Heartburn Hotel
Harry Springer (Tim Healey) and Duggie Strachan (Clive Russell) are ex-Army pals who served in the Falkland Islands together. Duggie was an infantryman, up at the 'sharp end', while Harry was in the Catering Corps. Harry saved Duggie's life - at least, that's what Harry reckons. Nowadays, Harry is the proud owner of the seedy Olympic Hotel in Smethwick and Duggie, now a teacher, is one of his reluctant guests. The hotel is populated mainly by drunks, homeless people on Social Security, asylum seekers and illegal immigrants.
Details
First Aired: 7/20/1998
Languages: English
Type: Scripted
Production
BBC One
Seasons
Season 1
Harry Springer keenly bought up a Birmingham hotel when the newspapers were sure that the city would win the bid to host the 1992 Olympics. When it failed, the ex-Army cook was left with a grotty, run-down and now-Olympic-themed business: its assests include the Torville & Dean Lounge, Fatima Whitbread Grill, and rooms such as the Eddie The Eagle Suite. His residents are mostly supplied by the DSS and other Government agencies: a guest paying of their own accord is a rare luxury at the Olympic! Springer's sidekick is Duggie, a socialist-leaning teacher who served with him in the Falklands war. Harry's hapless nephew Simon also ends up staying among the homeless and hopeless who make up the rest of the guests
