Singing detected: Blackpool and the strange case of the missing television musical dramas

Acknowledging the critical acclaim that surrounds the work of Dennis Potter in televised musical dramas including Pennies From Heaven and The Singing Detective, this article argues that the 'new television language' invented by Potter has been largely ingnored by contemporary television drama. However, through a detailed examination of the 2004 BBC series Blackpool, the article argues that musical drama has the potential to produce 'good television'.