THE BRADSHAWS

'The Bradshaws' is a fictional family created and voiced by the comedian and musician Buzz Hawkins.
The family was created for The Gary Davies Show with Gary Davies on Piccadilly Radio in 1983 when Hawkins wrote a poem about a family's day trip to Blackpool, this soon developed into a series. In 1986, Hawkins was made producer of The Phil Wood Show, on which he performed more Bradshaws material.
Hawkins would go on to sell cassettes of his Bradshaws episodes, which he still does to this day, as well as doing stand-up, acting and more. The Bradshaws series has been re-released as a 25 volume C.D. collection. The series has gained great popularity in the North and abroad. it has been said that some people still ask who the voice actors are even though all the characters are voiced by Hawkins ^[1].
You can hear The Bradshaws every Saturday and Sunday on Fresh Radio in the North of England (currently on 936, 1413 and 1431 Medium Wave, plus several FM frequencies from February 2007) during Jeremy Gartland's show, at around 11:20 in the morning. From August 2007 they can also be heard on new Hull radio station KCFM on the Al Dupres show at 2.30pm Monday to Friday, repeated on the late night show with Rob Langley at 11.15pm.

Contents

Setting

Main characters

Audrey

Alf

Billy

Poshy/Oswald

Minor Characters

Michael Morris

Betty Morris

Mr Morris

Uncle Wally One-Ball

Pamela

God

Notes

External links

Setting

The Bradshaws is set in a Cosy Terraced House (with an Outside Toilet) in the era of pounds, shillings and pence (probably sometime in the 1950s), There is almost always a Brass Band playing two or three streets away (Hawkins thought that some quiet Brass Band music in the background would help make the series feel warm and cosy ^[1]) The Bradshaws are a normal working class family with little money, although they are able to afford a few luxuries (such as Alf's Woodbines).

Main characters

Audrey

Audrey is the Stereotypical Housewife, she likes entering competitions and winning holidays to Venus ^[3] (she Mispronounced Venice). Audrey is considerably less intelligent than Alf and often shows this through complete lack of Common Knowledge,she seems to think that the coalman and Michael Morris's Mam are just 'Friends' despite the obvious ^[3] (see Minor Characters). Audrey (seemingly) Cooks very badly, when she made Steak and Kidney Pudding for Billy and Alf's Tea she left it boiling dry resulting in burnt pastry (which tasted like Cardboard according to Alf) ^[3].

Alf

Alf is a Male Shoulderless pig (according to Audrey), he is very mean to Audrey and Billy and is rarely shown to be nice to them. He smokes Woodbines and plays Monopoly very unfairly ^[6]. Alf often drinks and the only times he is nice to Billy and Audrey is when he is drunk, Alf can be very mean with money (he swapped Billy's loose change for Irish coins which he said were worth more than English money ^[7]) and does everything he can to keep hold of it. Alf is often Sarcastic and when it was time for the annual trip to Southport he made all sorts of remarks about packing sugar lumps for the Camel desert Boots and a Foreign Legion Hat ^[3] (these are reference's to the fact that the tide at Southport rarely comes in to the sea front), Alf rarely bothers to dress properly and frequently wears only a pair of trousers and his string vest, Alf occasionally teach's Billy rude songs (like Hitler has only got one ball) to upset Audrey ^[3].

Billy

'William "Billy" Bradshaw' is perhaps the most popular character. He loves his Mam and Dad even though Alf can be very mean to him. Billy enjoys playing out with his best friend Michael Morris (see Minor Characters), he wants a pet of some sort: either a Budgie, a Dog or a Zedgie ^[6](an imaginary animal that Alf made up). Billy is often portrayed as being quite a bit less intelligent than Alf (although he isn't as daft as Audrey) he enjoys going to the 'Flicks' although the Projectionist is suffering from alopecia and hair falls like snow over the screen. Billy Seems blissfully unaware that Michael Morris's Mam is having an affair with the coal man and whenever Michael's Mam and Dad are mentioned he says "It's always warm in their house".

Poshy/Oswald

Poshy or Oswald was Billy's kitten, Audrey and Billy both originally referred him to a he at first, But after Audrey to the cat down to a woman's house. It was then realised Poshy/Oswald was now a girl, she only appears in three episodes. In the episode 'Open Wide', Poshy escaped from the Bradshaws home and ran to (possibly) Winefred Dutton's and never appeared again, Billy and Audrey were both worried. Alf in a selfish way, was pleased that Poshy had run away, she did make a a cameo in Audrey's Tries Her Luck.

Minor Characters

The Minor Characters are never heard to speak (although Michael occasionally announces his presence with his Mouth Organ ^[3])

Michael Morris

'Michael Morris' is Billy Bradshaw's best friend, he wears a pair of Clinic Glasses for his Lazy eye. Michael is based on a school friend of Buzz Hawkins (who was also called Michael Morris ^[12])

Betty Morris

'Betty Morris' is the Mother of Michael Morris. She is having an affair with the coal man ^[3] (although Audrey refuses to believe this).

Mr Morris

'Mr Morris' is the Father of Michael Morris (although Michael's real father is the Coal man), Mr Morris is tight-fisted and bald, he has stolen Alf's tools several times.

Uncle Wally One-Ball

'Uncle Walter' is Audrey's Uncle, he got a Gunshot to a 'sensitive' area in The Great War and now drags his leg, he used to go by the stagename 'Bert Scroginbottom' he played the Banjolele and wrote his own songs. He was destined for stardom but he accidentally left his kitbag in the NAAFI with all his songs inside and it was stolen by a Buck-toothed Private named 'Formby' ^[14].

Pamela

'Aunty Pamela' is Audrey's sister, she is constantly knitting Tank Tops for Billy and Alf although they never fit properly -- as a matter of fact, Alf wears one that she knitted for Billy. Pamela also makes knitted swimming trunks for Billy.

God

'God' features in many episodes. According to Alf (who should not be believed as he is an agnostic) the moon is a hole in the sky for God to spy on people and the sun is his reading light. He turns it on for filling in his diary ^[3]. God seems to show a strong dislike for Alf, as shown by the numerous times that bad things happen to him. This may be because Alf kept some rude magazines that Audrey told Alf to bin ^[3] .

Notes

1. The Bradshaws Website
2. The Bradshaws Website
3. The Bradshaws Boxed set
4. The Bradshaws Boxed set
5. The Bradshaws Boxed set
6. The Bradshaws Video Cassette
7. The Bradshaws Live show at The Lowry Centre
8. The Bradshaws Boxed set
9. The Bradshaws Boxed set
10. The Bradshaws Video Cassette
11. The Bradshaws Boxed set
12. The Bradshaws Live Show at the Lowry
13. The Bradshaws Boxed set
14. The Bradshaws Live show at the Lowry
15. The Bradshaws Boxed set
16. The Bradshaws Boxed set

External links

★ The Bradshaws Website