to whom he owes fifty thousand pounds, is quite happy to take it back in flesh...

Bust (1987-1988 - 310 mins approx) is a drama show, staring Paul Nicholas (Just Good Friends 1983-1986) and Phyllis Logan. The show was created by Philip Hinchcliffe (a name well known to all Doctor Who fans) and directed by Don Leaver. This two set DVD hold the six episodes which made up series one; its initial success was confidently enough guaranteed that a second series was commissioned.

The first series charts Neil’s fall from grace and his determination to rebuild his business. To this end he ropes in his best friend, Adam Freeman (Ron Emslie) and his wife to be the company directors of a new venture, she has little choice considering all that she thought she owned had already been put up as collateral for loans. Initially Logan plays Sheila Walsh as a little out of her depth, but soon she becomes disenchanted with just signing cheques and discovers that she has a talent for business. Neil is very much like a younger Arthur Daley, but with a level of charm that stays just this side of slimy.

As a drama the show is a little on the light side, mostly consisting of Neil’s wife and friends trying to stay one step ahead of Neil’s dubious deals, all the while being chased by the woman overseeing his bankruptcy, Janet Summers (Geraldine Alexander). The show is also showing its age, not so much for the stylings of the clothes and hair, which given the popularity of Ashes to Ashes (2008-present) will not look too out of place. It is the pacing of the show which a modern audience may find slow. This is not a fault of this show alone; the excellent A Very Peculiar Practice (1986-1988) which was its contemporary also has overlong establishing shots.

For all his faults Neil is portrayed as more of a rogue than a villain, and Nicholas pulls out all the charm to make the character likeable, and succeeds in engaging with the audience. I’m not sure that I really cared what happened to Neil, but the show was entertaining enough to make me want to watch all the episodes.

Given the show's age, it is presented in its original 4:3 aspect ratio, with a 2.0 stereo audio track, the picture is a little soft but in generally good condition, having no obvious signs of damage.

Disc one holds the first four episodes. Normally a show like this is bunged onto a disc on a take it or leave it basis. Not so Bust, which comes with a full length commentary for episode one. Over on disc two we have the remaining two episodes and a Bust featurette: Bust Again (18 min, 05 sec) with Paul Nicholas talking about his involvement with the show, plus contributions from Ron Emslie, Peter Hinchcliffe and Geraldine Alexander. It’s worth watching if you’re a fan of the show and a pleasant extra for what in reality was a minor show in the annals of television. The disc is rounded off with text biographies of the four main characters and a stills gallery.

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Charles Packer