TV
Mr Digby Darling (ITV Sitcom, Sheila Hancock, Peter Jones)
In ITV sitcom Mr Digby Darling Thelma Teesdale (Sheila Hancock) is obsessed with her ineffectual boss Roland Digby (Peter Jones) and spends her time catering to his every need. Digby, who worked for pesticide company Rid-O-Rat was only happy at work what with a wife and kids at home who he was sure didn’t appreciate him like Thelma did. Shorthand typing might not have been Thelma’s strongest suit but she did have a nice line in cooked breakfasts. She even had a gas ring set up in the filing cabinet.
Hancock and Jones had previously worked together on sitcom classic The Rag Trade.
There was also a short ten minute segment broadcast as part of 1969 All Star Comedy Carnival broadcast on ITV on Christmas Day 1969.
Cast: Peter Jones as Roland Digby; Sheila Hancock as Thelma Teesdale; Norman Chappell as Chambers (Season 1); Beryl Cooke as Olive (Season 1); Brian Oulton as Mr Trumper (Season 1); Janet Brown as Joyce (Season 2); Peter Stephens as Mr Bailey (Season 2); Michael Bates as Norman Stanhope (Season 3)
Writers: Ken Hoare, Mike Sharland / Producers: Bill Hitchcock, Christopher Hodson (Sid Colin produced the special)
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 19×30 minute episodes / 6 January 1969 – 25 January 1971