15th August 2004
ITV broadcasts final episode of Island at War
Island at War was a hybrid tale of life in the occupied Channel Islands. It took inspiration from real-life events but, rather than setting them in either Jersey or Guernsey, the action took place on a fictional stand-in, St Gregory. It was filmed on the Isle of Man.
The six-episode series focused on three local families: the Dorrs, Mahys and Jonases. Joanne Froggatt, who would go on to take a lead role in Downton Abbey, played Angelique Mahy. Philip Glenister, who would star as Gene Hunt in both Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, played German officer Baron Von Rheingarten. The first episode was broadcast on ITV on Sunday 11 July 2004.
Published reviews
Television, film and theatre newspaper The Stage reviewed the first episode, commenting, “it will be interesting to see how Island at War fares in the ratings. Intelligent, well acted and very lavish, this six-part drama concerning the Channel Islands under Nazi occupation nevertheless makes for challenging and distressing viewing… It promises to be an uncompromising depiction of a horrifying part of British history but on the evidence of episode one alone, Island at War will reward perseverance.” The Times also reviewed the first episode, with Paul Hoggart saying, “Island at War is competent, easy on the eye and blandly entertaining. Nobody need go to bed with nightmares. Sadly this means that it is about as convincingly traumatic as a rubber shark.”
ITV didn’t commission a second series despite national feedback having been favourable.
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Other events that occured in August
Work begins on St Helier harbour
- Until work began on St Helier Harbour, visitors arriving on the packet steamer had to come ashore in small boats when the tide was out.
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The King of Patagonia invades Minquiers
- French novelist Jean Raspail claimed Minquiers in the name of the king of Patagonia, who by then had been dead for a century.
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Jersey man in court accused of bigamy
- Jersey man Philip Vasse found himself in court accused of bigamy after his first wife was listed as his next of kin.
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Jersey fugitive kills a man
- A man and his wife killed their dinner guest and buried his remains under the kitchen floor, before the husband fled to Jersey.
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