Hi – De – Hi,  was inspired by Jimmy Perry’s experiences as a Butlins Red Coat, a job he had during the holiday season after being de-mobbed from the army.

A huge success in it’s time, the series gained regular large audiences winning a BAFTA in 1984 for best comedy series. Coming 40th in the BBC poll to find Britain’s best sitcom, the series also polled number 35 in a 2008 Channel 4 poll to find Britain’s best comedy catchphrase for “Hi-De-Hi!”

After a pilot broadcast on 1 January 1980, the program ran for nine series totaling 58 episodes between 26 February 1981 and 30 January 1988. Due to the program’s popularity, the BBC decided to air series 3 and 4 back-to-back, the only time the BBC has ever done this with one of their own (first run) shows, which means some sources refer to both series as series 3.  The series took a break in 1985 with only a Christmas Special, returning to it’s regular run in 1986.

Summary

Set in the 1950′s at the fictional Maplin’s holiday camp, the series followed the lives of the camp’s management and entertainers, most of them struggling actors or has-beens.   From Peggy’s burning ambition to become a Yellow coat, Spike’s attempts to become a top class comic, to Ted’s scheming and scamming of both management and campers .  Then there was Gladys’ amorous advances towards Jeffrey Fairbrother (to no avail) and later to Clive Dempster (with a little more success).   Not forgetting Mr Partridge the Children’s Entertainer who hated “kids”.   Happy days !

Clips

Cast
Paul Shane
Jeffrey Holland
Ruth Madoc
Simon Cadell
Su Pollard
Felix Bowness
Diane Holland
Barry Howard
Leslie Dwyer
Felix Bowness
David Griffin
Nikki Kelly

Details

Channel: BBC1
Written and Created by: Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Executive Producer: David Croft
Original Transmission Dates: 1st January 1980 – 30th January 1988

Spin Offs

In the early years of the show, a musical entitled He-De-Hi the holiday musical was produced. Labelled as a “summer pantomime” by its critics, the production featured most of the TV cast plus several new characters. It did not follow the television storylines, but it was a success nonetheless. It did a summer season in Bournmouth in 1983, a Christmas season in London in 1983 and a summer season in Blackpool in 1984. It was short lived, however, when some of the cast complained that filming the TV series and doing the summer show limited their offers of acting jobs elsewhere.

At the height of its popularity, the BBC had plans to make it into a feature film, but nothing ever came of it.

In August 2009, a Hi-de-Hi! stage show toured.

Merchandising

Links

Wikipedia :: IMDB (Rated 7.6)

Reading a newspaper article recently about Amanda Redman leaving New Tricks got me thinking, what was that sitcom I could remember her in, after a lot of research I found it so here we go with Streets Apart.

Streets Apart is one of those many forgotten sitcoms, but this time from the BBC.  It starred Amanda Redman and ran for two series in 1988 and 1989, twenty four episodes in total.

Summary

Sylvie and Bernie, are two childhood sweethearts whose paths have taken very different routes.  When they reunite by accident and neither is entirely truthful about what happened in between.

Clips

Here’s Episode 1

Cast

James Hazeldine  – Bernie
Amanda Redman  -  Sylvia
June Barry  – Jenny
Diane Langton – Renee
Edna Doré  – Gran
Lesley Duff – Lyn
Annie Bruce  – Donna

Details

Channel: BBC1
Written By: Adrienne Conway
Produced and Directed By: Sue Bysh
Original Transmission Dates: 24th October 1988 – 9th October 1989

Merchandising

We are not aware of any DVD releases

Running for six thirty minute episodes over just one series this was Brian Wilde’s first TV outing since his departure from Last Of The Summer Wine.  The series was created and produced by another long serving Summer Wine associate Alan J.W. Bell.  It was during filming Wyatt’s Watchdogs that Wilde and Bell ended a three year feud which in turn lead to Wilde returning as Foggy in Last Of The Summer Wine.

Also starring in this comedy was Trevor Bannister who would join Last Of The Summer Wine in it’s final years, after Brian Wide’s departure.

Summary

Set in the fictional commuter village of Bradly Bush although actually it was actually filmed on location in Claygate, Surrey, England.

Retired soldier Major John Wyatt  is spurred into action after his sister Edwina’s home is burgled in broad daylight. Ignoring correct police procedures, he forms his own Neighbourhood Watch group of incompetents and patrols the streets in his Range Rover known locally as the ‘Dogmobile’. The Watch members are a hopeless bunch drawn together to fight crime, and bungling and personality clashes are highly evident.  Major Wyatt clashes worst of all with Peter Pitt, a smooth-talking womaniser and burglar-alarm salesman. He only has one thing in mind – to flog his alarms and meet women! Other regular characters include the glamorous man-eater Virginia (April Walker), an interfering Vicar, and a frustrated police sergeant, Springer.

Clips

Cast

Brian Wilde
Trevor Bannister
Anne Ridler
April Walker
David Jackson
James Warrior
Tom Radcliffe

Details

Channel: BBC1
Created By: Alan J.W. Bell and Miles Tredinnick
Written By: Miles Tredinnick
Produced and Directed By: Alan J.W. Bell
Original Transmission Dates: 17th October – 21st November 1988

Merchandising

There are no current DVD releases for Wyatt’s Watchdogs

Posted this week as part of our tribute to the comedy that came out of BBC’s Television Centre, but also in tribute to Frank Thornton who sadly passed away last week, we’ll come back to Frank Thornton at a later date with a planned look back at Last Of The Summer Wine.  It’s sad when you look down at the cast list that Nicholas Smith is now the only surviving cast member to have appeared in every episode.

Britain’s favourite Department Store Comedy – Are You Being Served, started life as part of the BBC’s Comedy Playhouse.

Set in the men’s and women’s departments of the fictional Grace Brothers Department Store, Are You Being Served ran for 69 episodes and ten series from 1972 to 1985.

The idea for the show came from Jeremy Lloyd’s brief period working at Simpsons of Piccadilly in the early 1950s.

Over the twelve year run only John Inman, Frank Thornton, Nicholas Smith, Mollie Sugden and Wendy Richards were the only cast members to star in every episode. Are You Being Served was voted 20^th in a BBC poll to find Britain’s best sitcom.

Summary

The show followed the day to day comings and goings of the staff of the men’s and women’s departments of Grace Brothers. The humour came from sexual innuendo, misunderstandings, mistaken identity and occasional slapstick. In addition, there were sight gags generated by outrageous costumes which the characters were sometimes required to wear for store promotions, and gaudy store displays frequently featuring malfunctioning robotic mannequins. The show is remembered for its prolific use of double entendres.

The British Class System also played a large part in the humour, with it’s merciless parody of the system. This got into almost every interaction and was especially evident in the conversations between the maintenance men and the higher-class store personnel. Episodes rarely left the store, and to parody the stereotype of the British class system, characters rarely addressed each other by their given names, even after work. When they did, it was almost always for a comical effect.

Clips

http://youtu.be/X5yghL1_Uq4

http://youtu.be/wQE7UU_JkPY

Cast

Mr Humphries – John Inman
Mr Lucas – Trevor Bannister
Mr Grainger – Arthur Brough
Captain Peacock – Frank Thornton
Mrs Slocombe – Mollie Sugden
Miss Brahms – Wendy Richard
Mr Rumbold – Nicholas Smith
Young Mr Grace – Harold Bennett

This cast stayed the same for the first five series after which new characters came and went.  The first to leave was Arthur Brough, he had a number of replacements for his position as head of department.  They were:

Mr Tebbs – James Hayter- series 6 and the 1978 special
Mr Goldberg – Alfie Bass – series 7 – the 1979 special
Mr Grossman – Milo Sperber – series 8 episodes 1 – 4
Mr Klein – Benny Lee – series 8 episodes 5 -7 and the 1981 special

Mr Humphries got the job in the final series.  Other characters that appeared in the later series were:

Old Mr Grace – Kenneth Waller – series 8 and 1981 special
Mr Spooner (he replaced the Mr Lucas Character) – Mike Berry – series 8 -10

Details

Channel: BBC1
Created By: Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft
Written By: Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft
with contributions from Michael Knowles and John Chapman
Original Transmission: 8 September 1972 – 1 April 1985

Spin Offs

As with many 1970′s comedies there was a movie made in 1977.  A sequel series, penned by the same writers and featuring several members of the original cast – Grace and Favour ran for two series in 1992 and 1993.

Merchandising

Voted in the top two of a Radio Times Poll of the funniest comedy moments and rightly so.  Of all the sitcoms Fools And Horses continues to be popular and this sequence from the episode “Yuppy Love” is perhaps the best loved alongside perhaps the Batman and Robin incident.

Summary

It’s 1989 and the first full series of Only Fools And Horses since 1986.  Del is still wheeling and dealing, but now he’s caught Yuppie fever.  The coat, the braces and a visit to a trendy wine bar.

Whilst enjoying a drink with Trigger, Del is explaining the finer points of how to attract women of the modern age.  Talk about money he tells Trigger, who replies “i saw one of them old five pound notes the other day”.

As Del stands up from the bar to limber up….well the rest is comedy gold.

Clip

Starring

David Jason
Roger Lloyd Pack

Details

Channel: BBC1
Written By: John Sullivan
Original Transmission Date: 8th January 1989

Crackerjack was the long running kids TV Comedy/variety show that ran for a mammoth 29 years and over 400 shows.  probably best known for it’s famous prize game Double or Drop and it’s comic sketches courtesy of Peter Glaze and co.  It is of course the comedy that takes our interest and there were many famous names from comedy over the years, Ronnie Corbett, Peter Glaze, to name but a few.

The show would be recorded on a Tuesday at BBC’s Shepherd Bush studios and broadcast at five minutes to five on a Friday.

Summary

During it’s peak years which were the 1970′s, the format of the programme included competitive games for teams of children, a music spot, a comedy double act, and a finale in which the cast performs a short comic play, adapting popular songs of the day and incorporating them into the action.

In the early years 1955 – 1963 Ronnie Corbett and Leslie Crowther had separate stand-up routines. Jo Baker & Jack Douglas also had similar roles when the show started, as well as the Balloon Man, making all sorts of things from balloons.

Peter Glaze joined in 1960 forming a double act with Leslie Crowther who took over hosting duties in 1964.   Perhaps the best known Crackerjack comics were Peter Glaze and Don MacClean who performed together until 1978 when Bernie Clifton (and his Ostrich) took over from Don.

During their time, one of the highlights of the show was a comedy short entitled “Don and Pete”, this being Don Maclean and Peter Glaze in a silent comedy style section lasting maybe five minutes (these later made it to their own spot on BBC Childrens’ TV). Shows have them fishing, as sweepers, barbers, at a riding school, on a building site, on a farm, at a circus, window cleaners, bellboys, removals, etc.

Amid falling ratings in the late 70′s Ed Stewart left the show.  It was given a makeover and new presenters Stu Francis and Sally Ann Triplett took over in 1980 with the comedy now being provided by the Krankies.  The show came to an end in 1984.

Presenters

Eamonn Andrews 1955 -1964
Leslie Crowther 1964 -1968
Michael Aspel 1968 – 1974
Ed Stewart 1975 – 1979
Stu Francis 1980 – 1984

Comedy from:(Dates Included Where Known)

Peter Glaze – 1960 – 1980
Don MacClean  no start date found quit in 1978
Bernie Clifton – 1978 – 1980
Ronnie Corbett – 1955 – 1963
Little and Large – one series during early seventies
Basil Brush
The Krankies – 1980 – 1984
Geoffrey Durham (The Great Soprendo) – 1980 -1984

Details

Created By: BBC Producer John Downes
Channel: BBC1
Original Transmission: 14 September 1955 – 21 December 1984

Clips

Ever Decreasing Circles was the BBC sitcom that reunited Richard Briers with John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, with whom he had previously worked on The Good Life.  Running for 27 episodes over 4 years Ever Decreasing Circles was must see Sunday Night TV.
It was felt that Ever Decreasing Circles was  much less brash than most sitcoms, even bordering on Comedy Drama in parts.  This darker style comedy would continue into Richard Briers later projects.

Summary
Martin Bryce is an obsessive middle-aged man who is at the centre of his local suburban community.  Married to Ann, he has a settled, orderly lifestyle.  That is until he encounters their new next-door neighbour, ex-British Army officer and Cambridge Blue, Paul Ryman.  In the words of Martin Paul is a “couldn’t care less, come on life….. amuse me, merchant”.
Paul does try to join in with the activities of Martin and his friends, but his fresh thinking causes Martin to see him as a rival, who might want to “take over” Martin’s self-appointed role as organiser.
Martin’s obsession with order and stability also leads him to get upset at Paul’s minor changes to routine, such as sitting at a different table in the local pub. A running joke throughout the four series is Martin’s insistence that the telephone receiver be placed a particular way on the cradle (this being an old-style telephone, where the receiver could go either way). Paul runs his own business, a hair salon, and later, a health studio.

Clips

Cast
Richard Briers (Martin)
Penelope Wilton (Ann)
Peter Egan (Paul)
Stanley Lebor (Howard)
Geraldine Newman (Hilda)

Details
Channel: BBC1
Written By: John Esmonde and Bob Larbey
Producer(s): Sydney Lotterby and Harold Snoad
Original Transmission: 29th January 1984 – 24th December 1989

Merchandising

Running for 56 episodes over 8 series It Ain’t Half Hot Mum was the BBC sitcom centering around the Royal Artillery Concert Party. Set in British India and Burma towards the end of the Second World War.

Summary

The first four series were set at the Royal Artillery Depot Deolali, a place where British soldiers stayed before being posted up the jungle. The Royal Artillery Concert Party, consisting of several soldiers who would rather sing, dance and dress up as women than fight, are stationed permanently in Deolali to keep the troops entertained. In the first episode of the fifth series, the concert party are posted up the jungle, and from then on It Ain’t Half Hot Mum is set in Tin Min, Burmha close to the front line.

Clips

Cast
Michael Bates
Windsor Davies
Melvyn Hayes
George Layton
Don Estelle
Donald Hewlett
Michael Knowles
Christopher Mitchell
John Clegg
Stuart McGugan
Kenneth MacDonald
Mike Kinsey

Details

Written By: Jimmy Perry and David Croft
Produced By: David Croft and Graeme Muir
Directed By: David Croft, Graeme Muir, Bob Spiers, Ray Butt, Paul Bishop, John Kilby
Original Transmission Dates: 3rd January 1974 – 3rd September 1981

Merchandising

The Goodies combined surreal sketches with situation comedy and was a TV hit for twelve years.  Running for 74 episodes over nine series, broadcast on the BBC between 1970 and 1977.  Returning in 1980 for one last series on the BBC, before making it’s final appearance for LWT on the ITV network.

Summary:

The’ basic idea revolved around the trio of Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie and Graham Garden, always short of money, offering themselves for hire — with the tagline “We Do Anything, Anytime” — to perform all sorts of ridiculous but generally benevolent tasks. Under this loose pretext, the show explored all sorts of madcap scenarios for comedy potential. Many episodes parodied current events of the time.  There was also the occasional Monty Python send up.

Clips

Sing Along Time !

Cast

Tim Brooke-Taylor
Bill Oddie
Graham Garden

Details

Channel: BBC2 (1970 – 1981), ITV (1981 – 1982)
Written By:
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Bill Oddie
Graham Garden
Original Transmission Dates: 8th November 1970 – 13th February 1982

Missing Episodes:

Kitten Kong (episode seven from season two) is the only Goodie episode that is officially missing from BBC archives. However an expanded  version of the episode called ‘Kitten Kong: Montreux ’72 Edition’ especially made for 1972 Montreux festival does exist believed to  have only minor differences with its 1971 prototype. The Goodies were awarded the Silver Rose, at the 1972 Montreux festival for this special episode.  Several other episodes that were originally screened in colour only exist as black and white telerecording made for overseas sales.

Merchandising

Readers of a certain age will remember this kids comedy series with varying fondness.  Rentaghost was the long running kids TV Comedy that perhaps ran for too long and towards the end of it’s run got a little too silly as opposed to being funny.  It featured some well known faces (Anthony Jackson who starred alongside Sid James in Bless This House and Sue Nicholls who would later find fame as Audrey in Coronation Street)

Summary

The show’s plot centred on the antics of a number of Ghosts who work for a firm called Rentaghost, which rents out the ghosts for various tasks.  The company, is run by Fred Mumford, a recently deceased loser who feels he can find work for ghosts whose lives were as failed as his. His first (and only) recruits are Timothy Claypole, a mischievous Jester with a comical lack of knowledge about modern technology, and Hubert Davenport, a delicate Victorian gentleman who is morally shocked by the modern world. The ghosts work from an office which they rent from Harold Meaker, who discovers the truth about them in the 3rd episode.
When actor Michael Derbyshire (who played the role of Davenport) died in 1979, Anthony Jackson (Mumford) declined to appear in the next series, leaving Michael Staniforth’s Claypole the sole original ghost; Davenport and Mumford’s absences were explained at the start of the series by them having acquired permanent haunting jobs at a stately home. After Mumford’s departure, the business was taken over by Harold Meaker and his wife Ethel, who suffered from the various problems the ghosts brought to their lives.
The series was never really the same after as it lost it’s comic edge, descending into farce and anarchy as over the remaining series other characters were added: Hazel the McWitch, a Scottish Witch; Nadia Popov, a Dutch ghost who suffers from hayfever and  disappears when she sneezes; and the pantomime horse Dobbin, who first appears in a one-off Christmas special called “Rentasanta” and is brought to life by Claypole, who is unable to cancel the spell afterwards – thus allowing Dobbin to remain in the show for the rest of the run.  Another key figure is  Catastrophe Kate, played by Jana Shelden, who is collected from outside a magic carpet shop in the Spirit World by Fred Mumford. The two ghosts are transported back to Earth on a flying broomstick, Catastrophe Kate having turned down the alternative of a flying vacuum cleaner. It is Catastrophe Kate who later introduces Hazel the McWitch to the regulars.  Adam Painting, a local entrepreneur played by Christopher Biggins, frequently appears in episodes and tries, with limited success, to involve the ghosts in his latest business enterprise.

Clips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1496XK9sfQ

Cast

Fred Mumford – Anthony Jackson
Timothy Claypole – Michael Stainforth
Hughbert Davenport – Michael Derbyshire
Harold Meaker – Edward Brayshaw
Hazel  the Mc Witch – Molly Weir
Nadia Popov – Sue Nicholls
Dobin (the pantomime horse) – William Perrie and John Asquith

Details
Written By: Bob Block
Channel: BBC1
Original Run: 6 January 1976 and 11 June 1984.

Merchandising
Because of clearance issues only series 1  was ever released on DVD by Network DVD, now deleted new and used copies can be found on Amazon.