UK TV SITCOMS - ODD MAN OUT to OVER THE RAINBOW
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ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES
ON THE BUSES
ODD MAN OUT
Thames / 7x30m-e / 1977 27 October - 8 December Thursdays 9.00pm
Writer: Vince Powell / Producer: Gerald Thomas / Director: Anthony Parker
Sitcom. Down at heel fish and chip shop owner Neville Sutcliffe inherits a stick of rock factory.
With:- JOHN INMAN as Neville Sutcliffe / JOSEPHINE TEWSON as Dorothy / AVRIL ANGERS as Ma / PETER BUTTERWORTH as Wilf
THE OFFICE
BBC2 / 12x30m / 2001,2002 / BBC1 / 1x45m, 1x55m / 2003 (total 14 episodes)
Writers/Directors: Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant; Producer: Ash Atalla
A comedy made in the style of a docusoap where the staff of a paper merchants in Slough called Wernham Hogg are filmed and interviewed doing their jobs. The principal character was their boss, David Brent, who believed his sole purpose there was to entertain the staff and boost morale. At the end of the second series Brent was made redundant. In 2003 there were two Christmas specials with the
"docusoap" revisiting the staff after a three year interval. Brent was shown trying to launch himself as minor celebrity following the transmission of the documentary. The series won many awards. The two series were shown on BBC2 with the concluding specials shown on BBC1.
With:- RICKY GERVAIS as David Brent / MACKENZIE CROOK as Gareth / MARTIN FREEMAN as Tim / LUCY DAVIS as Dawn / PATRICK BALADI as Neil (series 2) / EWAN Mackintosh as Keith
OFFICE GOSSIP
BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 2001 (First Episode: Friday 2 February 9.00pm)
Writer: Paul Mayhew-Archer / Producer: Matthew Francis / Director: Christine Gernon
Sitcom about single mum Jo working as a PA at a toy firm.
With:- PAULINE QUIRKE as Jo / ROBERT DAWS as Rod / NEIL STUKE as Simon / PIPPA HAYWOOD as Maxine / DANIELA DENBY-ASHE as Cheryl / CHARLOTTE FRANCIS as Sam / RYAN SMITH as Mike / IAN BARRITT as David Wells / WOLF CHRISTIAN as Terry Hill
O HAPPY BAND
BBC / 6x30m-e / 1980
Writers: Jeremy Lloyd, David Croft / Producer: David Croft
Sitcom. Exploits of a small village's brass band.
With:- HARRY WORTH as Harry / JOHN HORSLEY as Mr Braithwaite / JONATHAN CECIL as Mr Herbert / TONY SYMPSON as Mr Giles / JAN HOLDEN as Mrs Draper / BILLY BURDEN as Mr Sowerby / HAROLD BENNETT as Vicar / PEGGYANN CLIFFORD as Mrs Tickford
OH BROTHER!
BBC1 / 19x30m-e / 1968-70 Three seasons
Writers: David Climie, Austin Steele / Director: Harold Snoad
Sitcom. Misadventures of bumbling novice monk Brother Dominic. After a gap of three years the series returned as Oh Father! (see below) with our brother now 'qualified' as it were.
With:- DEREK NIMMO as Dominic / FELIX AYLMER as Father Anselm / COLIN GORDON as Master of the Novices (Season 1) / DEREK FRANCIS as Sub-Prior Father Matthew(Seasons 2-3)
OH FATHER!
BBC1 / 7x30m-e / 1973 12 September - 24 October Wednesday 6.50pm
Writers: David Climie, Austin Steele / Producer: Graeme Muir
Sitcom. Sequel to Oh Brother! (see above). The character of Brother Dominic is promoted to Father Dominic and becomes curate to Father Harris.
With:- DEREK NIMMO as Father Dominic / LAURENCE NAISMITH as Father Harris / PEARL HACKNEY as Mrs Carr / DAVID KELLY as Walter
OH DR BEECHING
BBC1 / 19x30m-e / 1995-97
Writers: David Croft, Richard Spendlove / Producer: David Croft
Period sitcom. In 1963 a small branch railway line is on the verge of closure thanks to the efforts of railway boss Dr Beeching. There was a Pilot broadcast 14 Aug 1995, which, when the first season started was reshown but with newly filmed inserts.
Jack Skinner.................................... PAUL SHANE
May Skinner.................................... JULIA DEAKIN
Ethel Schumann.............................. SU POLLARD
Cecil Parkin.................................... JEFFREY HOLLAND
Harry Lambert................................. STEPHEN LEWIS
Vera Plumtree................................. BARBARA NEW
Ralph............................................. PERRY BENSON
Percy............................................. TERRY JOHN
Gloria Skinner................................. LINDSAY GRIMSHAW
Wilfred Schumann........................... PAUL ASPEN
OH NO! IT'S SELWYN FROGGITT
Yorkshire / 22x30m-e / 1975-77
Creator: Alan Plater / Producer/Director: Ronnie Baxter
Sitcom. The misadventures of the irrepressible and slightly deranged Selwyn Froggitt in the Yorkshire town of Scarsdale. Selwyn was on the committee of his local working men's club and worked for the Public Works Department of the Council.no matter how much Selwyn made a mess of things he remained convinced that if he stuck his thumbs up in the air and said Magic then everything would be alright. One of the few ITV sitcoms that could be called a classic. See also brief sequel Selwyn.
With:- BILL MAYNARD as Selwyn Froggitt / ROBERT KEEGAN as Maurice Froggitt / MEGS JENKINS as Mrs Froggitt / BILL DEAN as Jack / RAY MORT as Ray / RICHARD DAVIES as Clive / HAROLD GOODWIN as Harry / ROSEMARY MARTIN as Vera Parkinson (Season 1) / LYNDA BARON as Vera Parkinson (Seasons 2-3)
THE OLD BOY NETWORK
Central/SelecTV / 7x30m-e / 1992 16 Feb - 12 Apr Sun 10.05pm
Creators: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais / Executive Producers: Allan McKeown, Tony Charles / Producer/Director: Sydney Lotterby
Sitcom. Exploits of two middle aged ex espionage agents who set up in the private spy business together.
Lucas Fry........................................ TOM CONTI
Peter Duckham................................ JOHN STANDING
Sir Roland White.............................. ROBERT LANG
Tamsin............................................ GEORGIA ALLEN
THE OLD CAMPAIGNER
BBC1 / 7x30m-e / 1968-69 Pilot: 30 Jun 67 Season: 6 Dec 68 - 10 Jun 69
Writer: Michael Pertwee / Producer: James Gilbert
Sitcom. Exploits of super salesman James Franklin-Jones or FJ as he is known as he travels the globe for Balsom Plastics and seeking out 'crumpet' at every opportunity. Grew out of a comedy playhouse entry of the same name. Derek Fowlds played Clancy in the pilot and Norman Claridge played 'LB'.
James 'FJ' Franklin-Jones..................... TERRY-THOMAS
Peter Clancy....................................... JONATHAN CECIL
Miss Pinto.......................................... LOIS PENSON
'LB' ................................................... REGINALD MARSH
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE NORTH
BBC1/Partridge / 6x30m-e / 1994 3 May - 7 June Tuesdays 8.30pm
Writer: Tim Firth / Producer: Philip Partridge / Directors: Philip Partridge, John Clive
Sitcom. Len Tollit is determined to provide for his family even though failure manages to dog him at every turn. Len uses his redundancy money to set up his own less than successful cell phone company.
Len Tollit............................................ BERNARD HILL
Pat Tollit............................................ CHRISTINE MOORE
Mr Bebbington.................................... BRYAN PRINGLE
Siobhan............................................. SUSAN McARDLE
Sean................................................. ANDREW WHYMENT
Morris............................................... BOB MASON
BBC1 / 29x30m-e 1x90m-e 1x70m-e 1x40m-e 1x60m-e 1x50m-e / 1990-97 5 Seasons + 5 Specials
Writer: David Renwick / Theme Music: Eric Idle / Producer: Susan Belbin except 1 produced by Esta Charkham
Sitcom. When he is forced to take early retirement Victor Meldrew doesn't take kindly to his new boring lifestyle. Victor's catchphrase was cry of "I don't believe it" every time something went wrong for him and his long suffering wife Margaret -which was often. After a long gap the show returned in 2001 with horror of horrors Victor being killed off however in the 2001 Comic Relief extravaganza (which was sometime after the final episode), there was a 10-15 minute "One Foot In The Grave" sketch with Mrs Meldrew visiting a sick (and unconscious) friend in hospital accompanied by Victor. The script (by Renwick) was cleverly structured so it appeared to the viewer that Mrs Meldrew was responding to Victor's comments whereas she was actually having a one-way conversation with the sick patient and Victor was just a ghost whom she couldn't see or hear.
With:- RICHARD WILSON as Victor Meldrew / ANNETTE CROSBIE as Margaret Meldrew / ANGUS DEAYTON as Patrick / JANINE DUVITSKI as Pippa / DOREEN MANTLE as Mrs Warboys / OWEN BRENMAN as Nick Swainey
ONE FOR THE ROAD
C4/CX/Altman / 6x30m-e / 1995 4 Sep - 9 Oct Mon 8.00pm
Writer: Gary Sinyor with additional material by Iain Coyle, Alan Davies / Executive Producer: Robert Altman / Producer/Director: Steven Bawol
Sitcom. A timeshare salesman sends back regular videos of his overseas adventures.
With:- ALAN DAVIES as Simon Trent
ONLY WHEN I LAUGH
Yorkshire / 29x30m-e / 1979-82 4 Seasons + 1 special
Writer: Eric Chappell / Producer/Director: Vernon Lawrence
Sitcom. The exploits of three male long term hospital patients, shy Norman, bolshy Roy and would be smoothie Archie.
Roy Figgis........................................ JAMES BOLAM
Archie Glover.................................... PETER BOWLES
Norman Binns.................................. CHRISTOPHER STRAULI
Dr Gordon Thorpe............................. RICHARD WILSON
Staff Nurse Gupte............................. DERRICK BRANCHE
ON THE HOUSE
Yorkshire / 12x30m-e / 1970-71
Writer: Sid Colin / Producer: David Mallett / Executive Producer: John Duncan
Sitcom. Misadventures of Thomas Clackwood and sons, a firm of builders, especially the exploits of bolshy foreman Charlie Cattermole.
Charlie Cattermole.......................... JOHN JUNKIN
Gussie........................................... KENNETH CONNOR
Stanley (Season 1).......................... PETER ATARD
Derek (Season 2)............................ DEREK GRIFFITHS
Harvey (Season 2)........................... ROBIN ASKWITH
ON THE UP
BBC1 / 19x30m-e / 1990-92
Writer: Bob Larbey / Theme Sung by Dennis Waterman / Producer/Director: Gareth Gwenlan
Sitcom. The domestic problems of self made millionaire Tony Carpenter.
Tony Carpenter................................. DENNIS WATERMAN
Mrs Wembley................................... JOAN SIMS
Sam................................................ SAM KELLY
Ruth Carpenter................................. JUDY BUXTON
Maggie............................................ JENNA RUSSELL
Dawn............................................... MICHELLE HATCH
Mum (Season 1)............................... DORA BRYAN
Mum (Season 2)............................... PAULINE LETTS
BBC / 25x30m-e / 1976/81-82/85 Four seasons.
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producer: Sydney Lotterby
Sitcom. Penny pinching corner shop owner Arkwright is determined to take his customers money at every opportunity. Arkwright spent much of his time lusting after district nurse Gladys Emmanuel, he opened his shop at dawn and shut it late at night. The show began life as one episode in Ronnie Barker's anthology series Seven of One.
Albert Arkwright................................. RONNIE BARKER
Granville............................................ DAVID JASON
Nurse Gladys Emmanuel.................... LYNDA BARON
Milkgirl.............................................. BARBARA FLYNN
OPERATION GOOD GUYS
BBC2-Fuschine / 19x30m-e / 1997-2000
Writers/Producers/Directors: Hugo Blick, Ray Burdis, Dominic Anciano / Executive Producers: Jim Beach, Geoffrey Perkins
Comedy series. Spoof documentary series focusing on an elite undercover police unit. Season two saw the team having to undergo specialist training.
Det Insp Beach..................................... DAVID GILLESPIE
Det Sgt................................................ RAY BURDIS
'Smiler' McCarthy.................................. HUGO BLICK
'Strings'............................................... JOHN BECKETT
Mark Kemp......................................... MARK BURDIS
'Bones'............................................... PERRY BENSON
‘ORRIBLE
BBC2 / 6? X 30 / 2001
Comedy about a taxi driver. It was co-written by ex-Big Breakfast presenter Johnny Vaughan Unfortunately it wasn’t very good.
With:- JOHNNY VAUGHAN
THE OTHER 'ARF
ATV/Central / 26x30m-e / 1980-84 Four seasons
Creator: Terence Howard / Script Editors: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais / Producer: Tony Charles, Allan McKeown
Sitcom. Cockney model Lorraine Watts is the mistress to Tory MP Charles Lattimer. Seasons three made by Central following the franchise swaps of the previous year.
Lorraine Watts................................. LORRAINE CHASE
Charles Lattimer.............................. JOHN STANDING
Brian Sweeney (Seasons 1-2).......... STEVE ADLER
Sybilla Howarth (Season 1-2)........... PATRICIA HODGE
Mrs Lilley (Season 4)...................... SHEILA KEITH
Bassett (Season 4)......................... RICHARD CALDICOTT
THE OTHER ONE
BBC1 / 13x30m-e / 1977/79 Fridays 8.30pm
Writer: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey / Producers: John Howard Davies (Season 1),Roger Race (Season 2)
Sitcom. Somewhat shy Brian Bryant comes under the influence of fast talking confident Ralph Tanner whilst holidaying abroad and later in season two back home in England.
Ralph Tanner..................................... RICHARD BRIERS
Brian Bryant...................................... MICHAEL GAMBON
Manuelo (Season 1)........................... MICHAEL CHESDEN
OUR DORA
Granada / 4x30m-e / 1956 18 September - 9 August Tuesdays 9.00pm
Writer: Reuben Ship / Producer: Eddie Pola
Sitcom. A GI Bride returns home to England when her husband dies. Dora Bryan abandoned the series after 4 weeks when her first child tragically died, however the series continued the following week under the title My Wife's Sister with Eleanor Summerfield taking over the lead.
Dora.................................................... DORA BRYAN
Clara Hackett ..................................... HELEN CHRISTIE
Charlie Hackett................................... MARTIN WYLDECK
OUR HOUSE
ABC / 26x45m-e 13x55m-e / 1960-62 black and white Two seasons
Writer: Norman Hudis, Brad Ashton, Bob Block / Producer: Ernest Maxim
Sitcom. Episodes in the lives of nine people sharing a large house.
Georgina Ruddy................................. HATTIE JACQUES
Simon Willow.................................... CHARLES HAWTREY
Daisy Burke (Season 1)..................... JOAN SIMS
Capt Illiffe (Season 1)......................... FRANK PETTINGELL
Gordon Brent (Season 1)................... NORMAN ROSSINGTON
Henrietta (Season 2)......................... HYLDA BAKER
William Singer (Season 2)................. BERNARD BRESSLAW
Herbert Keene.................................. FREDERICK PEISLEY
Marcia Hatton................................... LEIGH MADISON
Stephen Hathen (Season 1)............... TRADER FAULKNER
Mrs Illiffe (Season 2).......................... INA DE LA HAYE
Marina (Season 2)............................. EUGENIE CAVANAGH
OUR KID
Yorkshire / 6x30m-e / 1973 8 April - 20 May Sunday 9.30pm
Creators: Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall / Producer/Director: Ian Davidson
Sitcom. Two middle aged Yorkshire brothers live together, Bob goes out to work while Ben takes care of the house.
Bob Buslingthorpe.......................... BARRIE RUTTER
Ben Buslingthorpe.......................... KEN PLATT
Lynda ........................................... SYLVIA BRAYSHAY
OUR MAN AT ST MARKS
Associated-Rediffusion / 46x30m-e / 1963-66 Four seasons + 1 special black and white
Writers: James Kelly, Peter Miller / Producer: Eric Maschwitz
Sitcom. The misadventures of a country vicar. For season four the title changed to Our Man From St Marks when Stephen Young was promoted to Archdeacon and moved to Lynchester.
Rev Andrew Parker (Season 1)............... LESLIE PHILLIPS
Rev Stephen Young (Season 2-4)........... DONALD SINDEN
Mrs Peace........................................... JOAN HICKSON
Anne Gibson (Season 1)....................... ANN LAWSON
Harry the Yo Yo (Seasons 3-4).............. HARRY FOWLER
OURS IS A NICE HOUSE
LWT / 13x30m-e / 1969-70
Writer: Harry Littlewood / Producer: Stuart Allen
Sitcom. Thora Parker is the landlady of a north country boarding house.
Thora Parker.................................... THORA HIRD
Elsie Crabtree.................................. RUTH HOLDEN
Vera Parker..................................... CAROLINE DOWDESWELL
Alf Whittle....................................... HARRY LITTLEWOOD
Gran............................................... MAY WARDEN
OUTSIDE EDGE
Central / 21x30m-e 1x60m-e / 1994-96 3 seasons + 1 special
Writer: Richard Harris / Producer: Paula Burdon
Sitcom. Miriam and Roger Dervish have an uneasy relationship with Kevin and Maggie Costello , a couple they meet at a number of cricketing social events. The show started life as a one off play of the same name in 1982.
Miriam Dervish................................ BRENDA BLETHYN
Roger Dervish................................. ROBERT DAWS
Kevin Costello................................ TIMOTHY SPALL
Maggie Costello............................. JOSIE LAWRENCE
Denis............................................ DENIS LILL
Bob Willis (Season 1)..................... JERMEMY NICHOLAS
Bob Willis (Season 2-3).................. MICHAEL JAYSTON
Nigel............................................. NIGEL PEGRAM
OVER THE RAINBOW
Meridian-SelecTV- Clement and La Frenais / 8x30m-e / 1993 11 July - 29 August Sunday 10.20pm
Creators: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais / Executive Producers: Allan McKeown, Tony Charles / Producer: Bernard McKenna / Director: Declan Lowney
Sitcom. When her husband is jailed for armed robbery singer Finn moves to Brighton and strikes up a 'relationship' with her husband's best friend. On her husband's release from prison the trio strike up a somewhat wary 'ménage a trios' as Finn tries to make it in the music business.
ANGELINE BALL as Finn / BRONAGH GALLAGHER as Michelle / PETER SULLIVAN as Neil / IAN TARGETT as Spence / EAMON MORRISSEY as Uncle Roddy
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