UK SITCOMS - PACKET OF THREE to QUEENIE'S CASTLE
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PSYCHOVILLE
PACKET OF THREE
C4/Jon Blair/Fine Time / 8x45m-e / 1991 2 August - 20 September Fridays 10.30pm
Producer: Jon Blair / Director: John Stroud / Script Editors: Sean Carson, David Tomlinson
Sitcom. Backstage shenanigans of the staff of the Crumpsall Palladium interspersed with three weekly stand up comedy acts. The show continued the following year under the title Packing Them In (see next entry).
With:- FRANK SKINNER as Frank / JENNY ECLAIR as Jenny / HENRY NORMAL as Henry
PACKING THEM IN
C4/Jon Blair/ 8x45m-e / 1992 9 September - 4 November Wednesdays 10.40pm
Producer: Jo Sargent / Executive Producer: Jon Blair / Director: Juliet May
Sitcom. A continuation of Packet of Three (see above entry) featuring more stories of the Crumpsall Palladium. The title change came about because more stand up acts were featured this time around.
With:- FRANK SKINNER as Frank / JENNY ECLAIR as Jenny / ROGER MANN as Reg / KEVIN ELDON as Boyle
PARADISE ISLAND
Thames / 7x30m-e / 1977 21 Apr - 18 Jul
Creator: Michael Haley / Producers: Stuart Allen, William G. Stewart
Sitcom. The Reverand Alexander Goodwin and ships entertainments officer Cuthbert Fullworthy are shipwrecked on a desert island.
With:- BILL MAYNARD as Rev Alexander Goodwin / WILLIAM FRANKLYN as Cuthbert Fullworthy
BBC / 6x30m-e / 1959-60 11 Dec 59 - 22 Jan 60 black and white
Writer: Duncan Ross / Producer: Pharic MacLaren / Director: James MacTaggart
Sitcom. The exploits of wily Captain Para Handy and his somewhat hapless crew on board their puffer The Vital Spark.
Para Handy......................................... DUNCAN MACRAE
Dougie................................................ RODDY McMILLAN
Dan MacPhail..................................... JOHN GRIEVE
Sunny Jim.......................................... ANGUS LENNIE
Granada / 39x30m-e / 1965-66 black and white
Executive Producer: H.V. Kershaw / Producer: Harry Driver (Season 1), Derek Granger (Season 2)
Sitcom. A spin off from Coronation Street that took the character of Leonard Swindley (formerly of Gamma Garments) and placed him as assistant manager in a department store. Although 39 episodes were made only 36 were broadcast. See also the follow up series Turn Out the Lights.
Leonard Swindley.............................. ARTHUR LOWE
Walter Hunt (Season 2)..................... ROBERT DORNING
Mrs Edgeley..................................... BETTY DRIVER
Ernest Parbold.................................. PAUL DAWKINS
Miss Sinclair (Season 1)................... JOY STEWART
PARIS
C4/Talkback / 6x30m-e / 1994 14 October - 18 November Fridays 9.30pm
Writers: Graham Linehan, Arthur Matthews / Producer: Sioned William / Director: Liddy Oldroyd
Period sitcom. A struggling artist tries to make his fortune in Paris during the 1920's.
Alain Degout...................................... ALEXEI SAYLE
Paul Rochet...................................... NEIL MORRISSEY
Minotti.............................................. ALLAN CORDUNER
Madame Ovary.................................. BEVERLY KLEIN
Hugo................................................ WALTER SPARROW
Belunaire.......................................... JAMES DREYFUS
PARTNERS
BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1981 29 January - 5 March Thursdays 8.30pm
Writer: Richard Waring / Producer: Harold Snoad
Sitcom. Rupert Bannister, chairman of Bannister Bathroom Fittings tries to remain on good terms with his estranged wife because of her partnership in the firm.
Rupert Bannister............................ DEREK WARING
Diana............................................ MILLICENT MARTIN
Brenda.......................................... JACQUELINE CLARKE
Pamela Heslop.............................. ELIZABETH COUNSELL
George Gilkes............................... DEREK FRANCIS
THE PAUL SQUIRE SHOW
ATV/Central / 11x30m-e / 1981-82 Season 1 ATV/ Season 2 Central
Creator/Producer/Director: Royston Morley
Sitcom. Behind the scenes on impressionist Paul Squire's comedy sketch show. The series mixed sitcom elements with the actual sketch elements of the Paul Squire show.
The Star............................................. PAUL SQUIRE
The Writer.......................................... BOBBY KNUTT
The Producer..................................... ANNA DAWSON
The Music Director............................. BERNARD SPEAR
The Temp. Secretary (Season 1)......... DEBBIE ARNOLD
PAY AND DISPLAY
ITV Network (Carlton-Lawless) / 6x30m-e / 2000 12 July - 10 August Thursdays 8.30pm
Writer: Dominic English / Music: Mark Jeffries / Titles: Lee Donaldson / Producers: Joanna Beresford, Andy de Emmony / Executive Producer: Nick Symons / Director: Andy de Emmony
Sitcom. Episodes in the humdrum lives of a pair of attendants, (the middle aged and somewhat bitter Sydney and the sex mad younger Danny) in an underground car park. The dynamic duo spent much of the show on their own but their were occasional appearances from car park owner Miss Cummings and young traffic warden Adolf. Although called called Pay and Display the car park featured was one where you didn't actually pay and display. Episodes 1 and 2 were shown on consecutive evenings with part one going out at Wednesday 8.00pm.
With:- JAMES BOLAM as Sydney / MATT BARDOCK as Danny / DIANA WESTON as Miss Cummings / PEARCE QUIGLEY as Adolf
PEEP SHOW
C4 / 18x30m / 2003-2005 (started 19 September 2003)
Writers: Jesse Armstrong, Sam Bain / Director: Jeremy Wooding / Producer: Phil Clarke
Comedy about two socially dysfunctional flatmates. Interestingly much of
the dialogue took the form of the characters thoughts being heard as well
as much of the action being seen from their perspective. Season three
started started 11 November 2005.
With:- ROBERT WEBB as Jeremy / DAVID MITCHELL as Mark / OLIVIA COLEMAN as Sophie / ELIZABETH MARMUR as Toni
/ RACHEL BLANCHARD as Nancy (series 2)
PEOPLE LIKE US
BBC2 / 12x30m-e / 1999-2001 / First Episode: Monday 20 September 1999
Producers: Paul Schlesinger, John Morton
Sitcom. Film maker Roy Mallard attempts to make intriguing documentaries about various aspects of modern day life. Based on a Radio 4 series, Mallard is usually only heard and not seen.
With:- CHRIS LANGHAM as Roy Mallard
A PERFECT STATE
BBC1-CV / 7x30m-e / 1997 27 February - 13 April
Writer: Michael Aitkens / Producer: Sharon Bloom / Director: Dewi Humphreys
Sitcom. Think Ealing comedy Passport to Pimlico. The coastal town of Flatby declare themselves independent from the Government. The show started in a primetime slot but was quickly moved to Sunday afternoons.
Laura Fitzgerald.............................. GWEN TAYLOR
Winston Wainwright........................ RUDOLPH WALKER
Deidre Pearce................................ EMMA AMOS
Bert Figgis..................................... TREVOR COOPER
Malcolm Batley.............................. MATTHEW COTTLE
Harry Douglas................................ CLIVE RUSSELL
Gareth Jones................................. ALAN DAVID
PERFECT WORLD
BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 2000 25 February - 31 March Fridays 9.30pm
Writer: Mark Grant / Producers: Lucy Robinson, Mark Chapman
Sitcom. Exploits of slick but self absorbed marketing man Bob Slay.
With:- PAUL KAYE as Bob Slay / NINA WADIA as Maggie / MICHAEL COCHRANE as Marketing Director / DERREN LITTEN as Vaughan
PETER KAY'S PHOENIX NIGHTS
Channel Four-Ovation Ent, & Goodnight Vienna / 12x30m-e / 2001-2002 (First Episode: Sunday 14 January 2001 9.30pm)
Writers: Peter Kay, Dave Spikey, Neil Fitzmaurice / Producer: Mark Herbert, John Rushton / Director: Jonny Campbell
Sitcom. Middle aged Brian Potter attempts to make a success of his northern social club but finds himself beset by problems. The show was very similar in style to a segment that appeared on That Peter Kay Thing - Kay's docusoap parody.
With:- PETER KAY as Brian Potter and Max / NEIL FITZMAURICE as Ray / DAVE SPIKEY as Jerry / JANICE CONNOLLY as Holy Mary / STEVE EDGE as Alan / ARCHIE KELLY as Kenny / TOBY FOSTER as Les / BEA KELLY as Marion / TIM HEALY as Mike Fiddler
THE PETER PRINCIPLE
BBC1-Hatrick / 12x30m-e / 1997 and 2000
Creators: Mark Burton, John O'Farrell, Dan Paterson / Producer: Dan Patterson
Sitcom. Recently promoted bank manager Peter Duffley is way out of his depth. There was also the pilot above of the same name that featured a largely different cast.
Peter Duffley..................................... JIM BROADBENT
Susan Harvey................................... CLAIRE SKINNER
Bradley Wilson................................. DAVID SCHNEIDER
David Edwards.................................. DANIEL FLYNN
Iris (Season 1).................................. JANETTE LEGGE
Brenda............................................ TRACY KEATING
Mrs Parkes...................................... HELENA McCARTHY
Kevin Mott (Season 1)...................... CLIVE RUSSELL
Barbara........................................... BEVERLY CALLARD
THE PIGLET FILES
LWT / 21x30m-e / 1990-92
Writers: Paul Minett, Brian Leveson / Caricatures: Clive Francis / Producer/Director: Robin Carr
Sitcom. Mild mannered teacher Peter Chapman finds himself recruited into the British Secret Service.
Peter Chapman............................... NICHOLAS LYNDHURST
Drummond..................................... CLIVE FRANCIS
Sarah Chapman.............................. SERENA EVANS
Maxwell......................................... JOHN RINGHAM
Lewis............................................ STEVEN LAW
Trueman........................................ PAUL COOPER
LWT / 20x30m-e / 1980-83
Writers: Charlotte Bingham, Terence Brady / Producer: Les Chatfield
Sitcom. Middle aged and unhappily married Barty Wade, decides to add a spark to his life by taking a mistress.
Barty Wade (Season 1)...................... DINSDALE LANDEN
Barty Wade (Seasons 2-3)................. TERENCE BRADY
Susan Wade..................................... JOANNA VAN GYSEGHEM
Nellie Bligh....................................... LIZA GODDARD
Andy Trubshaw................................ JOHN QUAYLE
Alice Boocock................................. NICHOLA McAULIFFE
PILGRIM'S REST
BBC1-Tiger Aspect / 6x30m-e / 1997 31 July - 4 September Thursdays 8.30pm
Creator: Bernard McKenna / Producer: Mark Chapman / Director: Gareth Carnvicki
Sitcom. Bob Payne, the owner of a rundown transport cafe, is horrified when his recently separated sister, Tilly, moves in with him and sets about renovating his business.
Bob Payne........................................ GARY OLSEN
Tilly Payne........................................ GWEN TAYLOR
Quentin............................................. JONATHAN ARIS
Drew Dunstable................................. JOHN ARTHUR
Pamela............................................. NINA YOUNG
Didier................................................ PIERRE FOREST
Ronnie Barrett................................... JAY FOREST
PINKERTON'S PROGRESS
BBC2 / 6x30m-e / 1983 18 May - 22 June Wednesdays 9.00pm
Writer: Charles McKeown / Producer: Gareth Gwenlan / Director: John B. Hobbs
Sitcom. Stories of Mr Pinkerton, newly arrived deputy head at Lyttleton Old School.
Mr Pinkerton..................................... GEOFFREY WHITEHEAD
Miss Shilling..................................... ELEANOR BRON
Mr Renfrew....................................... MICHAEL ELWYN
Mr Davies......................................... CLIVE MERRISON
Mr Beech......................................... DEREK FRANCIS
Mr Flax............................................ ALAN PARNABY
Mr Parsons...................................... DAVID SIBLEY
Bursar............................................. PAUL HARDWICK
Mr Clifford........................................ ANDREW ROBERTSON
Headmaster Grinwell........................ DEREK FARR
PINWRIGHT'S PROGRESS
BBC / 10x30m-e / 1946-47 29 November 46 - 16 May 47
Writer: Rodney Hobson / Script Editor: Ted Kavanagh / Producer: John Glyn Jones
Comedy (possibly TV's first sitcom.) The adventures of J. Pinwright owner of the world's smallest store.
J. Pinwright........................................ JAMES HAYTER
Aubrey.............................................. CLARENCE WRIGHT
Miss Doolittle.................................... SARA GREGORY
Miss Peabody................................... DAPHNE MADDOX
Mrs Sigsbe....................................... DORIS PALMER
Ralph............................................... LEONARD SHARP
Salesman........................................ CHARLES IRWIN
THE PLANK
Thames / 1x30m-e / 1979 17 December - Monday 8.00pm
Writer/Director: Eric Sykes / Producer: Dennis Kirkland
Silent comedy. A remake of a 1967 cinema short, also by Sykes. Two bumbling workmen try to transport a plank of wood from the timber yard to the building site. Eric Sykes also used this plotline for an episode of his sitcom Sykes.
with:- Eric Sykes, Arthur Lowe, Diana Dors, Carroll Baker, Kate O'Mara, Lionel Blair, Harry H. Corbett, Derek Guyler, Charlie Drake, Henry Cooper, Bernard Cribbens, Jimmy Edwards, Liza Goddard, Charles Hawtrey, Frankie Howerd, Joanna Lumley, Kenny Lynch and Brian Murphy.
PLAZA PATROL
Yorkshire / 6x30m-e / 1991 15 July - 19 August Mondays 7.00pm
Writers: Richard Lewis, Louis Robinson / Costume: Brian Castle / Producer: Graham Wetherall
Sitcom. The misadventures of a pair of incredibly inept security guards working in a shopping precinct.
Bernard Cooney.............................. TOMMY CANNON
Trevor Purvis................................... BOBBY BALL
PLEASE SIR
London Weekend Television / 7x45m-e / 48x30m-e / 1968-71
Writers: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey / Theme Music: Sam Fonteyn / Producers: Mark Stuart, Phil Cason
Sitcom. Naive young schoolteacher Bernard Hedges is given the unruly class of 5C to teach. There was a spin off called The Fenn Street Gang. Season one was 45 minutes in length(as was all LWT's initial comedy output) and was also black and white.
With:- JOHN ALDERTON as Bernard Hedges / DEREK GUYLER as Norman Potter / PETER CLEALL as Eric Duffy / PETER DENYER as Dennis Dunstable / MALCOLM McFEE as Peter Craven / JOAN SANDERSON as Miss Doris Ewell / NOEL HOWLETT as Mr Cromwell / RICHARD PRICE as Mr Price / ERIK CHITTY as Mr 'Smithy' Smith / DAVID BARRY as Frankie Abbott / LIZ GEBHARDT as Maureen Bullock / PENNY SPENCER as Sharon Eversliegh(1) / CAROL HAWKINS as Sharon Eversliegh(2) / JILL KERMAN as Penny Wheeler
POOR LITTLE RICH GIRLS
Granada / 7x30m-e / 1984 12 July - 23 August Thursdays 9.00pm
Writer: Charles Laurence / Producer: Pieter Rogers / Director: Nicholas Ferguson
Sitcom. Cousins Daisy and Kate team up following the death of Daisy's husband and Kate's divorce, the pair both believed that the other was well off although the truth is that both are not.
Daisy Troop..................................... JILL BENEDICT
Kate Codd....................................... MARIA AITKEN
Dave Roberts................................... RICHARD WALKER
Larry Codd...................................... LEWIS FIANDER
Lady Harriet.................................... JOAN HICKSON
C4-Humphrey Barclay Productions / 12x30m-e / 1995-96
Writer: Trix Worrell / Producers: Humphrey Barclay (Season 1), Paulette Randall (Season 2)
Sitcom. A spin off from Desmonds. Porkpie, who was a regular at Desmond's barbershop, wins a fortune on the lottery.
With:- RAM JOHN HOLDER as Porkpie / DEREK GRIFFITHS as Benji / GEOFF FRANCIS as Michael / KIM WALKER as Gloria / ROBBIE TURNER as Alloysius
BBC1 / 18x30m-e / 2x40m-e / 1974-77 3 seasons + 2 specials
Writers: Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais / Music: Max Harris / Producer: Sydney Lotterby
Sitcom. Exploits of recidivist Norman Stanley Fletcher serving a five year sentence in Slade prison and Lenny Godber the young first time offender he takes under his wing. Episode one of Ronnie Barker's 1973 anthology series Seven of One was called Prisoner and Escort (with Fletcher being taken to Slade prison by Mackay and Barraclough) and effectively served as a pilot for Porridge.
With:- RONNIE BARKER as Norman Stanley Fletcher / RICHARD BECKINSALE as Lennie Godber / FULTON MACKAY as Mr Mackay / BRIAN WILDE as Mr Barraclough / SAM KELLY as Warren / TONY OSOBA as McClaren / KEN JONES as Ives / DAVID JASON as Blanco / MICHAEL BARRINGTON as Mr Venables / PETER VAUGHAN as Harry Grout / CHRISTOPHER BIGGINS as Lukewarm
POSH NOSH
BBC2 / 8x10m / started 4 February 2003 / 9:50pm
Writers: Jon Carter, Arabella Weir / Director: Chris Langham / Producer: Gareth Edwards
A series of comedy shorts lampooning personality cookery shows.
With:- ARABELLA WEIR as Minty / RICHARD E GRANT as Simon
POTTER
BBC1 / 20x30m-e / 1979-80/83
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producers: Peter Whitmore, Bernard Thompson
Sitcom. Retired businessman Redvers Potter just can't help himself when it comes to get on people's nervces. Arthur Lowe died after season two but three years later the series briefly returned with Robin Bailey in the lead role.
Redvers Potter (Seasons 1-2).................. ARTHUR LOWE
Redvers Potter (Season 3)...................... ROBIN BAILEY
Aileen 'Madge' Potter.............................. NOEL DYSON
'Tolly' Tolliver......................................... JOHN WARNER
The Vicar.............................................. JOHN BARRON
Harry Tooms......................................... HARRY H. CORBETT
A PRESENT FOR DICKIE
Thames / 6x30m-e / 1969-70 30 Dec 69 - 5 Feb 70 Thursdays 7.00pm
Creator: Jimmy Grafton / Producer/Director: Peter Frazer-Jones
Sitcom. Comedian Dickie Henderson finds himself saddled with an Indian elephant brought back as a gift for him.
Dickie.................................................. DICKIE HENDERSON
Jane.................................................... JUNE LAVERICK
Mrs Upshot-Mainwaring......................... FABIA DRAKE
William................................................ BILLY BURDEN
Parker................................................. DENNIS RAMSDEN
Abdul the Elephant Minder.................... JERRY RAM
A PRINCE AMONG MEN
BBC1 / 12x30m-e / 1997-98
Writers: Tony Millan, Mike Walling / Creators: Chris Barrie, Mike Stephens / Producer/Director: Mike Stephens
Sitcom. Famous ex-footballer Gary prince will stop at nothing to promote himself and his company.
Gary Prince...................................... CHRIS BARRIE
Lisel................................................. FRANCESCA HUNT
Sonia............................................... SAMANTHA POWER
Beverly.............................................SUSIE BLAKE
Dave................................................ CLIFF PARISI
Mark................................................ TIMOTHY BENTINCK
Vince............................................... BRYAN PRINGLE
THE PRINCE OF DENMARK
BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1974 10 April - 15 May Wednesdays 7.40pm
Writers: Barry Cryer, Graham Chapman / Producer: Douglas Argent
Sitcom. Spin off from Now Look Here. The two main characters from that show, Ronnie and his new wife Laura, run a pub she had inherited.
Ronnie................................................ RONNIE CORBETT
Laura.................................................. ROSEMARY LEACH
PULL THE OTHER ONE
Central / 6x30m-e / 1984 15 June -20 July Friday 8.30pm
Writer: Michael McStay / Producer: Joan Brown / Director: Peter Ellis
Suburban sitcom. The ups and downs of married couple the Mundys.
Sidney Mundy.................................. MICHAEL ELPHICK
Sadie Mundy.................................... SUSAN TRACY
Grandma.......................................... LILA KAYE
Terry............................................... TIM PREECE
Barmaid.......................................... DIANA GOODWIN
PUNCH DRUNK
BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1993 4 January - 8 February Monday 8.30pm
Writer: Clayton Moore / Producer: Colin Gilbert / Director: Ron Bain
Sitcom. Vinnie Binns tries to get his protégé to the top in the world of boxing, but faces opposition from crooks and the organization Doctors Against Boxing.
Vinnie Binns...................................... KENNY IRELAND
Hance Gordon................................... JOHN KAZEK
Vikki Brown....................................... DIANA HARDCASTLE
Pat Hunter........................................ SEAN SCANLAN
Neillie............................................... JAKE D'ARCY
Norman Banks................................. JONATHAN KYDD
Slug................................................ GILBERT MARTIN
Mrs Gordon...................................... CLAIRE NIELSON
Danny Boyle.................................... GRANT SMEATON
QUEENIE'S CASTLE
Yorkshire / 18x30m-e / 1970-72 3 Seasons
Creators: Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall / Executive Producer: John Duncan
Sitcom. A northern mother keeps a firm grip on her family.
Queenie Shepherd.......................... DIANA DORS
Douglas Sheperd............................ BARRIE RUTTER
Raymond Shepherd........................ FREDDIE FLETCHER
Bunny Shepherd............................ BRYAN MARSHALL
Jack............................................. TONY CAUNTER
Mrs Petty...................................... LYNNE PERRIE
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