Oxford (The Comic Strip Presents . . . )
Date: 1990
Director: Peter Richardson
Production Company: Comic Strip Production
Stars: Dawn French, Lenny Henry, Jennifer Saunders, Ronald Allen, Leslie Phillips, Adrian Edmondson, Nigel Planer, Peter Richardshon
Location(s): Berkshire, London, Oxfordshire
Region(s): London O-Q, South East M-Q
Storyline:
While her comedian boyfriend is in Oxford to make a film, a quiet-natured girl goes behind his back to enrol on a poetry course . . . but she’s not the only one hiding a secret.
Additional Information:
Page compiled by Phil Wilkinson
A television film from ‘The Comic Strip Presents . . . ‘ series.
Series 4, episode 4.
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- Capture 1
- 'Now' required
Hannah stands thumbing a lift, hoping to get to Oxford to study the poetry of Byron.
- Capture 2
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A Land Rover pulls over.
- Capture 3
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Hannah von Hosenstraet (Jennifer Saunders) listens as the Driver explains to her why she shouldn't be hitch-hiking before giving her a lift.
- Capture 4
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The Land Rover reaches the centre of Oxford. Facing east on Broad Street, Oxford with the Oxford Martin School at the corner of Catte Street in the left distance and the Grade I listed Clarendon Building to the right.
- Capture 5
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Panning with the vehicle as it passes along Broad Street, the camera finds the Sheldonian Theatre.
- Capture 6
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The pair talk in the car as Hannah explains why she's here. Catte Street in Oxford, Oxfordshire.
- Capture 7
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Facing south on Catte Street with the Radcliffe Camera in the right distance.
- Capture 8
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Looking through railings on Catte Street towards the Sheldonian Theatre to the left and the Clarendon Building on the right.
- Capture 9
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Hannah gets out of the Land Rover. The Bridge of Sighs, officially Hertford Bridge, passing over New College Lane with Catte Street in the distance.
- Capture 10
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Making her way to a hotel, Hannah asks if they have any "live in" jobs. Oakley Court on Windsor Road, Oakley Green in Berkshire. The house is seen in many other productions including 'The House in Nightmare Park', 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show', 'What the Butler Saw', 'And Now The Screaming Starts', 'Room to Let', ‘The Brides of Dracula’, 'Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly' and 'The Man in Black'.
- Capture 11
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Radcliffe Square with the Radcliffe Camera on the left and the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in the distance.
- Capture 12
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Getting a position as a waitress, Hannah makes her way to the college where she has applied to study. Brasenose College on Radcliffe Square.
- Capture 13
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Swinging her bag onto her shoulder, Hannah enters the college to speak with the Dean about getting onto a course to study Lord Byron. The entrance to Brasenose College in Oxford.
- Capture 14
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When Steve Wild (Lenny Henry) and his girlfriend Caroline (Dawn French) arrive at the hotel, his Manager (Nigel Planer) explains to the press that he's here to make a comedy movie. The entrance to Oakley Court on Windsor Road between Maidenhead and Windsor.
- Capture 15
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Morning dawns on the day after Caroline angers Steve at dinner when she tells him that she's going to study Byron. Facing the Divinity School on Catte Street.
- Capture 16
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The shot pans with a Cyclist to find the Radcliffe Camera with the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin in the left background.
- Capture 17
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Hannah goes shopping. Looking onto Turl Street from the entrance to Walters of Oxford with Lincoln College across the street.
- Capture 18
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Wearing new glasses, Hannah leaves Blackwell's carrying the works of Byron. Outside Blackwell's bookshop at 48 to 51 Broad Street, Oxford.
- Capture 19
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The hopeful student buys a bike.
- Capture 20
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With her head down and wearing dark glasses, Caroline heads to college.
- Capture 21
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Caroline passes the Porter standing outside before joining Professor Breeze's poetry class.
- Capture 22
- 22 Sep 2026
Hannah steps gingerly up to the notice board to discover that she's failed the entrance exam for Professor Breeze's course. Beneath the Grade I listed Lincoln's Inn Chapel in Old Square, London WC2.
Looking north to Stone Buildings. SJ
- Capture 23
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A group of Dons watch as Sir Douglas, the Dean (Leslie Phillips), is taken away by two MI5 Agents.
- Capture 24
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Professor Temple (Graham Crowden) mutters "Bloody MI5 yobbos" to the other Dons.
- Capture 25
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The black limousine drives Sir Douglas away to be questioned about being recruited by the KGB between 1950 and 1962.
- Capture 26
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Failing to bribe the Professor to take her onto his course, Hannah stares down from a bridge at the punts on the river.
- Capture 27
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Punters are overheard talking about Byron as they pass beneath the bridge.
- Capture 28
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Steve approaches Miss von Hosenstraet and asks about Caroline.
- Capture 29
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Hannah suggests that they pretend to have an affair when Steve tells her that he thinks that Caroline is having a fling with Professor Breeze.
- Capture 30
- 22 Sep 2026
When it's revealed that Steve Wild is a KGB hit-man. he marches Caroline and Professor Roland Breeze (Ronald Allen) through the university at gunpoint. The undercroft of Lincoln’s Inn chapel.
Looking west in the direction of New Square. SJ
- Capture 31
- 22 Sep 2026
Professor Temple appears and calls for Steve to let the Professor go before he's joined by other Dons. Lincoln’s Inn Chapel's undercroft also features in 'The Third Secret', 'Mr. Holmes' and 'Tom Jones' as well as an interior set for 'Richard III'.
I tried to find some matching stone cracks in the floor but no success. SJ
- Capture 32
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With Steve dispatched by Professor Temple and the Dons, Hannah and Caroline study Byron together. Radcliffe Square, looking towards Catte Street with the Divinity School to the left and the Radcliffe Camera on the right.