Press Gang was a British children's television show (running from 1989 to 1993) based around the activities of a "children's newspaper" initially begun as a school project but in later series depicted as a commercial venture.
A comedy/drama, the show was notable for the high quality and sophistication of the writing, as well as the chemistry between the two lead actors, Julia Sawalha who played the tough-as-nails editor Lynda Day, and Dexter Fletcher, playing a wise-cracking American reporter, and a great supporting cast. Aimed at older children and teenagers, the writers took a sophisticated approach to the comedy, the various issues thrown up by the storylines (including child sexual abuse, firearms, and death as well as the more mundane fare of interpersonal relationships), and drawing out multifaceted characters, to the point where the screening network became concerned that the program was too sophisticated for its intended audience.
The show was devised by writer Steven Moffat and directed by Bob Spiers (a noted British comedy director).
