Auf Wiedersehen Pet

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is a British comedy-drama television programme that aired on ITV in 1983. In German, 'Auf Wiedersehen' translates as 'Goodbye', and 'Pet' is a colloquial term of endearment in North East England. The title of the show thus tongue-in-cheekingly suggests that it will deal with themes of partings and affections, which indeed it does. It captures the experience of seven English construction workers who are 'exiled' from the UK due to a lack of jobs and have to take up employment in Düsseldorf in West Germany.

The characters, each from different areas of England, represent a cross-section of British society of the time. While the initial premise might suggest a focus on the workaday realities of construction, the show is much more about comedic and dramatic dislocations that occur when individuals removed from their native environments are forced to adapt and coexist within a foreign culture. Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is essentially a social commentary on Englishmen forced out of their homeland due to economic circumstance and their attempts to navigate a German society that is itself in the throes of change.

The seven main characters are a distinct mixture of personalities, backgrounds and regional identities, which produces constant tension, conflict, camaraderie and comedy. Neville Hope, an anxious and fretful but well-meaning individual, and his assertive and rather unscrupulous friend Dennis Patterson, originate from Newcastle upon Tyne, in North East England. Leonard 'Oz' Osborne is a loud and belligerent bricklayer, also from Newcastle. Barry Taylor, a hapless electrician, hails from the West Midlands, while Brian 'Bomber' Busbridge, a gigantic and thoughtful Welshman, and Albert Moxey, a Liverpudlian, fill out the rest of the troop.

The interactions between these individuals and their efforts to stick together, despite manifest cultural differences and personal frictions, lie at the heart of the show. Their makeshift home in Düsseldorf, a cramped wooden hut, creates the perfect setting for their diverse personalities to collide and harmonise, generating numerous comedic and dramatic moments.

Every episode plays out a series of engaging events, oscillating between high drama and rollicking comedy, which explores each character's attempt to reconcile with their foreign surrounds while carving out homely spaces amidst unaccustomed realities. The themes that recur playfully and poignantly include homesickness, cultural misunderstanding, language barriers, and sometimes, poignantly honest realisations of being a stranger in a strange land. The comedy is often very physical and slapstick, yet it is underpinned by shrewd observations about British and German society and culture.

While there is an undercurrent of melancholia that permeates the series due to the men's existential circumstances, what shines through is their spirit of camaraderie, resilience, and their capacity to carve out bonhomie and humour even in the most trying situations. This careful balance between humour, drama, and trenchant social commentary has endeared Auf Wiedersehen, Pet to audiences and critics alike, making it a much-beloved series in British television history.

Viewers are drawn to the authentic portrayal of the characters' struggles and their attempts to make the most of their circumstances. The writing is crisp, the pace energetic and the performances compelling, making each character's journey a captivating watch from start to finish. The series offers a snapshot of a bygone era, reflecting the socio-economic realities of '80s Britain and beyond through the lens of another country.

Importantly, the show's authenticity is heightened by its commitment to capturing the distinctness of regional vernacular and cultural nuances. Consequently, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet has earned a reputation for not just comedy and drama but also for its authentic representation of working-class life during a key period in British history.

The offbeat charm of this series stems undeniably from the fact that, despite being economically driven voluntary exiles, despite being lost in translation and always at the verge of cultural faux pas, these seven men always find a way to survive, grow, find humour and most important of all, remain quintessentially British. Whether you come for the comedy, stay for the drama, or simply to feast on a slice of social history served with a side of linguistic and cultural confusion, Auf Wiedersehen, Pet is an entertaining and insightful watch.