Man At The Top: …A Bit Of Spare, Nothing Else (ITV 15 Feb 1971, Katy Manning)

In …A Bit of Spare, Nothing Else Joe has made his bed (by walking out on his marriage and his business) and is now having to lie in it. Joe, whilst trying to get a job with an old friend, meets up with the much younger Julia and quickly settles into cosy domesticity with her but is finding difficult to be taken seriously in the business world now that he has burnt his bridges with Abe. In the end it is Julia, who is now quite player who is able to help him move forward.

This is your classic middle aged man cuts himself adrift and then finds things are not as rosy as he thought they would be scenario. Lampton is reduced to scrabbling around former assocaites looking for work and not finding it easy. Mark McManus is supposed to be the same age as Julia but looks a heck of a lot older, his “London” accent is a real treat though. And of course there is Katy Manning in her underwear…

classic quote
“Now then, you’re an educated man Mr Jackson, am I right in thinking there are two L’s in Bollocks…”

production details
UK / ITV Network – Thames / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 15 February 1971

Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley / Production Design: Peter Le Page, Patrick Downing / Director: Bill Bain

Man At The Top Season One Episode Nine

guest cast
KATY MANNING as Julia
RAY SMITH as Charlie Armstrong
CHRISTOPHER BENJAMIN as Mr Fisher
PATRICIA FULLER as Janet
MARK McMANUS as Dennis
RAYMOND YOUNG as Phillip Barratt
FRANCIS GHENT as Mr Jackson
NIKOLAS SIMMONDS as Tony
MICHAEL BICKFORD as Michael
CAROLYN WYLDE as Alison