Blood on the Dole (1994): cast, story & where to watch
1994 · Film · ★ 8
Released in 1994, Blood on the Dole is a drama film directed by Pip Broughton, running about 90 minutes.
What it’s about. Alan Bleasdale's touching yet frank drama for Channel 4 about the struggles of a group of young adults leaving school in a deprived area of Liverpool. Starring Stephen Walters, Suzanne Maddock and Amanda Mealing. Based on the acclaimed play by Jim Morris, voted Most Promising Playwright by the Financial Times and Morning Star in 1981. Blood on the Dole shows the lives of four teenagers, two boys and two girls, struggling to cope after being thrust into the real world for the first time after leaving school. Living in deprived Merseyside, the four youths' bright-eyed optimism for their futures and new-found freedom is soon crushed by the realities of unemployment, poverty, and the brutal reality of living and trying to find work in a city in decline. They all soon find themselves in the hopeless situation of facing complete dependence on state handouts, "the dole". The four teenagers instead find themselves turning to each other to find the strength to survive.
Who’s in it. Blood on the Dole stars Stephen Walters as Joey Jackson, Philip Dowd as Ricky Jones, Suzanne Maddock as Cathy Thompson and Rachel Caldwell as Jean Kavanagh, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, Blood on the Dole sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Blood on the Dole page.
If you liked it. Fans of Blood on the Dole tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Blood on the Dole (1994)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Blood on the Dole change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Blood on the Dole worth watching?
- Blood on the Dole holds an audience score of 8.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Blood on the Dole?
- Blood on the Dole stars Stephen Walters, Philip Dowd, Suzanne Maddock, Rachel Caldwell and Aneirin Hughes.
- When was Blood on the Dole released?
- Blood on the Dole was released in 1994, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.