DR Willoughby to Duty Free

The Ultimate Guide to British Sitcoms

All sitcoms starting with the letter D. This is part two and takes you from Dr Willoughby to Duty Free.

Head back tomain sitcompage.

DR WILLOUGHBY

ITV/Witzend/ Thames/Pearson / 6×30 minute episodes / 1999 14 Nov – 13 Dec Ep 1 Sun 10.00pm Eps2-6:Mon 10.00pm
Writer: Laurie Rowley / Music: Dave Mackay / Producer: Tony Charles / Director: David Skynner
Sitcom. Donna Sinclair is the popular star of a medical daytime soap, on screen she is seen saving lives, off screen she is making the lives of those around her a misery with her primadonna antics.
Donna Sinclair……………………………. JOANNA LUMLEY
Ralph Whatman………………………….. BRIAN PROTHEROE
Emma Goodliffe………………………….. ISOBEL MIDDLETON
Crystal Reynolds………………………… PAULA BACON
Steve Lipton………………………………. IAN PULESTON-DAVIES
Mrs Ajax…………………………………… GILLIAN BARGE
Geraldine………………………………….. TANYA MOODIE
Gill………………………………………….. URSULA HOLDEN-GILL

DOGFOOD DAN AND THE CARMARTHEN COWBOY

BBC2 / 6×30 minute episodes / 1988 4 February – 10 March Thursdays 9.00pm
Writer: David Nobbs / Producer/Director: Alan J. W. Bell
Sitcom. Two long distance lorry drivers are each having affairs with the other’s wife. Based on a 1982 play of the same name.
Dogfood Dan………………………………. MALCOLM STORRY
Aubrey Owen……………………………… PETER BLAKE
Helen Milton………………………………. ELIZABETH MICKERY
Gwyneth Owen…………………………… ARBEL JONES

DON’T DO IT DEMPSEY

BBC / 6×30 minute episodes / 1960 4 April – 9 May Mondays 9.00pm black and white
Writers: Patrick Campbell, Vivienne Knight / Producer: John Harrison
Sitcom. Exploits of an amorous bachelor.
James Dempsey………………………. BRIAN REECE

Don’t Drink The Water

DON’T DRINK THE WATER

LWT / 13×30 minute episodes / 1974-75 / Season One: 27 Jul – 7 Sep 74 / Season Two: 1 Nov – 6 Dec 75
Writers: Ronald Woolfe, Ronald Chesney / Producer: Mark Stuart
Sitcom. Spin-off from On the Buses in which bus inspector Blakey retired to Spain with his sister Dorothy.
Blakey……………………………………….. STEPHEN LEWIS
Dorothy………………………………………. PAT COOMBS
Carlos………………………………………… DEREK GRIFFITHS
Bill(season 1)………………………………. FRANK CODA
Beryl(season 2)……………………………. CHRISTINE SHAW

DON’T ROCK THE BOAT

Thames / 12×30 minute episodes / 1982-83 Season One: 5 Jan – 9 Feb 82 / Season Two: 12 Jul – 16 Aug 83
Writer: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey / Producer: Mark Stuart
Sitcom. Fiftysomething widower Jack falls in love with and marries Dixie a girl half his age.
Jack……………………………………………. NIGEL DAVENPORT
Dixie……………………………………………. SHEILA WHITE
Les……………………………………………… JOHN PRICE
Billy…………………………………………….. DAVID JANSON
Eric…………………………………………….. DAVID BATTLEY

DON’T TELL FATHER

Associated-Rediffusion / 6×30 minute episodes / 1959 1 June – 6 July Mondays 7.30pm
Writer: Barry Baker / Director: Pat Baker
Sitcom. An eccentric screenplay writer tends to get too involved in his scripts, much to the hilarity of his daughter.
Julia Dean………………………………….. JULIA LOCKWOOD
Harry Dean………………………………… COLIN GORDON
Helen Carter………………………………. JILL BOOTY
Elizabeth Carter………………………….. NOEL HOOD
Philip Lister……………………………….. GARRY MARSH
Evelyn Wright…………………………….. JOAN BENHAM
Dave………………………………………… BARRY MacGREGOR
Diana………………………………………. ANNEKE WILLS

DON’T TELL FATHER

BBC1 / 6×30 minute episodes / 1992 26 April – 31 May Sunday 7.45pm
Writer: Roy Clarke / Producer/Director: Harold Snoad
Sitcom. Exploits of vain, egotistical actor Vivien Bancroft.
Vivien Bancroft…………………………… TONY BRITTON
Natasha Bancroft………………………… SUSAN HAMPSHIRE
Kate Bancroft…………………………….. CAROLINE QUENTIN
Garth Bancroft……………………………. RICHARD ASTON
Marvin Whipple…………………………… PHILIP FOX

DON’T WAIT UP

BBC1 / 39×30 minute episodes / 1983-90 six seasons
Writer: George Layton / Producer: Harold Snoad
Sitcom. Father and son GP’s, both divorced, share a flat and an uneasy relationship together.
Dr Tom Latimer………………………….. NIGEL HAVERS
Dr Toby Latimer…………………………. TONY BRITTON
Helen Latimer……………………………. JANE HOW
Angela Latimer………………………….. DINAH SHERIDAN
Madlaine Forbes……………………….. SUSAN SKIPPER
Dr Charles Cartwright(1)………………. RICHARD HEFFER
Dr Charles Cartwright(2)……………….. SIMON WILLIAMS
Felicity Spicer-Gibbs………………….. JANE BOOKER

DOSSA AND JOE

BBC2 / 6x30m / starts 15 May 2002 / 9:00pm
Writer: Caroline Aherne, Peter Herbert / Director: Caroline Aherne

Comedy drama about a married working class couple in Australia.
Charleston is probably best known for her role as Madge in Neighbours whilst Caton is known as both an actor (The Castle) and as a presenter of lifestyle TV shows.

With:- ANNE CHARLESTON as Dossa Bailey / MICHAEL CATON as Joe Bailey

DOUBLE FIRST

BBC1 / 1×60 minute episodes 6×30 minute episodes / 1988 6 Sep – 18 Oct Tues 8.30pm
Writers: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey / Producer/Director: Gareth Gwenlan
Sitcom. A once promising writer now selling hamburgers for a living is taken in by two old friends who were at Oxford with him, the pair (two sisters) try to persuade him to repick up his pen but he would rather live in rent free comfort and do nothing.
NV Norman Vernon Standish………… MICHAEL WILLIAMS
Mary Webster…………………………… ANN BELL
Louise Hobson………………………….. JENNIFER HILARY
Ellen Hobson……………………………. HOLLY AIRD
Derek……………………………………… CLIVE MERRISON
William……………………………………. PETER TUDDENHAM

DOUBLETAKE

BBC2 / 1×50 minute episodes / 27 December 2001
A spoof reality show looking at the years events and made using only “supposed” closed circuit television footage and featuring not just the average Joe but Celebs and even Royalty.

DOWN THE GATE

ATV / 12×30 minute episodes / 1975-76 / Season One: 23 Jul – 20 Aug 75 / Season Two:18 Jul – 29 Aug 76
Creator: Reg Varney / Writers: Maurice Sellars, Roy Turvey / Producer: William G. Stewart
Sitcom. Exploits of Reg Funnell a trader at Billingsgate Fish Market.
Reg Funnell………………………………… REG VARNEY
Irene…………………………………………. DILYS LAYE
Len Peacock(S1)…………………………. TONY MELODY
Mr Preston(S2)……………………………. PERCY HERBERT
Old Wol…………………………………….. REG LYE

DOWN TO EARTH

BBC1 / 7×30 minute episodes / 1994 5 Jan – 15 Feb Thurs 8.30pm
Writers: John Esmonde, Bob Larbey / Producer/Director: John B. Hobbs
Sitcom. Tony Fairfax former cultural attaché for a Latin American country finds it hard to adjust to life back in England.
Tony Fairfax……………………………….. RICHARD BRIERS
Molly………………………………………… KIRSTEN COOKE
Chris………………………………………… CHRISTOPHER BLAKE
Jim………………………………………….. STEVE EDWIN
Oswald…………………………………….. STEPHEN BENT
Ramon…………………………………….. SANDOR ELES
Helen Thorpe…………………………….. JOANNA VAN GYSEGHEM

DOWNWARDLY MOBILE

Yorkshire/Portman / 6×30 minute episodes / 1994 21 Jul – 1 Sep Thurs 8.30pm
Writers: Alastair Beaton, Barry Pilton / Producers: Philip Hincliffe / Executive Producers: David Reynolds / Director: Martin Dennis
Sitcom. A financial crisis forces Mark and Sophie to move in with Mark’s brother Clem and his wife Rosemary.
Rosemary……………………………………… FRANCES DE LA TOUR
Clem……………………………………………. PHILIP JACKSON
Sophie…………………………………………. JOSIE LAWRENCE
Mark…………………………………………… STEPHEN TOMPKINSON

DREAM STUFFING

C4/Limehouse / 10×30 minute episodes / 1984 6 January – 9 March Fridays 9.00pm
Writers: Paul Hines, Su Wilkins / Producer: Humphrey Barclay / Director: John Kaye Cooper
Sitcom. Exploits of two young girls living in the East End of London.
Jude…………………………………………….. RACHAEL WEAVER
Mo………………………………………………. AMANDA SYMONDS
Richard………………………………………… RAY BURDIS
Bill ……………………………………………… FRANK LEE
Brenda………………………………………… CAROLINE QUENTIN

DRESSING FOR BREAKFAST

C4/Warner Sisters / 19×30 minute episodes / 1995-98
Writer: Stephanie Calman / Producer: Jane Wellesley
Sitcom. The romantic trials of a bright young single girl.
Louise………………………………….. BEATIE EDNEY
Carla…………………………………….. HOLLY AIRD
Liz………………………………………. CHARLOTTE CORNWELL
Dave…………………………………….. NIGEL LINDSAY
Fabrizio(S1)……………………………. ROBERT LANGDON LLOYD
Graham(S2)……………………………. RICHARD DURDAN
Rose…………………………………….. SOPHIE STANTON

Drop The Dead Donkey

DROP THE DEAD DONKEY

C4/Hatrick / 64×30 minute episodes / 1990-98
Writer/Producers: Guy Jenkin, Andy Hamilton / Executive Producer: Denise O’Donaghue / Theme Music: Matthew Scott
Sitcom. The exploits of the seemingly terminally stupid staff of a TV news team.
Dave Charnley……………………………. NEIL PEARSON
Gus Hedges………………………………. ROBERT DUNCAN
Harry Davenport………………………….. DAVID SWIFT
Alex Pates (Seasons 1-2)…………….. HAYDN GWYNNE
Sally Smedley…………………………… VICTORIA WICKS
Damien Day………………………………. STEPHEN TOMPKINSON
Joy Merryweather……………………….. SUSANNAH DOYLE
Helen Cooper (Seasons 3-6)………….. INGRID LACEY
George Dent……………………………… JEFF RAWLE

DUCK PATROL

London Weekend Television / 6×30 minute episodes / 1998
Writers: Jan Ethrington, Gavin Petrie / Music: Simon Wallace / Producer: Jamie Rix
Sitcom. The misadventures of a group of coppers at a river police station on the Thames.
Prof…………………………………………….. RICHARD WILSON
Darwin…………………………………………. DAVID TENNANT
Marilyn………………………………………… SAMANTHA BECKINSALE
Ollie……………………………………………. TREVOR COOPER
Val……………………………………………… SUE JOHNSTON
Angie………………………………………….. JAN RAVENS
Hero…………………………………………… CRAIG FAIRBRASS
Serge…………………………………………. GEOFFREY HUTCHINGS

THE DUSTBINMEN

Granada / 20×30 minute episodes / 1969-70 3 Seasons
Creator: Jack Rosenthal / Producers: Jack Rosenthal, Richard Everitt
Sitcom. The exploits of a gang of dustbinmen, see also the 1968 play There’s A Hole In Your Dustbin Delilah. Season 1 Black and white.
Bloody Delilah(1)………………………. JOHN WOODVINE
Bloody Delilah(2)………………………. BRIAN WILDE
Cheese and Egg………………………. BRYAN PRINGLE
Winston Platt………………………….. GRAHAM HABERFIELD
‘Smellie’ Ibbotson……………………… JOHN BARRETT
Heavy Breathing………………………. TREVOR BANNISTER
Eric………………………………………. TIM WYLTON

DUTY FREE

Yorkshire / 21×30 minute episodes 1×60 minute episodes / 1984-86 3 Seasons + 1 special
Writers: Eric Chappell, Jean Warr / Producer: Vernon Lawrence
Sitcom. David and Amy Pearce go on a package holiday to Spain where David plans a spot of adultery with the also married Linda Cochran.
David Pearce……………………………… KEITH BARRON
Amy Pearce………………………………. GWEN TAYLOR
Linda Cochran……………………………. JOANNA VAN GYSDEGHEM
Robert Cochran………………………….. NEIL STACY
Carlos……………………………………… CARLOS DOUGLAS

back tomain sitcompage.