Tucker's Luck books
1984 Tucker's Luck Annual
Published 1983
IPC Magazines Ltd., London ("A Fleetway Annual")
ISBN 0850379539
Hardcover, 80 pages. Original price: £3.25
This was for the first series of Tucker's Luck. Contents include:
Interviews with Todd Carty (Tucker), George Armstrong (Alan), and Paul McCarthy (Tommy).
Full-page "pin-up" colour publicity photos of Tucker Jenkins, Alan Humphries, Tommy Watson, Tommy and Michelle, Allison, and a group photo with Tucker, Allison, Michelle, and Tommy.
Two photo-stories, one about Tommy breaking up with a girl and trying to keep it a secret from Tucker and Alan, and the other about Tucker meeting a pretty motorcyclist just as his motorbike gets stolen and involved in a traffic accident!
Three Tucker's Luck short stories, each with photos.
Best Social Artifact: An article explaining, step by step, how to get on the dole.
Best Social Artifact, Runner-Up: An article describing careers for 16-year-old school-leavers. Among the choices: hairdresser, motor mechanic, store worker, office worker, police cadet, and the army. Pay rates range from £28.50 per week for an apprentice hairdresser to £2,910 per year (£56-57 per week) working in a bank.
Best Age Group Artifacts: An article with post-party cleaning tips, and an article explaining why school loves don't last.
Best 1980s Artifact: A "first jobs" feature with Boy George of Culture Club, Nick Heyward of Haircut 100, Simon LeBon, Midge Ure, Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet, and David Jaymes and Michael Mullins of Modern Romance.
Best Still-Relevant Information: a three-part series on getting a job.
Tidbit: In 1984, an unemployed 16- or 17-year-old living at home qualified for the dole at the rate of £15.80 per week, plus a rent addition of £3.10.
Odd bit: Passmore's sidekick, played by Steven Brown, is named in the show dialog and credits as "Brains," but throughout the Annual as "Brain Damage."
Odd bit 2: One of the short stories features Alan's Mum, who was never seen or mentioned in the show, and was presumably absent.
TRIVIA EXCERPT: At the time, Todd Carty's two favourite actors were Peter O'Toole and Clint Eastwood, and his favourite car was his maroon Morris 1000.
1985 Tucker's Luck Annual
Published 1984
IPC Magazines Ltd., London ("A Fleetway Annual")
ISBN 0850378656
Hardcover, 80 pages. Original price: £3.50
This was for the second series of Tucker's Luck. Contents include:
Interviews with Todd Carty (Tucker), George Armstrong (Alan), and Paul McCarthy (Tommy).
Full-page "pin-up" colour publicity photos (3 each) of Tucker Jenkins, Alan Humphries, Tommy Watson.
Three photo-stories, one about Tucker losing his heart to a con artist, one about Alan taking on (and messing up) a small building job, and one about Tommy juggling three girlfriends!
Three Tucker's Luck short stories, each with photos.
A "Behind the Scenes" article, and an article about Todd Carty's agent.
Best Social Artifact: Photos of the stars at home.
Best Age Group Artifacts: Articles about the kinds of girls Todd Carty (Tucker) and Paul McCarthy (Tommy) would like to be with. Young ladies, start your hormones ...
Best 1980s Artifact: The hair! The home decor! The clothes! Hey, I still dress like that.
Tidbit: The audience for the first series of Tucker's Luck topped out at 4.7 million viewers.
Odd bit: No photos of Creamy, Ade, Junior, Susan, or Sarah.
TRIVIA EXCERPT: In episode 7, Gareth Milne, the stuntman standing in for Paul McCarthy as Tommy, was supposed to tumble into the water - the motorcycle wasn't supposed to go in! Once it had, though, some quick re-writing was needed to get the story back on-track.
The paperback books
Forty Days of Tucker J, by Robert Leeson
Published by Fontana Lions, 1983
Paperback ISBN: 0006721761
Hardcover ISBN: 0563201819
Original price: £1.00
This story takes place almost immediately after Tucker leaves Grange Hill. His parents give him until half-term to find work or return to school. The novel takes the form of a day-by-day account of Tucker's travails at the hands of The System. Thanks go out to Lindi for the photo!
Tidbit: Tucker's older brother works on an oil rig off the Shetlands.
Odd bits: The presence of Tucker's Dad (un-named), Tucker's older brother (also un-named), and a younger sister named ... Tracy!
Tucker's Luck, by Jan Needle
Published by Fontana Lions, 1984.
Paperback ISBN 0006723950
Australian edition by Angus & Robertson, ISBN: 0233977147
Original price: £1.25
This is essentially the first series in novel form. Unlike Great Days at Grange Hill (Fontana Lions, 1984) by the same author, the chapters do not follow the episodes. As a result, the book hangs together as a single work instead of a series of short stories.
Tidbit: Tucker's motorbike is described as an East European two-stroke, 125cc, single-cylinder.
Odd bit: Alan Humphries is referred to throughout as Alan Hargreaves.
Tucker in Control, by Jan Needle
Published by Andre Deutsch Ltd., 1985
Hardback ISBN: 0233978976
Paperback ISBN: 0416479006
If anyone has one of these, please let me know - I'd like to buy it! Contact me at
... and thanks!
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