The Mersey Pirate

The Mersey Pirate was a British childrens television programme that was shown in 1979. Based aboard a ship anchored at Liverpool Docks in the River Mersey, it was produced by Granada Television and was introduced to fill the Saturday morning summer break taken by Tiswas. The programme's presenters were Duggie Brown, Frank Carson, Bernard Wrigley and Billy Butler. Actors Andrew Schofield and Ray Kingsley, who would later work together on the television series Scully, played stowaways. Various guests appeared on the series including The Dooleys, Bad Manners, The Undertones, and Star Wars star David Prowse. Most ITV regions showed the programme, though several did not. The show had been due to run throughout the summer of 1979, but its run was cut short due to the ITV network strike that ran from August to October that year. The following year another Granada production, Fun Factory, took the Summer Saturday morning slot.

Directed by —, The Mersey Pirate leans on a strong ensemble — Duggie Brown, Bernard Wrigley, Frank Carson — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1979.