Don’t Wait Up (BBC-1 1983-1990, Nigel Havers, Tony Britton)

Don’t Wait Up is one of those very popular sitcoms of the 1980’s that probably isn’t as well remembered as it should be. The series was written by the actor George Layton (who had been appearing for years in the Doctor series and played shifty mechanic Des in Minder) and starred the debonair duo of Nigel Havers and Tony Britton as a pair of father and son doctors who move in together after they both end up going through a divorce.

Havers is Dr Tom Latimer, a GP whose marriage to Helen has broken down in some acrimony, unfortunately his practice is attached to his old family home, cue the bricking up of doors and lots of privacy jokes; Britton is well to do Harley Street skin specialist Dr Toby Latimer whose own 30 year marriage to Angela (played by the lovely Dinah Sheridan) has hit a rocky patch. Toby moves in with Tom and before you can say Odd Couple the two are disagreeing on absolutely everything.

The show was Haver’s sitcom debut after his starring role in major hit movie Chariot’s of Fire and Layton knew all about the dramas of divorce having just been through one himself.

The character of Dr Charles Cartwright was played in the first two seasons by Richard Heffer before being taken over by Simon Williams.

production details
UK / BBC One / 39×30 minute episodes / 25 October 1983 – 25 March 1990 six seasons

Writer: George Layton / Producer: Harold Snoad

cast
NIGEL HAVERS as Dr Tom Latimer
TONY BRITTON as Dr Toby Latimer
JANE HOW as Helen Latimer
DINAH SHERIDAN as Angela Latimer
SUSAN SKIPPER as Madlaine Forbes
RICHARD HEFFER as Dr Charles Cartwright (seasons 1-2)
SIMON WILLIAMS as Dr Charles Cartwright (seasons 3-6)
JANE BOOKER as Felicity Spicer-Gibbs

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