As seen on the small screen...

Granada drama Travelling Man, broadcast for two seasons from 1984. The plot followed Lawson’s search for his son and the people who framed him.

Lawson lived on his narrowboat Harmony and was accompanied by girlfriend Lindsay Duncan. Many scenes were shot around Manchester and the north west.

Travelling Man, broadcast weekly on ITV in a prime 9pm slot, was watched by more than 13.2 million at its peak.

The BBC drama Making Out featured all the personalities on the factory floor of the New Lyne Electronics company in Manchester.

Humour was mixed liberally with tragedy as the factory faced redundancies, take-overs and recession – but always managed to carry on.

Margi Clarke headed the cast as Queenie, the outspoken ring-leader of the women workers. Rachel Davies played Pauline, the union shop steward.

Factory boss Rex was portrayed by Keith Allen and Brian Hibbard played Chunky, Queenie’s petty criminal husband. He also appeared as mechanic Doug Murray in Coronation Street.

Hibbard was familiar as a founder member of the pop group The Flying Pickets – and even formed a picket line on Top of the Pops during the miners’ strike of 1984.

Making Out was broadcast on Fridays at 9.30pm from January 1989 to November 1991. The series was created by Franc Roddam, who was also responsible for Auf Wiedersehen Pet.