In one off Comedy Playhouse entry An Officer And A Gentleman Sid Coil (Ken Wynne) is now the personal servant of former Major Gissling (James Grout), a role he performed as his batman when both served in the army.
P.G.C. reviewing the comedy in the Coventry Evening Telegraph (Fri 9 Jan 1970) said that the production’s “saving grace was the performance of Ken Wynne as the loyal, possessive batman whose evening out was ruining by the muddling of Major Gissling.” He was also confident it wouldn’t lead to a series – he was right.
Matthew Coady in The Mirror (Fri 9 Jan 1970) was also less than enthusiastic, feeling that “Gissing played by James Grout in a moustache that looked as though it had come from a Christmas Cracker somehow lacked credibility.” There was one highlight for him though “as always, it was a pleasure to see Patricia Hayes – as the unwanted lodger in the basement.”
Series: Comedy Playhouse
Cast: James Grout as Major Gissing; Ken Wynne as Sid Coil; Patricia Hayes as Mrs Telfer; Diana King as Miss Jellicoe; Raymond Westwell as Dimitri Yevgenyvitch
Writer: Myles Rudge / Incidental Music: Dennis Wilson / Production Design: James Bould / Producer: Robin Nash
UK / BBC1 ‘Comedy Playhouse’ / 1×30 minute episodes / Thursday 8 January 1970 at 7.30pm