Glynis Barber as Jane

Jane

1982 - United Kingdom

Jane was originally a comic strip created and drawn by Norman Pett for the London edition of the Daily Mirror and appeared from 5 December 1932 to 10 October 1959. Originally entitled 'Jane's Journal, the Diary of a Bright Young Thing,' the saucy strip featured the misadventures of a hapless heroine who had a disconcerting habit of losing her outer garments until she had to struggle through her various escapades in nothing much more than her underwear. After the Second World War broke out the young lass (modelled it is said on Pett's wife) shed even more of her clothes until she was virtually naked. Rather than cause any public outcry this was greeted with great enthusiasm as it was seen as a morale booster for British soldiers posted - or about to be posted abroad. In 1945 King Features attempted to syndicate Jane strips in the United States, but, the amount of nudity was too much for American audiences and the attempt ceased in 1946. 

Jane TV series

Actress Christabel Leighton-Porter (also claimed to have been the model for the character) toured the music halls with a striptease-act as Jane, and later she played in the movie The Adventures of Jane, which came out in 1949. The adventures of Jane were revived in 1982 by the BBC and starred a pre-Dempsey and Makepeace Glynis Barber who had previously appeared on the popular science fiction series Blake's 7 playing Soolin in the final series. Each adventure lasted around ten minutes and inventively mixed live action with animated backgrounds which were screened on consecutive weekday nights with an omnibus edition at the weekend. Two years later Jane returned again for another five episodes entitled Jane in the Desert.

Published on December 24th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Boys from the Blackstuff

Alan Bleasdale's hugely acclaimed series echoes the misery and despair of long-term unemployment. Set in Liverpool, these profoundly moving human dramas follow in turn the attempts of five working-class heroes to survive.

Also released in 1982

The Goodies

The Goodies were the quintessential image of a 1970's Britain that had not yet shaken off its 1960's 'swinging' image.

Also released in 1982

Goodbye Mr Kent

Something of a rarity in the TV life of Richard Briers-an unsuccessful sitcom which came sandwiched between two successful ones, namely, The Good Life and Ever Decreasing Circles.

Also released in 1982

A high adrenalin, all-action series including obligatory car chases and beatings up of London's criminal fraternity (as well as international drug-pushers and terrorists) in a style that took over where The Professionals left off.

Also tagged Blakes 7

Andy Robson

Based on Frederick Grice's 1969 novel, The Courage of Andy Robson, about a young boy who is uprooted from his life in the pit community of Easington, in 1910, when his father is killed in a mining accident.

Also released in 1982

Marco Polo

The extraordinary story of a man who gained fame for his worldwide travels in the 14th century.

Also released in 1982

Brookside

Airing on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982 Brookside changed the face of soap opera in England by tackling realistic and socially challenging storylines.

Also released in 1982

The Barchester Chronicles

Scandal taints the town of Barchester after the local church becomes the object of a scathing investigative report about the use of church funds.

Also released in 1982

Nancy Astor

Biography of Britain's first female MP.

Also released in 1982