How’s Your Father? (ITV 1979-1980, Harry Worth, Debby Cumming)

Sitcom How’s Your Father? featured comedy legend Harry Worth in his penultimate sitcom. He played middle aged Harry who was bringing up his teenage son Martin and daughter Shirley. As was befitting Harry’s TV persona, if something could go wrong it usually did.

This was Worth’s first TV series for over four years.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 13×25 minute episodes / Broadcast 27 February 1979 – 29 August 1980

Writers: Pam Valentine, Michael Ashton / Producer: Graeme Muir / Music: Denis King / Lyric: Myles Rudge / Theme Sung By Harry Worth

cast
Harry Worth as Harry Matthews
Debby Cumming as Shirley Matthews
Giles Watling as Martin Matthews
Fanny Carby as Vera Blacker (series 1)
Sonia Graham as Mrs Simkins (series 2)

THE EPISODES

SEASON ONE 6 Episodes / Tuesdays 8.30pm / 27 February – 3 April 1979

1. THE OLDER WOMAN

Harry discovers that Martin is ‘involved’ with an older woman.

guest cast
LYNDA BARON as Angela Sudbury / ANNE JAMESON as The Librarian / JEANNETTE WILD as The Barmaid / BETTY ROMAINE as Lady in Library / ALF MANGAN as 1st Man in Library / MICHAEL REMICK as 2nd Man in Library

2. TROUBLE WITH SHIRLEY

While Shirley is spending the school holidays with her rich Godmother Harry decides to redecorate her room.

guest cast
JUDY BUXTON as Miss Wilcox

3. THE DRESS, THE SHIRT AND THE MOWER

Shirley is desperate for a new dress for a party so Harry decides to sell his prized lawnmower to pay for it.

guest cast
LYNNE PEARSON as Tracy / JAYNE LESTER as Brenda

4. HARRY GETS OUT MORE

The kids want Harry to get a hobby so he can have a social life and meet new people, Harry soon gets involved in a series of night school classes.

guest cast
ROBERT GILLESPIE as The Art Master / JUDI MAYNARD as Mrs Fitzgerald / RUTH KETTLEWELL as Mrs Spindlethorpe / JEAN MARLOW as Miss White

5. WHO WANTS TO MOVE?

The children convince themselves that Harry wants to sell up and move to a new area and even though Harry doesn’t want to move he soon finds himself fending off offers for his house.

guest cast
TIM BARRATT as Mr Jones / PEARL HACKNEY as Mrs Blenkinsop / JOE GLADWIN as Mr Blenkinsop

6. WEDDING BELLS

Harry is somewhat put out when 16 year old Shirley announces she is getting married.

guest cast
SONIA GRAHAM as Mrs Simkin / KEITH JAYNE as Peter Simkin

SEASON TWO 7 Episodes / Fridays 7.30pm / 18 July – 29 August 1980

1. THE DISCO

Harry finds himself conscripted on to the school PTA committee and does his best to get the school disco cancelled until Shirley persuades him to see the error of his ways.

guest cast
ANTHONY HOWARD / MELA WHITE / HILARY MARTYN / BRENDA COWLING / PETE-LEE WILSON

2. HELP!

Harry decides its time they got in a daily help to help with the household cleaning.

guest cast
GRETCHEN FRANKLIN / MELA WHITE / RAYMOND BOWERS / NIGEL PLANER / FRANCES COX

3. THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Harry somewhat reluctantly agrees to look after Mrs Simkins goldfish while she is visiting her sister but Harry being Harry manages to lose it.

guest cast
MELA WHITE / RAYMOND BOWERS / PETER DENYER / JANET RAWSON / PAULINE SIDDLE / MICHAEL McVEY / PAUL ELLISON

4. RAG WEEK

Harry and Mrs Simpkins are accidentally kidnapped instead of the Lord Mayor during Martin’s rag week festivities.

guest cast
GLYNN EDWARDS / NIGEL MILES THOMAS

5. FANTASY TIME

Harry’s plans for his day off include writing a detective novel and building a patio but finds himself instead helping out Mrs Simkins at the hospital shop she runs voluntarily.

guest cast
DAVYD HARRIES / SAM KYDD / RUTH KETTLEWELL / KEITH JAMES / GILLY FLOWER / NORMAN MITCHELL

6. THE PROMOTION

Harry is line for promotion but must first try and impress his boss with his cooking skills.

guest cast
LEONARD TROLLEY / MELA WHITE / TONY HUGHES / JOAN SANDERSON

7. EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY

Harry decides to clear out the loft but has trouble throwing anything away, especially the priceless painting he thinks he has discovered.

guest cast
ARTHUR HEWLETT / NIKKI KELLY