Moody and Pegg (ITV 1974-75 with Judy Cornwell and Derek Waring)

Comedy drama series Moody and Pegg took the old chestnut of two mismatched people having to get on with each other after being forced to share a flat together. The series begins Daphne Pegg, disillusioned in love, heading to London from Bolton to take up a new job. She thinks she has a valid lease on a flat in the city however womanising antiques dealing Roland Moody also has a valid lease for the flat – unable to come to a new arrangement the pair reluctantly agree to move in together.

In best Odd Couple style Daphne and Roland are constantly rubbing each other up the wrong way, Daphne can’t abide Moody’s womanising ways and Moody is none too pleased with some of Daphne’s friends not least the the late night cello playing George. As the first season ended Moody had decided to move out after losing his lease in a game of poker, he quickly returned for the second batch of six episodes though. The second season saw the duo edging towards a romantic relationship but just as it looked like romance was on the cards Daphne met the well off Jim who proposed marriage only to jilt her at the altar.

An excellent series Moody and Pegg was written by actor Donald Churchill and Julia Jones although rarely in the same room and sometimes not even in the same country. There is a really nice dynamic between Judy Cornwell (who is a complete revelation if you are only familiar with her from Keeping Up Appearances) and Derek Waring and there are also prominent roles for the excellent Denis Lill, Peter Denyer, Tony Selby and Adrienne Posta. The theme tune is just plain gorgeous too.

production details
UK | ITV Network – Thames

RUNNING TIME: 60 minutes | NUMBER OF EPISODES: 12 | AIRDATES: 29 July 1974 – 28 August 1975

CREATORS: Julia Jones, Donald Churchill | STORY EDITOR: June Roberts | PRODUCER: Robert Love

cast
DEREK WARING as Roland Moody
JUDY CORNWELL as Daphne Pegg
PETER DENYER as George
DENIS LILL as Jim
FRANCES BENNETT as Monica Bakewell
SHEILA KEITH as Auntie Ethel
TONY SELBY as Sid
ADRIENNE POSTA as Iris
LOUISE HALL TAYLOR as Miranda

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE 29 July – 9 September 1974
1. HIS OR HERS?(29 Jul 1974)
2. SHE: THE DIPLOMAT (5 Aug 1974)
3. HE: THE LOVER (12 Aug 1974)
4. SHE: THE BELLE OF THE BALL (19 Aug 1974)
5. HE: THE GO BETWEEN (2 Sep 1974)
6. HIS AND HERS (9 Sep 1974)

SEASON TWO 24 July – 28 August 1975
1. FULL HOUSE (24 Jul 1975)
2. ROLAND’S LADIES (31 Jul 1975)
3. DAPHNE AND ROLAND: AT HOME (7 Aug 1975)
4. DAPHNE: THE PRIMITIVE (14 Aug 1975)
5. THE PLUMBER’S MATE (21 Aug 1975)
6. THE PROPOSAL (28 Aug 1975)