Comedy written for Liza Goddard

Press, 7 March 1984, Page 10

Comedy written for Liza Goddard

“Roll Over Beethoven,” an exuberant new TV series combining romance, comedy and music, will begin on Sunday, on Two at 9 p.m. It has nothing to do with Beethoven. Starring Liza Goddard, Richard Vernon and Nigel Planer, it was written by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who won success with “Holding the Fort” and “Shine on Harvey Moon.” The songs in the series may have their own appeal, but the musical chords in the story are anything but harmonious when the unevfintuful lives of a village pianoforte teacher, Belinda Purcell, and her snorting, dominating, old warhorse father, Major Oliver Purcell, are shattered by the arrival of a pop star who takes over a nearby stately country mansion. It is all too much for the Major. Dammit, sir, what has the country come to when a rock ’n’ roller can become the virtual lord of the manor? The Major wastes no time in launching a petition against such sacrilege. Not unexpectedly, he becomes even more choleric when the rocker comes to his daughter for pianoforte

lessons. It is adding insult to injury that a singer has soared to stardom without knowing a note of music—and has become a millionaire as well. What happens after this is unexpected, delightfully funny and with romantic twists and turns and surprises all round, says TVNZ. The course of true love possesses some sharp notes. No-one could have been more aptly cast than Liza Goddard, star of “Take Three Girls” and “Pig in the Middle,” not only because of her flair for comedy but the fact that she is no stranger to the pop world. In Private life, she is married to a rock star, the black-leath-ered sex symbol, Alvin Stardust. “Roll Over Beethoven” was written with Liza Goddard in mind. “We just gambled on her liking it and that she would be available,” said the producer, Tony Charles. “The first I knew about it,” Ms Goddard exclaimed, “was when the script was sent to me. I loved it. Turn it down? No way!”

More surprising, perhaps, is the casting of Nigel Planer as the pop star. It is a great contrast to his first major TV success as the

likeable numbskull spiv in “Shine on Harvey Moon,” his first running role in a series. He now reveals himself as capable of singing rock numbers. Though primarily an actor, he also has a strange act in which he

sings. Richard. Vernon is thoroughly at home as Major Purcell, the type of role he so frequently plays, sometimes straight but often in comedy vein. He also invariably plays professional types