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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

 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

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

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

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

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) 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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