THE GOOD COMPANIONS: IN WHICH WE MEET THE COMPANY

UK / ITV Network – Yorkshire / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 14 November 1980

Writer: Alan Plater / Director: Bill Hays

Series: The Good Companions
Episode 1 of 9

In Which We Meet The Company, the opening episode of the series, sees The Dinky Doos concert party troupe down on their luck – their boss has run off with the takings of their last few shows and they are on the verge of giving up but fortune smiles upon them when they meet newly wealthy Miss Elizabeth Trent, songwriter Inigo Jollifant and handyman Jess Oakroyd.

Fabulous opening episode, we are only ten minutes in before the entire cast launches into song (done in a very Dennis Potter naturalistic kind of way as they sit in a cafe) and you realise yes this is in fact a musical. All of the main cast are introduced very quickly and there is a small role for a young Denis Lawson as best friend to Jess Oakroyd’s wastrel son.

cast
JUDY CORNWELL as Elizabeth Trant
JOHN STRATTON as Jess Oakroyd
JAN FRANCIS as Susie Dean
JEREMY NICHOLAS as Inigo Jollifant
BRYAN PRINGLE as Morton Mitcham
FRANK MILLS as Jimmy Nunn
VIVIENNE MARTIN as Elsie Longstaff
JOHN BLYTHE as Joe Brundit
JO KENDALL as Mrs Joe
SIMON GREEN as Jerry Jerningham
LESLIE SANDS as Narrator
FANNY CARBY as Mrs Mounder
BARBARA YOUNG as Mrs Oakroyd
IAN SHARP as Leonard Oakroyd
DENIS LAWSON as Albert Tuggridge
COLIN DOUGLAS as Sam Oglethorpe
PAUL LUTY as George Jobley
D. GEOFFREY TOMLINSON as Policeman
BUNNY MAY as Fred
PATRICK DURKIN as Nobby
JUNE ELLIS as Annie
TOKE TOWNLEY as Cart Driver
JOHN SAVIDENT as Pobbleby
ALFRED LYNCH as Joby Jackson