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The reaction of the people of Liverpool to the drama success of 1982: “The Boys from the Blackstuff” prior to its repeat on BBC-1, including extracts from the series. In Liverpool “The Boys from the Blackstuff” spawned pop songs, graffiti, T-shirts and warm personal reactions. Most of the filming took place in the pub featured in “George’s Last Ride”. Alan Bleasdale, author: “I didn’t write it for the bishops, knights, queens and kings. I wrote it for and about the pawns.” Willie Russell, playwright: “The reaction here in Liverpool has been one of, yeah, dead right, that’s the way we feel about it.” Dave Swindlehurst, unemployed: “It was too real. A lot of people were trying to pretend that it wasn’t.. you see a lot of people in that state.” John Nettleson, unemployed: “Alan Bleasdale actually hit the reality of the situation. He took the lid off the box to let you know what the bloody hell is going on in this town… its made me more resolved to say ‘Get off the floor and fight back.’ Sir Trevor Jones, leader, Liverpool city Council: “It is typical of what goes on. I think it might bring people to grips with reality.. that catch phrase, ‘I could do that’ is so typical of Liverpool. All we want is a chance to do it.” Alan O’Toole, unemployed: “What the series has done is not so much explain unemployment to those who are working, as explain unemployment to ourselves… he’s given us words to communicate with each other about our own experiences.” Joe Riley, Arts Editor, Liverpool Echo: “You’ve only got to walk around the streets of Liverpool to notice that there is this aggression in the air. A general worried look on people’s faces.” Rev. Jim Garnett: “Society as a whole has put a great deal of emphasis on the function of a man, not what he is, but how he contributes to society.” Plus Adrian Henri, poet, John Carr, unemployed and Billy Butler, DJ BBC Radio Merseyside. What is the significance of the program for input? It relates “The Boys from the Blackstuff” to both its inspiration and its audience, highlighting the political message of the plays.