Shine A Light to Sometime Never

The Ultimate Guide to British Sitcoms

All sitcoms starting with the letter S. This is part two and takes you from Shine A Light to Sometime Never.

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SHINE A LIGHT

UK / ITV Network-Yorkshire TV / 6×30 minute episodes / 1970 (1 April – 27 May / Wednesdays @ 10.30pm)

Writers: David Nobbs, David McKellar, Peter Vincent / Designer: Richard Jarvis / Executive Producer: John Duncan / Director: Bill Hays

Sitcom set on Blackrock Lighthouse stationed out in the ocean, the lighthouse is manned by the elder Wally Trott and the younger Les Robinson, unfortunately the pair can never seem to get on that well. Obviously the sets and action were limited in this confined set bound sitcom but is worth noting down as an early credit for the brilliant David Nobbs. For more details see the episode guide.

cast
TIMOTHY BATESON as Wally Trott / TONY SELBY as Les Robinson / HOWELL EVANS as Taffy Lewis, the captain of the supply ship (occasional)

SHIRLEY’S WORLD

ATV-Sheldon Leonard/ 17×30 minute episodes / 1972 21 January – 14 May
Creator/Producers: Frank Tarloff, Melville Shavelson / Producer: Barry Delamaine
Comedy drama series. American Shirley Logan moves to London to begin working as a journalist.
Shirley Logan…………………………….. SHIRLEY MACLAINE
Dennis Croft………………………………. JOHN GREGSON
Rodney…………………………………….. KIM SMITH

SIDE BY SIDE

BBC1 / 12×30 minute episodes / 1992-93 Season 1: 27 Apr – 1 Jun 1992 / Season 2: 18 Feb – 1 Apr 1993
Writer: Richard Ommanney / Executive Producer: Martin Fisher / Producer/Director: Sue Bysh, Nic Phillips
Sitcom. Next door neighbours in Kingston-Upon-Thames enjoy a hate-hate relationship, although their teenage kids end up getting rather friendly.
Vince Tulley…………………………………. GARETH HUNT
Gilly Bell……………………………………… LOUISA RIX
Stella Tulley…………………………………. JULIA DEAKIN
Katie Bell……………………………………. MIA FOTHERGILL
Terry Shane………………………………… ALEX WALKINSHAW

SILK, SATIN, COTTON, RAGS

BBC / 6×30 minute episodes / 1952 10 May – 14 June Saturday 8.30pm
Writer: M.A. Lonsdale / Producer: Douglas Moodie
Sitcom. Journalist Stella Graham is pursued by four men (each one corresponding to one of the materials of the title), a barrister, a designer, a businessman and a journalist.
Stella Graham……………………………. CECILE CHEYREAU
Nick Nicholson…………………………… BARRY K. BARNES
Geoffrey Masters QC…………………… ANTHONY IRELAND
Max Rollo…………………………………. RICHARD MURDOCH
Sir William Heyward……………………. CLIVE MORTON
Phipps…………………………………….. GLADYS HENSON

SINGLES

Yorkshire TV / 21×30 minute episodes / 1988-91 three seasons.
Writers: Eric Chappell, Jean Warr / Producers: Vernon Lawrence, Nic Phillips, Graham Wetherall
Sitcom. The relationship of two couples who meet in a singles bar. Based on a 1984 play
Malcolm Price……………………………… ROGER REES
Clive Bates…………………………………. EAMON BOLAND
Pamela……………………………………… JUDY LOE
Jackie Phillips…………………………….. SUSIE BLAKE
Dennis Duval(91)………………………….. SIMON CADELL

SINK OR SWIM

BBC1 / 19×30 minute episodes / 1980-82 Three seasons.
Writer: Alex Shearer / Executive Producer: Gareth Gwenlan / Producer/Director: Roger Race, Gareth Gwenlan
Sitcom. When they tire of the rat race, mismatched brothers Robert and Steve Webber set up home on a narrowboat.
With:- PETER DAVISON as Robert Webber / ROBERT GLENISTER as Steve Webber / SARA CORPER as Sonia / RON PEMBER asMike Connor (Seasons 1-2) / AMANDA ORTON as Sandra (Seasons 1-2) / GILLIAN TAYLFORTH as Christie (Season 2) / BRIONY McROBERTS as Charlotte (Season 3)

SIR BERNARD’S STATELY HOLMES

BBC2 / 6×10 minute episodes / 1999 12 May – 16 June Wednesday 10.20pm
Writers: Matt Lucas, David Williams / Producer: Myfanwy Moore / Director: Edgar Wright
Comedy series. World renowned theatrical raconteur Sir Bernard Chumley conducts a tour of some of Britains stately homes.
With:- MATT LUCAS as Sir Bernard Chumley / DAVID WILLIAMS as Anthony Rodgers

SIR YELLOW

Yorkshire TV / 6×30 minute episodes / 1973 13 July – 19 August
Writer: Johnny Hayward / Script Editor: David Nobbs / Producer: Bill Hitchcock / Director: Ian Davidson
Period sitcom. In the 13th Century knight Sir Yellow spends his time carousing and doing his best to avoid any kind of fighting.
Sir Yellow……………………………………. JIMMY EDWARDS
Gregory………………………………………. MELVYN HAYES
Sir Griswold…………………………………. ALAN CURTIS
Cedric………………………………………… MICHAEL RIPPER

SITTING PRETTY

BBC1 / 13×30 minute episodes / 1992-93 Season 1: 19 Nov 92 – 1 Jan 93 / Season 2: 24 Nov – 29 Dec 93
Writer: John Sullivan / Producer/Director: Susan Belbin
Sitcom. When her husband dies leaving her penniless, the once rich Annie Briggs has to move into the ramshackle farmhouse of a family home with her embittered sister.
Annie Briggs…………………………………. DIANE BULL
Kitty……………………………………………. VILMA HOLLINGBURY
Sylvie………………………………………….. HEATHER TOBIAS
Tiffany…………………………………………. ALISON LOMAS
George………………………………………… JOHN CATER

THE SKYLARKS

BBC / 16×30 minute episodes / 1958 / 11 July – 24 October Fridays 8.00pm
Writers: Trevor Peacock, Gavin Blakeney / Creator/Producer: John Warrington
Sitcom. Exploits of the helicopter crew of HMS Aerial (real life HMS Ark Royal).
Lt Gilmore RN……………………………. ANTON RODGERS
Lt Stannard RN………………………….. ROBERT CHETWYN
Lt Copper…………………………………. ROLAND CURRAM
Vice Ad Wiggin-Fanshawe……………. A.E. MATTHEWS
Reynolds………………………………….. JOHN SOUTHWORTH
Cmdr Morris……………………………… FRANK SHELLEY
Capt Crocker-Dobson………………….. WILLIAM MERVYN

SLAP! – LOVE, LIES AND LIPSTICK

Channel 4-Prospect Pictures / 7×30 minute episodes / 1998
Writer: Tim Dynevor / Music: John Collins / Titles: Huge Designs / Costume: Tracey Malone / Design: John McHugh / Executive Producer: Barry Hughes / Producer: Richard Georgeson / Director: Charlie Hanson
Sitcom. The ups and downs of the staff of a cosmetics floor in a large department store along with the staff of a nearby bank.
Janeen…………………………………………. MELANIE KILBURN
Dan…………………………………………….. STEVEN DUFFY
Annabel……………………………………….. CAMILLA POWER
Sheryl………………………………………….. KAYE WRAGG
Simon………………………………………….. ROBERT McKEWLEY
Gordon…………………………………………. BOB MASON
Audrey…………………………………………. NOREEN KERSHAW

A SLIGHT CASE OF…

BBC2 / 6×30 minute episodes / 1965 8 September – 10 October
Writer: Leon Griffiths / Producer: David Croft
Sitcom. Cases of shady private detective H.A. Wormsley.
H.A. Wormsley………………………….. ROY KINNEAR
Mr Poliansky…………………………….. JOE MELIA

SLINGER’S DAY

Thames / 12×30 minute episodes / 1986-87
Creator: Brian Cooke / Producer/Director: Mark Stuart
Sitcom. A continuation of the premise of Tripper’s Day following the untimely death of Leonard Rossiter. This saw Bruce Forsyth taking over as manager of Supafare supermarket.
Cecil Slinger………………………………… BRUCE FORSYTH
Hardie………………………………………… PHILIP BIRD
Fred…………………………………………… DAVID KELLY
Mr Christian…………………………………. PAUL CLARKSON
Sylvia (Season 1)………………………….. LIZ CROWTHER
Higgins (Season 1)………………………… ANDREW PAUL
Dottie (Season 1)………………………….. VICKY LICORISH
Colin (Season 2)…………………………… CHARLIE HAWKINS
Shirley (Season 2)………………………… JACQUELINE DE PEZA
Marilyn (Season 2)……………………….. JOHANNA HARGREAVES
Miss Foster (Season 2)…………………. SUZANNE CHURCH

SMALL POTATOES

Channel 4-Hatrick / 6×35 minute episodes / 1999 9 November – 14 December Tuesdays 10.30pm
Writer/Producer: Richard Pinto, Sharat Sardana / Theme Music: Nick Jeffries / Costume: Jo Thompson / Design: Harry Banks / Executive Producers: Mary Bell, Jimmy Mulville
Sitcom. Ed Hewitt, very much a ‘slacker’ works as an assistant in a video shop in North East London.
Ed Hewitt……………………………………. TOMMY TIERNAN
Rick Foy…………………………………….. SANJEEV BHASKAR
Bennett………………………………………. MORGAN JONES
Juliet Appleby………………………………. EMMA RYDAL
Hoss………………………………………….. OMID DJALILI
Giles…………………………………………. JAMES DOHERTY
Phil…………………………………………… JEREMY PETERS

A SMALL PROBLEM

BBC2 / 6×30 minute episodes / 1987 26 January – 2 March Mondays 9.00pm
Writers: Tony Millan, Mike Walling / Producer/Director: David Askey
Sitcom. Following an EEC regulation all ‘short’ people are forced to live in ghettos south of the River Thames. The series proved to be highly controversial because of its subject matter and came in for a barrage of complaints.
Howard………………………………………. CHRISTOPHER RYAN
Roy Pink……………………………………. MIKE ELLES
Fred………………………………………….. DICKIE ARNOLD
Lily…………………………………………… CHRISTINE OZANNE
George………………………………………. DAVID SIMEON
Heather……………………………………… JOAN BLACKHAM
Sid……………………………………………. BIG MICK
Mr Motokura……………………………….. TETSU NISHINO
Mrs Motokura……………………………… SAYO INABA

THE SMOKING ROOM

BBC2 / 8x30m / started 2 November 2004
Writer: Brian Dooley / Director: Gareth Carrivick / Producer: Pete Thornton

Comedy set entirely in the room in an office set aside for employees to take a cigarette break in which they discus trivia and gossip.

With:- ROBERT WEBB as Robin / FRASER AYERS as Clint / NADINE MARSHALL as Sally / DEBBIE CHAZEN as Annie / SELINA GRIFFITHS as Janet / PAULA WILCOX as Lillian / JEREMY SWIFT as Barry / LESLIE SCHOFIELD as Len / SIOBHAN REDMOND as Sharon / SUNETRA SARKER as Monique

SNAKES AND LADDERS

Channel 4/Yorkshire TV / 7×30 minute episodes / 1989 17 October – 28 November Tuesdays 10.00pm
Writers: Laurence Marks, Maurice Gran / Executive Producer: Vernon Lawrence / Producer/Director: Baz taylor
Fantasy/scifi sitcom. In 1999 Britain has a north/south divide, with the South being idyllic, the North impoverished with food rationing. A computer error leads to Scotsman Gavin Sinclair accidentally changing places with Giles, one of the wealthiest men in the country.
Gavin Sinclair……………………………….. JOHN GORDON – SINCLAIR
Giles………………………………………….. ADRIAN EDMONDSON
Mr Haverty…………………………………… CHRISTOPHER GODWIN
Mr Pym………………………………………. RON DONACHIE
Gavin’s Mum………………………………… JUNE WATSON
Gavin’s Dad…………………………………. PHIL McCALL
Mr Lambie…………………………………… ROGER SLOMAN
Serena……………………………………….. LYNSEY BAXTER
Lord Tewkesbury………………………….. ED DEVEREAUX
Donald………………………………………. TONY MEYER
Robbie………………………………………. STEVEN O’DONNELL
Ronald………………………………………. DAVID MEYER

SOB SISTERS

Central / 7×30 minute episodes / 1989 26 May – 7 July Fridays 8.30pm
Writer: Andrew Marshall / Producer: Christopher Walker / Executive Producer: Mike Holgate / Director: Ray Butt
Sitcom. Two sisters are forced to share a flat when the husband of one dies.
Liz……………………………………………….. GWEN TAYLOR
Dorothy…………………………………………. POLLY ADAMS
Leo………………………………………………. FREDDIE JONES
Charlie………………………………………….. PHILIP BIRD
Edna……………………………………………. BERYL COOKE

A SOFT TOUCH

ATV / 6×30 minute episodes / 1978 31 July – 18 September Mondays 8.00pm
Writer: Connor Fraser / Producer/Director: Les Chatfield
Sitcom. Alison Holmes tries to keep her dreaming unemployed husband’s feet on the ground.
Alison Holmes……………………………. MAUREEN LIPMAN
Jack Holmes………………………………. JOHN FLANAGAN

SO HAUNT ME

BBC1-CV / 19×30 minute episodes / 1992-94 3 Seasons + 1 special
Writer: Paul A. Mendelson / Producers: Caroline Gold, Sharon Bloom
Sitcom. When the Rokeby family move into their new home they are rather surprised to discover that it is haunted by Jewish Yetta Feldman, the previous owner.
Sally Rokeby……………………………… TESSA PEAKE-JONES
Pete Rokeby……………………………… GEORGE COSTIGAN
Yetta Feldman……………………………. MIRIAM KARLIN
David Rokeby…………………………….. JEREMY GREEN
Tammy Rokeby(1)………………………. LAURA SIMMONS
Tammy Rokeby(2)………………………. LAURA HOWARD
Caroline Dawlish………………………… JULIA DEAKIN

SOLO

BBC / 13×30 minute episodes / 1981-82
Writer: Carla Lane / Producer: Gareth Gwenlan
Sitcom. Gemma Palmer finishes with her unfaithful boyfriend and determines to stay single.
With:- FELICITY KENDAL as Gemma Palmer / ELSPET GRAY as Mrs Palmer / STEPHEN MOORE as Danny / MICHAEL HOWE as Sebastian / SUSAN BISHOP as Gloria

SOME MOTHERS DO ‘AVE ‘EM

BBC1 / 19×30 minute episodes 3×50 minute episodes / 1973-75 3 Seasons + 3 specials
Writers: Raymond Allen / Producers: Michael Mills, Sydney Lotterby
Sitcom. Exploits of the disaster zone known as Frank Spencer, a naive married man who breaks everything he touches and causes chaos wherever he goes. Crawford was famous for performing his own stunts on the show of which their many the best one probably when he almost succeeds in driving the family car off of a cliff whilst on a picnic.
Frank Spencer……………………………. MICHAEL CRAWFORD
Betty Spencer……………………………. MICHELE DOTRICE

SOMETIME NEVER

Meridian-Witzend / 7×30 minute episodes / 1997
Writer: Jenny Le Coat / Script Editor: Paul Makin / Producer: Jamie Rix
Sitcom. Episodes in the lives of two thirtysomething female best friends. A pilot was broadcast 17 July 1995.
Max…………………………………………….. SARA CROWE
Bernice………………………………………… ANN BRYSON
Louise…………………………………………. LUCINDA FISHER
Williams………………………………………. SEAN CARNEGIE
Kev…………………………………………….. JOHN HODGKINSON
Ian……………………………………………… HARRY BURTON

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