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T H E   U K   S I T C O M S   G U I D E 

 

U,V -  Ukridge to The Vital Spark

UK SITCOMS |PREVIOUS | NEXT

UKRIDGE

BBC1 / 7x30m-e / 1968 15 July - 26 August Mondays 7.30pm black and white

Writer/Producer: Richard Waring / Book: P.G. Wodehouse / Director: Joan Kemp-Welch  

Period comedy drama serial. Stanley Featherstone Ukridge cons his way through the 1930's.

Ukridge............................................. ANTON RODGERS

Corky............................................... JULIAN HOLLOWAY

Aunt Julia......................................... MARIAN SPENCER

 

UNDER AND OVER

BBC1 / 6x30m-e / 1971 Pilot: 8 January 1971 / Season: 24 September - 22 October 1971 Fridays 8.00pm

Writers: David Climie, Austin Steele / Producer: Austin Steele 

Sitcom. Three Irish navvies get a job working on the London Underground. The three leads were better known as Irish singing group The Bachelors. 

Dec................................................ DEC CLUSKEY

John............................................... JOHN STOKES

Con................................................ CON CLUSKEY

Lord Brentwood............................... ROBERT KEEGAN

Landlord......................................... TOMMY GODFREY

Hawkins......................................... JACK HAWKINS

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

BBC1-Alamo / 12x30m-e / 1998

Creators: Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran / Producer: Sioned Williams / Director: Baz Taylor 

Sitcom. Bitter middle aged divorcee Amy has a somewhat prickly relationship with her ex-husband Spike.

Amy..................................................... HARRIET WALTER

Spike................................................... HENRY GOODMAN

Tanya.................................................. JAYE GRIFFITHS

Ruth.................................................... BRIGITTE KAHN

Tam.................................................... ART MALIK

Toby................................................... WILLIAM MANNERING

 

UNION CASTLE

Granada / 7x30m-e / 1982 19 April - 7 June Mondays 8.00pm

Writer: Eric Paice / Producer: Eric Prytherch / Director: Douglas Argent 

Sitcom. A staunch trade unionist is made a lord and moves into a large castle in Wales.

Lord Mountainash............................. STRATFORD JOHNS

Wordsworth..................................... MORAY WATSON

Ursula,Lady Thaxted........................ WANDA VENTHAM

Annie.............................................. LYNDON HUGHES

Elizabeth Steel............................... CAROL MACREADY

THE UPCHAT LINE

Thames / 7x30m-e / 1977 26 September - 7 November Monday 8.00pm

Writer: Keith Waterhouse / Music: Mike Batt / Producer/Director: Robert Reed 

Sitcom. Little known author Mike Upchat, with a fondness for women and booze, sponges his way about town. See also the sequel The Upchat Connection.

Mike Upchat................................... JOHN ALDERTON

 

THE UPCHAT CONNECTION

Thames / 7x30m-e / 1978 24 October - 5 December Tuesdays 8.30pm

Writer: Keith Waterhouse / Producer/Director: Robert Read 

Sitcom. A continuation of the Upchat Line following the departure of John Alderton. This season saw Mike Upchat 'bequeath' his address book and key to his locker at Marylebone station in a raffle after moving to Australia.

'Mike Upchat'................................... ROBIN NEDWELL

Maggie........................................... SUSAN JAMESON

Polly.............................................. BERNADETTE MILNE

 

THE UPPER CRUSTS

LWT / 6x30m-e / 1973 25 February - 1 April Sundays 9.30pm

Writers: Keith Waterhouse, Willis Hall / Producer/Director: Mark Stuart 

Sitcom. When their elderly father loses the family fortune, Lord and Lady Seacroft are forced to move into a high rise council flat.

Lord Seacroft Sr............................. CHARLES GRAY

Lady Seacroft................................ MARGARET LEIGHTON

Lord Seacroft................................ CHARLES GRAY

Davina Seacroft............................. LALLA WARD

Gareth Seacroft............................. MARTIN NEIL

 

UP POMPEII!

BBC1 / 13x35/30m-e / 1970 Season 1: 30 March - 11 May / Season 2: 14 September - 26 October

Creator: Talbot Rothwell / Writers: Sid Colin, Talbot Rothwell 

Sitcom. In Ancient Rome, put upon slave Lurcio has trouble juggling the demands of his family employers. Pilot was broadcast on 17 September 1969.See also Further Up Pompeii!

Lurcio............................................. FRANKIE HOWERD

Ludicrus Sextus(1).......................... MAX ADRIAN

Ludicrus Sextus(2).......................... WALLAS EATON

Erotica........................................... GEORGINA MOON

Ammonia....................................... ELIZABETH LARNER

Ambrosia....................................... LYNDA BARON

Odius............................................ JOHN JUNKIN

Plautus(Pilot)................................. WALTER HORSBRUGH

Plautus(season 1).......................... WILLIE RUSHTON

 

THE UPPER HAND

Central/Columbia / 94x30m-e 1x60m-e / 1990-96 7 Seasons

Executive Producer: Paul Spencer / Script Associate: Greg Freeman / Creators: Blake Hunter, Martin Cohan / Producer: Christopher Walker 

Sitcom. Ex footballer Charlie Burrows begins working as live in housekeeper to busy executive and single mum Caroline Wheatley. The show was based on the US sitcom Who's The Boss and at the end of season 6 Charlie and Caroline actually married.

Charlie Burrows............................... JOE McGANN

Caroline Wheatley........................... DIANA WESTON

Laura West..................................... HONOR BLACKMAN

Joanna Burrows............................... KELLIE BRIGHT

Tom Wheatley................................. WILLIAM PUTTOCK

 

UP RISING

ITV-Strand-Tiger Aspect / 1x50m-e 4x30m-e / 2000 25 June - 23 Julys Sundays mostly at 10.30pm

Writer: Nick Vivian / Costume: Fiona Chilcott / Music: Michael Storey / Design: Steve Groves / Camera: Francis De Groote / Producers: Margaret Gavan Duffy, Christopher Skala 

Sitcom. Life for the generally oddball residents of the idyllic village of Rising, especially neuveau riche  couple Maxine and Terry Gaines and old style Ronald and Sally Kegworthy.

With:- ANTON RODGERS as Ronald Kegworthy / NICOLA PAGETT as Sally Kegworthy / MICHELLE COLLINS as Maxine Gaines / KEVIN McNALLY as Terry Gaines / GEORGIA McKENZIE as Harriet Revell / RICHARD COYLE as Martin Marr / CAMILLA POWER as Ariadne / DOMINIC MATHAM as Justin Winterman / TREVOR COOPER as Morrissey

 

UP THE ELEPHANT AND ROUND THE CASTLE

Thames / 23x30m-e / 1983-85 3 Seasons

Producer: Anthony Parker 

Sitcom. Cockney Jim London is left a ramshackle terraced house complete with sitting tenant upstairs by his Aunt Mini.

Jim London....................................... JIM DAVIDSON

Wanda Pickles................................. SUE NICHOLLS

Dad London..................................... JOHN BARRON

Mum London.................................... ROSALIND KNIGHT

Brian the Barman............................. BRIAN HALL

Cllr Bertram Allnut (Season 1)........... ROGER SLOMAN

Cllr Arnold Moggs (Seasons 2-3)....... NICHOLAS DAY

 

UP THE GARDEN PATH

Granada/HB / 18x30m-e / 1990-93

Writer: Sue Limb / Theme Sung by Imelda Staunton / Producer: Humphrey Barclay / Director: David Askey

Sitcom. Lovelorn schoolteacher Izzy Comyn would like a bit of romance in her life but finds it hard to meet the right kind of man.

Izzy Comyn....................................... IMELDA STAUNTON

Dick Barnes...................................... MIKE GRADY

Maria Shadwell................................. TESSA PEAKE-JONES

Louise Tristran.................................. SUSAN KYDD

Michael Tristran................................ NICHOLAS LE PREVOST

Gwyn Jenkins.................................. TOM MANNION

Bill Bailey (Seasons 2-3)................... NEIL McCAUL

Linda (Season 3).............................. ADRIENNE O'SULLIVAN

 

UP THE WORKERS

ATV / 13x30m-e / 1974-76 Season 1: 1 May - 12 June 1974 / Season 2: 25 February - 14 April 1976

Creator: Lance Percival / Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley / Producers: John Scholz-Conway, Alan Tarrant 

Sitcom. Ups and downs of a group of factory workers at Cocker's Components Ltd in the Midlands, most of whom seem hell bent of strike action.There was a pilot broadcast 4 Sep 1973 with a mainly different cast (Gordon Rollings, Lynn Smith and Peter Hill were amongst them.)

Dicky Bligh....................................... HENRY McGEE

Bernard Peck................................... LANCE PERCIVAL

Sid Stubbins.................................... NORMAN BIRD

Fred Hamflitt (Season 2)................... VICTOR MADDERN

Sir Henry Carmichael (Season 1)....... IVOR DEAN

Sir Charles (Season 2)..................... CHARLES LLOYD PACK

Bert Hamflitt (Season 1)................... DUDLEY SUTTON

Andrea (Season 2)........................... LESLEY DUFF

Fergy (Season 2)............................. LEON VITALI

US GIRLS

BBC1 / 12x30m-e / 1992-93

Writer: Lisselle Kayle / Script Consultant: Sharon Foster / Script Editor: Anne Pivcevic Producer/Director: David Askey

Sitcom. West Indian Bev tries to juggle her career as a journalist with bringing up her teenage daughter and trying to do her best by her Mam.

JOANNE CAMPBELL as Bev(Season 1) / NICOLA BLACKMAN as Bev(Season 2) / MARLAINE GORDON as Aisha /  MONA HAMMOND as Grandma Pinnock / ALLISTER BAIN as Grandad Pinnock / KERRY POTTER as Catherine / DONA CROLL as Gail 

 

VALENTINE PARK

Central / 12x30m-e / 1987-88 Season 1: 19 June - 24 July 87 / Season 2: 22 July - 26 August 88

Creators: Nicholas Hyde, Glen Cardno / Executive Producer: Jon Scoffield / Producer: Glen Cardno 

Sitcom. Young Max gets a job working as a gardener in a large public park, much to the initial horror of his godfather who is head gardener at the park.

Max.............................................DAVID THEWLIS

Tom.............................................KEN JONES

Mrs Giles.....................................LIZ SMITH

Claire...........................................KATIE NEWELL

Bodie...........................................DANIEL NEWMAN

Doyle (Season 1)..........................BERNARD PADDEN

Maggie........................................PENNY MORRELL

Wendy........................................JENNIFER GUY

Mr Smackley (Season 2)..............ELLIS DALE

Philip (Season 2).........................KEN FARRINGTON

 

VERY BIG VERY SOON

Central / 6x30m-e / 1991 19 July - 23 August Friday 7.00pm

Writer: Daniel Peacock / Director: Paul Harrison / Producer: Glen Cardno 

Sitcom. Theatrical agent Harry James has a bunch of no hopers on his books.

Harry James..................................... PAUL SHANE

Beattie............................................. KATE DAVID

Ernie Chester................................... TIM WYLTON

Avril................................................. SHEILA WHITE

Matthew Kite.................................... ANDREW MACLEAN

Vic.................................................. SHAUN CURRY

 

THE VERY MERRY WIDOW

BBC1 / 19x30m-e / 1967-69 Three seasons.

Writer: Alan Melville / Producers: Robin Nash, Graeme Muir, John Howard Davies 

Sitcom. When she is left a widow and heavily in debt Jacqui Villiers takes a variety of jobs(as well as a lodger) to make ends meet. Season three known as The Very Merry Widow and How.

Jacqui Villiers................................ MOIRA LISTER

Mrs Frayle.................................... MOLLY URQUHART

Freddie Phillipson.......................... DONALD HEWLETT

Roger (Season 3).......................... JIMMY THOMPSON

Jennifer Villiers............................. SALLY THOMPSETT

Mavis Anstruther........................... DIANA KING

Francois (Seasons 2-3)................. GEORGES LAMBERT

Henrietta Greaves (Seasons 1-2)... MARGARET COURTENAY

Millicent Dickson (Seasons 1-2).... ELIZABETH ALLAN

Mr Tiffin (Seasons 1-2).................. A.J. BROWN

Katie (Season 3).......................... PATRICIA HAYES

Constance Cartwright (Season 1).. BERYL MASON

 

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY

BBC1 / 20 episodes 9x30 minute episodes 6x40 minute episodes 3x45 minute episodes and 2x10 minute episodes / 10 November 1994 - December 2006

Creator: Richard Curtis / Script Editor: Emma Freud / Music: Howard Goodall / Executive Producers: Richard Curtis, Peter Bennett Jones / Producer: Jon Plowman

Sitcom. Female Vicar Geraldine Granger raises a few eyebrows when she takes over the parish of Dibley. At first Parish council leader David Horton didn't want Geraldine there but later came to have a grudging respect for her and her abilities. The 1997 Comic Relief special teamed up the show with Ballykissangel. After a gap of 6 years (the series had more or less ended in 2000) the show returned for two further episodes Christmas 2006 that were definitely supposed to be the last episodes ever.  

Dawn French as Geraldine Granger / Gary Waldhorn as David Horton / James Fleet as Hugo Horton / Emma Chambers as Alice Tinker / John Bluthal as Frank Pickle / Trevor Peacock as Jim Trott / Roger Lloyd Pack as Owen Newitt / Liz Smith as Letitia Cropley (season one) 

 

THE VITAL SPARK

BBC1 / 20x30m-e / 1966-67/73-74 1 pilot, 3 seasons + 1 special

Writer: Bill Craig / Characters: Neil Munro / Producer: Pharic Maclaren 

Sitcom. Misadventures of Captain Para Handy and his hapless crew aboard the Vital Spark. Began as a Comedy Playhouse entry. Following a fifty minute special in 1973 a further six episodes were made and broadcast in 1974. See also Para Handy- Master Mariner and The Tales of Para Handy.

Para Handy........................................ RODDY McMILLAN

McPhail............................................. JOHN GRIEVE

Dougie.............................................. WALTER CARR

Sunny Jim......................................... ALEX McAVOY

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