UK SITCOMS - MAD ABOUT ALICE to MR CHARITY
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MAD ABOUT ALICE
BBC1 / 6x30m / started 23 January 2004
Writer: Paul Waite / Director: Gareth Carrivick / Producer: Sue Birbeck
Interior designer Alice and her ex-husband Doug are separated but still have feelings for each other as their lives continue to intertwine whenever he visits to see their young son.
With:- AMANDA HOLDEN as Alice / JAMIE THEAKSTON as Doug / JOHN GORDON-SINCLAIR as Ted / DEBRA STEPHENSON as Kate / BILLY HILL as Joe
MAGGIE AND HER
LWT / 13x30m-e / 1978-79
Writer: Leonard Webb / Producers: David Askey, Simon Brett
Sitcom. Divorced schoolteacher Maggie has to cope with her elderly but very nosy neighbour Mrs Perry, who is determined to set her up with a new 'fella'. There was a pilot broadcast on the 13 Aug 1976 under the title Poppy and Her.
Maggie............................................... JULIA McKENZIE
Mrs Perry............................................ IRENE HANDL
THE MAGNIFICENT EVANS
BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1984 13 Sep - 11 Oct Thurs 8.00pm
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producer/Director: Sydney Lotterby
Sitcom. The exploits of Plantagenet Evans, a philandering photographer in a small Welsh town.
Plantagenet Evans................................ RONNIE BARKER
Rachel................................................. SHARON MORGAN
Willie................................................... DICKIE ARNOLD
Bron.................................................... MYFANWY TALOG
Home Rule O'Toole............................... DYFED THOMAS
Thames / 39x30m-e / 1973-76 / 6 Seasons
Writers: Johnnie Mortimer, Brian Cooke / Producer: Peter Frazer-Jones
Sitcom. Two girls, Chrissy and Jo, share a flat with trainee chef Robin Trip. Living downstairs were the middle aged, sex starved Mildred Roper and her hapless husband George. The show garnered two spin offs, George and Mildred and Robin's Nest.
With:- RICHARD O'SULLIVAN as Robin Tripp / PAULA WILCOX as Chrissy Plummer / SALLY THOMSETT as Jo / DOUG FISHER as Larry Simms / BRIAN MURPHY as George Roper / YOOTHA JOYCE as Mildred Roper
THE MANAGEMENT
C4/LWT / 6x30m-e / 1988 27 January - 2 March Wednesday 10.00pm
Writers: Gareth Hale, Norman Pace, Geoff Atkinson / Producer: Charlie Hanson / Director: John Gorman
Sitcom. Dodgy bouncers The Two Rons are left a nightclub by their late uncle in his will. The Two Rons had previously been seen in Hale and Pace's sketch series.
Ron...................................................... GARETH HALE
Ron...................................................... NORMAN PACE
Mr Crusty............................................. BRYAN PRINGLE
Naomi.................................................. KATE McKENZIE
Fiona................................................... SERENA EVANS
Mrs Crusty........................................... VILMA HOLLINGBERRY
Typhus Los Bentos............................... ANDY LINDEN
MANN'S BEST FRIENDS
C4/Thames / 6x30m-e / 1985 15 April - 20 May Mondays 8.30pm
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producer/Director: Derrick Goodwin
Sitcom. When Hamish James Ordway retires from his job at the water board he is offered a rent free home at Henry Mann's boarding house if he can sort out the problems of all the other residents.
Hamish James Ordway........................ FULTON MACKAY
Henry Mann........................................ BARRY STANTON
Duncan.............................................. BERNARD BRESSLAW
Dolly 'Doll' Delights.............................. PATRICIA BURKE
Mrs Mann........................................... BARBARA HICKS
Mrs Anstruther.................................... LIZ SMITH
Irvin................................................... CLIVE MERRISON
THE MANY WIVES OF PATRICK
LWT / 20x30m-e / 1976-78 Three seasons
Creators: Patrick Cargill, Wiiliam G. Stewart, Colin Frewin / Writer: Richard Waring / Theme Music: Johnny Johnston / Producer/Director: William G. Stewart
Sitcom. Antiques expert Patrick Woodford has problems coping with the demands of his six ex-wives.
Patrick Woodford.............................. PATRICK CARGILL
Elizabeth Woodford.......................... URSULA HOWELLS
Harold............................................. ROBIN PARKINSON
Nancy............................................. ELSPET GRAY
Josephine........................................ WENDY WILLIAMS
Helen.............................................. ELIZABETH COUNSELL
Laura.............................................. BRIDGET ARMSTRONG
Patrick's Mother.............................. AGNES LAUCHLEN
MARJORIE AND MEN
Anglia / 6x30m-e / 1985 28 June - 2 August
Writers: John Gorrie(3 episodes), Peter Spence(7 episodes) / Producer: John Rosenberg / Director: John Gorrie
Sitcom. Newly divorced Marjorie Bolton sets out to find herself a new man.
Marjorie Belton...................................... PATRICIA ROUTLEDGE
Alice Tripp............................................ PATRICIA HAYES
Henry Bartlett....................................... JAMES COSSINS
Sid Parkin............................................ RONNIE STEVENS
Beryl................................................... JEANNE WATTS
THE MARRIAGE LINES
BBC1 / 43x30m-e / 1963-66 Five seasons black and white
Writer: Richard Waring / Producers: Graeme Muir (Seasons 1-2), Robin Nash (Seasons 3-5)
Sitcom. The ups and downs of newly married couple the Starlings.
George Starling.................................... RICHARD BRIERS
Kate Starling....................................... PRUNELLA SCALES
Peter.................................................. RONALD HINES
Norah................................................. CHRISTINE FINN
Carlton / 7x30m-e / 1996
Creators: Michael G. Moye, Ron Levitt / Producer: Paula Burton / Executive Prdoucer: Richard Boden / Director: Terry Kinane
Sitcom. An adaption of the US hit Married With Children telling stories of harassed Ted Butler coping with the rigours of married life.
Ted Butler......................................... RUSS ABBOT
Pam Butler........................................ SUSAN KYD
Nikki Butler....................................... LUCY BLAKELY
Lee Butler......................................... PETER ENGLAND
Steve Hollingsworth........................... HUGH BONNEVILLE
Judy Hollingsworth............................ JULIE DAWN COLE
MAX AND PADDY'S ROAD TO NOWHERE
C4 / 6x30m / started 12 November 2004
Writers: Peter Kay, Patrick McGuiness / Director: Peter Kay / Producer: Lesley McNeil
Max and Paddy are ex-nightclub bouncers on a road trip to nowhere-in-particular in their mobile home. Max and Paddy were characters from Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights. Brian Potter from Phoenix Nights (also played by Kay) made a few cameo appearances.
With:- PETER KAY as Max / PATRICK McGUINNESS as Paddy
MAY TO DECEMBER
BBC1/Cinema Verity / 38x30m-e 1x55m-e / 1989-94 6 seasons + 1 special
Creator: Paul A. Mendelson / Executive Producer: Verity Lambert / Producers: Sydney Lotterby (Seasons 1-2), Sharon Bloom (Seasons 3-6) / Music: Mark Warman
Sitcom. Middle aged lawyer Alec Callender falls in love with schoolteacher Zoe Angell who is half his age. Later the pair married and had a daughter.
Alec Callender................................. ANTON RODGERS
Zoe Angell(Seasons 1-2)................... EVE MATHESON
Zoe Angell(Seasons 3-6)................... LESLEY DUNLOP
Jamie Callender............................... PAUL VENABLES
Miles Henty(Season 1)..................... CLIVE FRANCIS
Vera Flood...................................... FRANCES WHITE
Hilary(Seasons 1-5)......................... REBECCA LACEY
Simone.......................................... CAROLYN PICKLES
Dot................................................ KATE WILLIAMS
Debbie........................................... CHRISSIE COTTERILL
Roy............................................... PAUL RAYNOR
Rosie MacConnachy(Season 6)....... ASHLEY JENSON
ME AND MY GIRL
LWT / 52x30m-e / 1984-88 Six seasons
Creators: John Kane, Keith Leonard / Music: Peter Skellern / Script Editor: Bernard McKenna / Executive Producer: Humphrey Barclay
Sitcom. Widower businessman Simon Harrap tries to bring up his teenage daughter Sam the best he can, struggling when Samantha shows an interest in all the usual teenage girl things, such as boys, make up etc.
Simon Harrap................................... RICHARD O'SULLIVAN
Sam Harrap...................................... JOANNE RIDLEY
Derek Yates..................................... TIM BROOKE-TAYLOR
Nell................................................. JOAN SANDERSON
Liz.................................................. JOANNE CAMPBELL
MEET THE CHAMP
BBC / 6x30m-e / 1960 22 September - 27 October Thursdays 8.00pm
Writer: Sid Colin / Producer: Barry Lupino
Sitcom. Bernie is a promising young boxer, but his girlfriend wants him to give up the ring.
Bernie................................................. BERNARD BRESSLAW
J.J...................................................... JIMMY JAMES
Essie.................................................. VILMA ANN LESLIE
Sammy............................................... PETER BUTTERWORTH
MEET THE MAGOONS
C4 / 6x30m / started 19 August 2005
Writer/Director: Hardeep Singh Kohli / Producer: Sally Martin
Sitcom about a family of Indian cousins who run a curry house in Glasgow.
With:- NITIN GANATRA as Nitin / PAUL SHARMA as Paul / SANJEEV KOHLI as Surjit / HARDEEP SINGH KOHLI as Hamish
BBC1 / 39x30m-e / 1964-66 Five seasons black and white
Writers: Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney / Producers: John Paddy Carstairs, Robin Nash
Sitcom. The ups and downs of northern married couple the Blacklock's. Based on a 1963 Comedy Playhouse entry called The Bed.
Thora Blacklock............................. THORA HIRD
Freddie Blacklock.......................... FREDDIE FRINTON
ME MAMMY
BBC1 / 21x30m-e / 1969-71 1 Pilot + 3 seasons
Writer: Hugh Leonard / Producer: James Gilbert (Seasons 1-2), Sydney Lotterby (Season 3)
Sitcom. Sucessful Irish businessman Bunjy Kennefick still lives with his widowed mother.
Bunjy Kennefick.................................. MILO O'SHEA
Mrs Kennefick.................................... ANNA MANAHAN
Miss Argyll........................................ YOOTHA JOYCE
Cousin Enda...................................... DAVID KELLY
Father Patrick.................................... RAY McNALLY
ITV(Thames)/Hartswood/ BBC1 / 41x30m-e 1x45m-e / 1992-98 Seven seasons.
Writer: Simon Nye / Music: Alan Lisk / Producer: Beryl Vertue
Sitcom. Two unreconstructed men share a flat in South London. Gary is in a relationship (of sorts) with nurse Dorothy whilst first Dermot (Season 1) and then Tony lust after Deborah who lives in the flat upstairs. The show has had a chequered history, seasons one and two were on ITV in an 8.30pm slot, after ITV failed to take up the show for a third season, it switched sides to BBC1 and a post watershed slot where it went from strength to strength.
Gary.................................................... MARTIN CLUNES
Dermot (Season 1)................................ HARRY ENFIELD
Tony.................................................... NEIL MORRISSEY
Deborah............................................... LESLIE ASH
Dorothy................................................ CAROLINE QUENTIN
Les...................................................... DAVE ATKINS
George................................................. IAN LINDSAY
Anthea................................................. VALERIE MINIFIE
MEN OF AFFAIRS
HTV / 13x30m-e / 1973-74 3 Oct 73 - 23 Jan 74
Writer: Michael Pertwee / Producer: Wallace Douglas / Executive Producer: Patrick Dromgoole
Sitcom. Misadventures of a government minister and his parliamentary private secretary.
Sir William.......................................... WARREN MITCHELL
Barry Ovis MP..................................... BRIAN RIX
Lady Mainwaring-Brown....................... JOAN SIMS
MEN OF THE WORLD
BBC1/Alamo / 12x30m-e / 1994-95
Writer: Daniel Peacock / Titles: Bob Cosford / Theme Sung by David Threllfall / Producers: Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran, Claire Hinson / Director: Terry Kinane
Sitcom. Lenny, a thirty something travel agent, tries to keep his young workmate and lodger, Kendle Baines, in check.
Lenny Smart...................................... DAVID THRELLFALL
Kendle Baines................................... JOHN SIMM
Gilby................................................ DANIEL PEACOCK
MESS MATES
Granada / 40x30m-e / 1960-62 Two seasons black and white
Writers: Talbot Rothwell, Lew Schwarz / Producer: Eric Fawcett
Sitcom. The exploits of the crew of the SS Guernsey (season one) and in season two the The Jersey Lily.
Captain Biskett................................ ARCHIE DUNCAN
Tug Nelson...................................... VICTOR MADDERN
Croaker Jones................................. SAM KYDD
Willie McGuiness............................ FULTON MACKAY
Blarney Finnigan............................. DERMOT KELLY
Twinkle Martin(Season 2)................. MICHAEL BALFOUR
Dapper Drake(Season 2).................. RONALD HINES
Fry Up Dodds(62)............................ FRANK ATKINSON
ME YOU AND HIM
Thames / 6x30m-e / 1992 30 July - 3 September Thursday 8.30pm
Writers: Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis, Nick Hancock / Producer/Director: John Stroud
Sitcom. The exploits of three former school friends who all share a flat.
John..................................................... NICK HANCOCK
Mark.................................................... STEVE PUNT
Harry.................................................... HUGH DENNIS
Helen................................................... HARRIET THORPE
Todd.................................................... RON DONACHIE
THE MIGHTY BOOSH
BBC2 / 6x30m / started 10 November 2004 (previously shown on BBC3)
Writers: Julian Barratt, Noel Fleming / Director: Paul King / Producer: Alison MacPhail
Sitcom. Offbeat adventures of Howard and Vince - two zookeepers in a magical zoo.
With:- JULIAN BARRATT as Howard Moon / NOEL FIELDING as Vince Noir
MIKE AND BERNIE
Thames / 6x30m-e / 1971-72 14 Dec 71 - 18 Jan 72 Tues 6.55pm
Writers: Vince Powell, Harry Driver / Producer/Director: Stuart Allen
Sitcom. Two unemployed comedians set about trying to find work.
Mike................................................... MIKE WINTERS
Bernie................................................. BERNIE WINTERS
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
LWT / 29x30m-e / 1977-79 Three seasons
Writer: Vince Powell / Producer: Stuart Allen / Theme Music: Max Harris With the Tony Mitchell Singers / Costume: Robin Pidcock / Graphics: Martin Lambie-Nairn
Sitcom. The put upon problems of Jeremy Brown, an English Language night school teacher for mature foreign students. Along with Love Thy Neighbour, candidate for most controversial and unPC Sitcom ever. The show features every racial stereotype imaginable.
Jeremy Brown................................. BARRY EVANS
Danielle Favre................................. FRANCOISE PASCAL
Miss Courtney................................ ZARA NUTLEY
Ali Nadim....................................... DINO SHAFEEK
Jamila Ranja.................................. JAMILA MASSEY
Ranjeet Singh................................ ALBERT MOSES
Jan Cervantes................................ RICARDO MONTEZ
Giovanni Capello............................ GEORGE CAMILLER
Maximillian Papandrious................. KEVORK MALIKYAN
Tara Nagazumi............................... ROBERT LEE
Anna Schmidt............................... JACKI HARDING
Chung Su-Lee............................... PIK-SEN LIM
MIND YOUR LANGUAGE
ITV/TRI / 13x30m-e / 1986 4 January - 12 April Saturdays 2.15pm
Writer: Vince Powell / Executive Producer: Bachu Patel / Producer: Albert Moses / Director: Stuart Allen
Sitcom. Independently made revival of of the 1970's show (see above entry), with a lot of the original cast going back to school, however, several of the ITV regions(including LWT who made the original) declined to show this series.
Jeremy Brown.................................. BARRY EVANS
Ingrid Svenson................................. ANNA BERGMAN
Miss Courtney................................. ZARA NUTLEY
Ranjeet Singh................................. ALBERT MOSES
Anna Schmidt................................. JACKI HARDING
Giovanni......................................... GEORGE CAMILLER
Rita................................................ SUE BOND
Michelle Dumas.............................. MARIE-ELISE GREPNE
Maria Papandrious.......................... JENNY LEE-WRIGHT
Juan Cervantes............................... RICARDO MONTEZ
Fu Wong Chang............................. VINCENT WONG
Farrukh Azzam.............................. RAJ PATEL
Henshawe..................................... HARRY LITTLEWOOD
MIND YOUR MANNERS
BBC / 7x10m-e / 1951 13 January - 7 April Saturday 5.00pm Shown Fortnightly black and white
Creator: Cecil Madden / Writers: Jill Allgood, Henry Hemsley / Producer: Jill Allgood
Comedy. A couple find themselves getting rebuked by their young daughter whenever they misbehave. The star Harry Hemsley died before the final episode, the series continued with someone else providing an off camera voice for Elsie.
Elsie................................................... HARRY HEMSLEY
Peter................................................... PETER MADDEN
Irene.................................................... IRENE PRADOR
MIRRORBALL
BBC1 / 1x30m-e / 2000 (Friday 22 December 9.00pm)
Writer: Jennifer Saunders / Producers: Jon Plowman, Jonathan P. Llewellyn / Director: Adrian Edmondson
Comedy. A pair of middle aged fading actresses Vivienne Kiell and Jackie Riviera are both determined to get back into the big time. Absolutely Fabulous in all but name, reuniting the cast and with the same feel.
With:- JENNIFER SAUNDERS as Vivienne Keill / JOANNA LUMLEY as Jackie Riviera / JULIA SAWALHA as Frieda Keill / JANE HORROCKS as Yitta Hilberstam / JUNE WHITFIELD as Dora Vermouth / TIM WYLTON as Brice Michaels / BONNIE LANGFORD as Herself / HARRIET THORPE as Cat Rogers / ANDY CLARKSON as Postman / NIGEL ELLACOTT as Jackie Fan / PETER ROBBINS as Jackie Fan / MATTHEW FRANCIS as Theatre Producer
THE MISFIT
ATV / 13x60m-e / 1970-71
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producer: Dennis Vance / Directors: James Gatward, Dennis Vance
Sitcom. When Basil 'Badger' Allenby-Johnson returns home to Englandafter a long time away, he is suprised by the changes he finds.
'Badger'............................................. RONALD FRASER
Ted Allenby-Johnson.......................... SIMON WARD
Alicia Allenby-Johnson(Season 1)....... SUSAN CARPENTER
Stanley Allenby-Johnson(Season 2).... PATRICK NEWELL
MISFITS
Yorkshire / 7x30m-e / 1981 5 June - 17 July Fridays 8.30pm
Writer: Eric Chappell / Producer: Ronnie Baxter
Sitcom. Middle class Mrs Ridgeway takes in a couple of strange young men as lodgers.
Mrs Ridgeway...................................... ANNE STALLYBRASS
Skinner............................................... ENN REITEL
Oscar................................................. KEVIN LLOYD
Monica Forbes ................................... MARCIA ASHTON
MISS JONES AND SON
Thames / 12x30m-e / 1977-78
Writer: Richard Waring / Music: Roger Webb / Producer: Peter Frazer-Jones
Sitcom. Young single mum Elizabeth Jones tries to cope with bringing up her baby son alone.
Elizabeth Jones.................................. PAULA WILCOX
Mr Jones............................................ NORMAN BIRD
Mrs Jones (Season 1)......................... CHARLOTTE MITCHELL
Mrs Jones (Season 2)......................... JOAN SCOTT
Geoffrey............................................. CHRISTOPHER BEENY
David (Season 2)................................ DAVID SAVILLE
Rose Tucker...................................... CASS ALLEN
BBC1 / 19x30m-e / 1967/71 Three seasons
Stories: A.P. Herbert / Producers: Michael Mills, John Howard Davies
Comedy series. Albert Haddock finds himself regularly in trouble with the law and in the dock, but thanks to his encyclopedic knowledge of ancient cases and laws he is usually able to get off. Season three was known as A.P. Herbert's Misleading Cases.
Albert Haddock............................... ROY DOTRICE
Mr Swallow (Magistrate).................. ALASTAIR SIM
Mrs Haddock................................. AVICE LANDON
Sir Joshua Hoot QC ...................... THORLEY WALTERS
MR AITCH
Associated-Rediffusion / 15x30m-e / 1967 6 January - 21 April Fridays 9.10pm
Creators: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais / Writers: Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais, Ray Galton & Alan Simpson, Dave Freeman, John Junkin / Producer: Peter Eton
Sitcom. Exploits of Mr Aitch, the owner of a run down car park who had ideas above his station.
Mr Aitch.............................................. HARRY H. CORBETT
Albie................................................... NORMAN CHAPPELL
Lefty................................................... GORDON GOSTELOW
MR BEAN
Thames - Tiger Aspect / 13x30m-e / 1990-95
Creators: Rowan Atkinson, Richard Curtis, Robin Driscoll
Occasional comedies. Misadventures of an almost silent, child like, accident prone, very strange man. The Mr Bean comedies were already very popular throughout the world but following the release in the late 1990's the character became truly massive.
With:- ROWAN ATKINSON as Mr Bean
BBC1 / 13x30m-e / 1977 Two seasons
Creator: Peter Jones / Writers: Peter Jones, Christopher Bond / Producer: Dennis Main Wilson / Director: Ray Butt
Sitcom. The misadventures of a gang of crooks. Based on the Comedy Playhouse pilot The Big Job which featured a slightly different cast.
Eddie................................................... PETER JONES
Dolly................................................... PRUNELLA SCALES
Ginger................................................. IAN LAVENDER
Norma................................................ CAROL HAWKINS
MR CHARITY
BBC2 / x30m / 2001
Comedy set in a charity shop with Stephen Tomkinson’s character in charge with a very cynical approach to charity work.
