The Spongers

The Spongers

104 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Jan. 24, 1978

In the days leading up the Queen's Silver Jubilee, Pauline, a recently separated single mother, receives a visit from a bailiff and is given 15 days to address her overdue rent payments. Meanwhile, the local council is under pressure to cut expenditure, and their decisions result in Pauline's mentally handicapped daughter Paula being transferred from a care home for special needs children to an old people's home, where she is all alone.

The Spongers

104 mins | Drama, TV Movie | Jan. 24, 1978

The Spongers
In the days leading up the Queen's Silver Jubilee, Pauline, a recently separated single mother, receives a visit from a bailiff and is given 15 days to address her overdue rent payments. Meanwhile, the local council is under pressure to cut expenditure, and their decisions result in Pauline's mentally handicapped daughter Paula being transferred from a care home for special needs children to an old people's home, where she is all alone.
Producers BBC
Original title The Spongers
Directors Roland Joffé
Writers Jim Allen

Cast

Bernard Hill

as Sullivan

Peter Kerrigan

as Peter

Paula McDonagh

as Paula

Gary Todd

as Gary

Grace Allen

as Grace

Dawn Booth

as Baby Dawn

Angela Catherall

as Jackie

Gertie Almond

as Gertie

Elaine Lindsay

as Mrs Johnson

Bernard Atha

as Councillor Conway

Fred Pearson

as Director of Social Services

Ina Clough

as Deputy Director of Social Services

Donald Gee

as Dr Whitehead

Roger Sloman

as Presenting Officer at Tribunal

Frances Cox

as Supervisor at Home

Josephine Antosz

as Warden at Hostel

Lesley Nightingale

as Asst Supervisor at Home

Marion Shakespeare

as Chair of Tribunal

Ann Aris

as Tribunal Committee

Len Annett

as Tribunal Committee

Joanna Clay

as Jubilee Committee Chair

Eileen Beldon

as Jubilee Committee

Ken Rose

as Jubilee Committee

Gwen Harris

as Jubilee Committee

Joe Kenyon

as Group Policy Meeting Leader

Barry Hart

as Roads Committee Chair

Johnny Allan

as Planning Committee Chair

Jack Platts

as Housing Committee Chair

Anthony Dutton

as Education Committee Chair

Peter Ellis

as Left Wing Councillor

David Hatton

as DHSS Clerk

Yvonne Nicholson

as DHSS Clerk

Joan Peters

as Social Services Committee

Fred Gaunt

as Social Services Committee

Peter Lawrence

as Pauline's GP

Phil Kernot

as Bailiff

Gwyll Williams

as Bailiff

Johnny Hackett

as Foreman

Ted Carroll

as Workman

Emrys Evans

as Comedian/Club MC

Bill Moores

as Local in Pub

Mick Miller

as Policeman

Stuart Lee

as 2nd Policeman