In his last TV series, recorded just weeks before he died, Arthur Lowe played a maths teacher in a 1940’s prep school who was obsessed with old-fashioned school virtues. Fighting internal battles with his arch-enemy, Matron, the disaster-prone teacher (who was weak on discipline but strong on dignity) was constantly preoccupied by such trivial matters as the high cost of pen nibs. The snobbish cleric, Reverend R. G. Saunders, was the school’s headmaster.
The series was based on stories by H. F. Ellis, although just six episodes were made.
Lowe died on 15 April 1982.
Cast
Arthur Lowe (A. J. Wentworth), Harry Andrews (Headmaster), Marion Mathie (Matron), Michael Bevis (Gilbert), Marcus Evans (Mason), Alistair Callender (Anderson), Stephen Rooney (Atkins), Simon Curry (Otterway), Andrew McDonnell (Etheridge), Paul Hawkins (Hopgood II), Michael Underwood (Hillman), Halil Halil (Sapoules), Benjamin Taylor (Trench)
Crew
Adapted by: Basil Boothroyd / Based on a book by: H. F. Ellis / Produced and Directed by: Michael Mills
Production Details
Thames Television / 6 episodes x 25 minutes / Broadcast 12 July 1982 – 23 August 1982
The Episodes
1. A Day In The Life Of… (12 July 1982) – Guest Cast: Ronnie Stevens (Rawlinson), Deddie Davies (Miss Coombes), Christophe Le Bozec, Timothy Breeze, Alexander Bullion. Marion Mathie is not in this episode.
2. Mud Larks (19 July 1982) – Guest Cast: Ronnie Stevens (Rawlinson), Elspeth Pirie, Robert McLaughlan, Shaun Furmston.
3. Problems, Problems (26 July 1982) – Guest Cast: Ronnie Stevens (Rawlinson), Judith Porter, Paul Howlett, Paul Maynard, Warren Saire.
4. Illa Goes To War (09 August 1982) – Guest Cast: Ronnie Stevens (Rawlinson), Deddie Davies (Miss Coombes).
5. Founder’s Day (16 August 1982) – Guest Cast: Ronnie Stevens (Rawlinson), Deddie Davies (Miss Coombes), William Fox, Hazel Bainbridge, Madeline Smith.
6. The Outsider (23 August 1982) – Guest Cast: Deddie Davies (Miss Coombes), John Bird.
