Cradle to Grave is a British autobiographical miniseries created by Danny Baker, about his formative years in the 1970s. Produced by ITV Studios for BBC Two, it stars Laurie Kynaston as Danny, with Peter Kay and Lucy Speed as his parents Spud and Bet. In 1974, 15-year-old Danny is our guide through the ups and downs of the Baker family. With eldest daughter Sharon's impending wedding and the docks facing closure, times are challenging. So too are Danny's attempts to get closer to the opposite sex.
Episodes
Sharon and her plimsole-wearing boyfriend are about to take Danny to the theatre for a West End experience he will never forget. Throw in a coveted item of clothing, a rogue tortoise and an early brush with death and it's business as usual at 11 Debnams Rd.
Bet persuades Spud to expand their horizons and take in such rich new experiences as wine, the Bermondsey Small Retailers annual dinner dance, and a caravan holiday in Dymchurch. As for Danny, there are lessons to be learned in biology, both at school and in the bedroom.
Danny finds himself stepping into a parallel universe, where actual telly programmes can be watched again in your own front room.
Paying for daughter Sharon's dream wedding is giving Spud sleepless nights, whilst Danny has his own conundrum to solve.
Runtime: 30m
Fred contemplates an uneasy future away from the docks. Things develop between Danny and sexy teacher Miss Blondel when he finally enters her darkroom.
Runtime: 30m
Fred persuades Shaky Young, an escaped convict who has been hiding in his sister's loft for fourteen months (despite having only three left to serve) to attend his brother's funeral as Fred sees a financial opportunity for himself in it. Bet befriends a lonely co-worker whose wife has left him whilst Danny's night of passion with Miss Blondel is thwarted when brother Michael brings home a live hand grenade.
Runtime: 30m
Rejected by Miss Blondel, Danny hopes to make ex-girlfriend Yvonne jealous by posing as singer David Essex's brother, but still keeps his secret from his parents whilst Fred lands a job as a commissionaire at an office block but quits after a day and, high on LSD brother, Michael nearly puts his eye out and ends up in hospital. With all this to contend with no wonder Bet decides to walk out and go fishing with work colleague Keith.
Runtime: 30m
Bet is back home but refusing to talk to Fred and gets a call from Keith, suggesting she runs away with him. At Sharon's wedding reception, Bet recalls her courtship and early married life with Fred and her growing awareness of his dodgy deals, which land him in jail. However, after paying for a lavish honeymoon for Sharon, Fred knows just how to win Bet back whilst Danny discovers that he only needs to be himself to impress Yvonne.
