Create your own classic comedy shows.

[Glebe]

Only a 2007 pilot episode (now getting a controversial DVD release) of The Two Rodney's was ever assembled, an attempt to cash in on nostalgia for two classic comedy series. Contractually, Only Fools And Horses' Nicholas Lyndhurst could have no say in the matter of the BBC digitally imposing his image on some classic Two Ronnies sketches, with one Ronnie now bearing the face of the young, lefty rebellious Rodney, and the other portraying the mature, more business-like (yet still retaining an interest in the environment) Rodney of later OFAH episodes. Lyndhurst's OFAH co-star and Ronnie Barker pal David Jason was up in arms about the production, and it never went ahead. Plans for a 'redux' Ronnies OFAH were quickly rethought. Only Fork Handles And Those Who Pisspronounce Their Worms has now been shelved.



Infuriated by the new 'alternative' comdians such as Bobby Davro and Brian Connolly taking over the TV schedules, Max Bygraves and Stan Boardman got together to produce Bygraves & Boardman Go Bananas (1992). Described as 'The Flying Circus meets Dada via a Daliesque daliance!', the show featured plenty of sing-a-longa-Max and outrageous gags about 'Deh mother-in-law' from Boardman. The incorrigible pair were joined by a veritable cornucopia of entertainment's finest, including Frank Carson, Tom O' Connor, Roger Whittaker, Norman Collier, Mick 'I went into the butcher's the other day' Miller, Roy Walker, Jim Bowen, Bernard Manning, Des O' Connor, Jim Davidson, Freddy Starr, Val Doonican and a very special show with Tom Jones. It only lasted one series, but is thought to be a huge influence on the likes of Little Britian and The Mighty Boosh.

[wherearethespoons]

I love The Two Rodney's. A great idea.

I forgot to mention, Dirty Desmond's features some serious sofa scratching!!!

Sorry.

[Glebe]

Thanks Spoons. Sofa scratching noted! And I forgot to mention that Weekenders featured a memorable score by 808 State!



Wait Up For The Rooster! (1986-1987) starred Winsor Davies (and other people who weren't so famous) as Roger Pillington, lumbered with his son Mike after the break up of his marriage to Dorothy ("Bane of m'life!"). It looks like Mike will never fly the coop, and Dorothy still pops in to see that the two haven't murdered each other! But despite all the bickering and harsh words-and the fact that Mike breaks something everytime he visits Dad's antiques shop!-the two usually make up, usually with a manly handshake, and on the rare occasion even a hug! In fact, there were several touching moments in the series, not least the memorable scene were Roger saves his soon from smoking a marijuana cigarette.

[madhair60]

"The Gleat Blitish Fly-up" (1986) was not exactly a huge success on its original LWT airing, but picked up a small cult audience on the MEGG (Megalomaniacal Egg, Guns and Gardens) network in the USA.

The show depicted the wacky adventures of a catering company staffed entirely by DC Comics' 1950s communist-egg-the-size-of-a-house Egg Fu, and character comedienne Su Pollard.  Plots would frequently centre on the difficulties of arranging transport for a 4'11" Mancunian woman and an egg quite literally the size of a house.

Episode titles:

"The Man From E.G.G"
"Devil Egg"
"Gigantic Egg!!  Cook me a scranner!! YEAR 3000!"
"Poor Old Reg"
"Su Pollard Has Sex With An Egg"
"Divided We Egg"

Special features:  Interview with Chang Tzu, archive trailers for the show, 3 episodes of Hi-De-Hi for some reason, 32-page booklet with essays by Kim Newman and Andrew Pixley, 16mm film of eggs accompanied by gallery music from Vision On, chapter selection, audio commentary from Burt Kwouk, special easter egg: 12 minutes of "The Face of Fu Manchu" with Kinder Egg superimposed over Christopher Lee's face.

[Glebe]

Tommy & Janice (1978-1986) was another in a long line of domestic sitcoms that fell by the wayside. The titular pair lived in the quite suburb of Humpstead-where life was rarely quite! Tommy was always looking forward to a promotion, while poor Janice was always trying to keep her husband from getting into trouble with another crazy scheme, whether it be trying to build a submarine in the back garden (in the classic episode "Up Periscope!") or trying to photograph a rare bird ("Blue tits?"). Thanks to Tommy's clumsy enthusiam, he was always getting embroiled in embarrassing social situations and domestic disasters: Falling through deck chairs, attempting to disco dance ("Ooh, me back!"), getting locked out in his underwear, running the company car into a police truck, having a run in with the local punk rockers, getting locked in the carsie at the Christmas do, getting trapped in a haunted sleeping bag ("Jaaniice!!") and finding snails mating in the closet ("crumbs!"). Ronnie Hazlehurst's novel theme tune, employing the use of doorbell 'ding dongs', may have stuck in the heads of many, but the show quickly became old hat, becoming an object of mockery for the new breed of 'alternative' comedians, but it had some pretty hip fans: when it was cancelled, Eric Idle wrote a letter of complaint to the BBC from his home in Barbados or somewhere.



From 1985-87, A Different Class drew in quite an audience, although it now langours in obscurity. Starring Richard Briars as Roger Smigs and Nigel Havers as Jeffrey Bucksmith, it followed the travails of the two neighbours in the plush suburb of Chipsworth. Lowly office worker Roger is fast approaching middle-age, and has had to graft all his life to get on easy street. Meanwhile, young businessman Jeff was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and is next in line to take over "Daddy's company"! When not grumbling about the size of the hedge or Jeff's "wild orgies!", Roger has to put up with Jeff's talke of yachts, Brazilian models and champagne. But the pair usually made up and ended up down the pub. "Pint of real ale and a brandy!"



Two In The Bush With Rod And Rolf! ran from 1976 to 1981, and starred Roll Hull (and Emu, of course!) and Rolf Harris. Every Saturday at 7PM, millions of families gathered around the television set to the familiar opening line: "It's 7:00 in the PM, Oz time....1,2,3...going live by satellite, welcome to the R&R Broadcasting Company! G'day mates!" Under the auspices of broadcasting from Australia, the 'Bush' was in fact Shepard's Bush, with the Blue Peter garden often standing in for the wild outback. When not getting up to all kinds of wacky nonsense in a series of sketches with the supporting cast ('The Boolabong Gang'), Rolf did a bit of painting while making disturbing noises and wore false legs, and Rod presented the weekly 'news' in a series of garish safari suits. Of course, it was left to Emu to steal the show, attacking a variety of celebrity guests including Dame Edna, Roger Whittaker, Alan Wicker, Basil Brush, Ali Bongo, Jimmy Tarbuck, Freddie Starr and The Roly Polys.

[Glebe]

Two soon-to-be-classic 'wryly humourous' travel doc series, coming soon on BBC!



PINGU & FRY'S SOUTH POLE SOJOURN: Once a cult figure on the TV circuit, Pingu has moved on to bigger and better things, joining Stephen Fry on this often-amusing exploration of the Antartic's frozen wastes. Pingu's knowledge of the area plays a vital part in arranging witty and insightful chats with the rather colourful locals, while Stephen is always insisting on stopping "for a nice cup of Twinings tea!" The pair playfully tease each other with their erudite banter, matching McGregor and Boorman at the 'buddies on an adventure' stakes. It's this jocularity that sees them through the endless, grinding agony of sub zero temperatures, and makes for a jovial Twinings-sponsered journey you won't want to miss!



FULL CIRCLE WITH SARAH PALIN: Having failed to become the first female vice-president of the US, Alaskan car crash Sarah Palin sets off on an often-amusing journey, where she goes full circle around the globe, shooting various indangered species and putting her foot in her mouth at every opportunity. The DVD release features an exclusive interview with her namesake and brother Michael in which he talks about the controversy surrounding Life Of Brian.

[Glebe]

Hall & Cheggers* Celebrity Wackabout (1976-83) was a reasonably popular televised field games event where reasonably popular celebrities competed in a series of sort-of fun events. Hosted by Stuart 'LSD' Hall and Chegger's Party Quiz/Polanski's MacBeth star Keith Chegwin, it starred a vast array of reasonably popular sort-of celebrities such as Disney's Jimmy Cricket, Janette Krankie, Limahl and Ian 'Fan-Dabi-Dozi' Tough. Cricket doing his 'come here, there's more' routine in a silly animal suit had the easily-amused Hall in stitches, while Limahl proved he wasn't 'Too Shy' to win the gold! Cheggers would often fit in his run down of the top pops while Hall caught his breath after a particularly bad paroxym. The Belgian version, Les Comedies Du Knockaboutes! was also hosted by Hall-it was a nice little earner for him, and it's probably safe to say he laughed all the way to the bank!

*Not 'Cheegers'. Sorry.



One of the most controversial series ever broadcast, Channel 4's Bushell's Rivers Of Blood (1983) was apparently commissioned (to much protest) during Jim Davidson's short-lived tenure as Head Of Controversial Programming. Starring Garry Bushell and his legion of impressionable young nazi skinheads, the show featured Bushell and gang disposing of 'suspected' immigrants by kicking them over The White Cliffs Of Dover with their bover boots. At the end of each show, Bushell and his gang of underage white supremacists would repair to the Bulldog And Panzer for a round of pints, pie and mash, a bit of a sing song and a couple of skinhead dolly birds!



Following a successful run with his own comedy series and as host of Blankety Blank, the late Les Dawson finished of his career with Dawson' Creek (1990). The show featured a large region of Manchester's exotic swampland, deposited in a tank in front of a studio audience. The premise of the show had Dawson canoe in and 'discover' various celebrity guests in the murky reeds and undergrowth, who would then join him for fun, chat and song. Dawson would often pretend he couldn't steer his both, much to the audiences amusement (in fact, he was an expert canoeist, and received instruction from celebrated boatsman Victor Borge). Dawson dance troupe The Roly Polys appeared from time to time ("Ooh look, hippos!"), but among the many visiting guests who popped out of the thick Lancastrian undergrowth where The Chuckle Brothers (who were hidden in a particularly dense bush), Cannon & Ball (who's experience along Dawson' misty, weed-strewn shore stood them in good stead for the wilds of I'm A Celebrity), fellow Blankety hosts Lily Savage and Terry Wogan (who brought along showbiz collegue Pudsy as straightman) and on the memorable Christmas show, Dawson's old chum Roy Barraclough, who said he'd been having problems with his you-know-what while shifting his bosom. The inevitable US remake was a letdown, retaining only the show's name and eye-catching logo.

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Bruce & Frederick Forsyth's Foresight (2006) was a one-off series featuring old showbiz trouper Bruce, and thriller author Frederick-both unrelated Forsyths-and their 'foresights' of the future. Before a live studio audience, various predictions were made, such as a possible return of Brucie's Play Your Cards Right and Generation Game, what the cards may hold and what the conveyer belt may reveal ("A Soda Stream! A Fluffy Toy!") and what politcal leader may be targeted by a shadowy assassin. Brucie's catchphrases "Will it be higher or lower?", "Won't he do well?" and "I predict it'll be a good game, good game" became part of the culture, with people doing their own speculation as to what old chestnuts Brucie would put into future-tense on the next episode. The enigmatic Frederick often sat quietly in the corner, perhaps pondering like a brooding Nostradamus or coming up with plots for his future novels. Of course, the whole thing was played for laughs, but there were some spooky occurances-on the last show, Frederick piped up cryptically "I predict the arrival of the cyclops!" All of a sudden, a late audience member took his seat-a man with a glass eye!



Russell Brand's Graceland (2007) was an off-shoot of Brand's regular C4 show, taking the controversy-courting comic out of the confines of the London studio and placing him in the grounds of Elvis Presley's former home. Brand added to the flavour of the show by slipping in an occasional 'Uh-huh' between his off-the-wall observations, and would end each show with a theatrical flourish and a "Thanky'ver'mush". They show only lasted for one series, however, thanks to an event which brought a record number of complaints from Tennessee Mail readers. Brand's manager Colonel Jonathan Parker Ross made a guest appearance on an infamous episode in which he urged Brand to gyrate his hips in a flamboyant, sexually provactive manner. The event proved a huge strain on Brand, and he almost died on the toilet full of drugs and burgers.



Tired of the quiet Yorkshire dales, saying "Polo-the mint with the hole" and shouting "No, Gromit, no!", Peter Sallis needed a break and the BBC provided it, by joining with HBO to create Last Of The Summer Wine off-shoot Clegg's Cornucopia (2003). Sallis' Wine character Norman 'Cleggy' Clegg found himself upping sticks and moving to New York to set up his own health food store-but watch out Big Apple! Doning apron and presenting a good selection of healthy seeds and soyas, Cleggy's hilarious antics behind the counter at the Cornucopia had everyone from disturbed taxi drivers, old Irish cops and the mafia in uproarious turmoil! Cleggy's old LOTSW pal Truly (Cap. Frank Thorton) popped in once or twice just to remind UK audiences that Summer Wine wasn't finished-in fact, concerned about the popularity of the show among the home audience, the BBC stipulated that Clegg should say his name after every single word of his dialogue in the script. This made the character a headache to listen to, and the show bombed drastically. Sallis returned to Britain shame-faced with head in hands, a gaggle of paparazzi awaiting him in the Yorkshire Dales airport.

[Glebe]

Your Bloomin' Generation! (1969-74) starred Cherie Blair's Dad Anthony as Gary Muggins, Una Stubbs as sister Sally, James Mason as Uncle Toby and Dandy Nichols as Granny Muggins. Gary is always raising Uncle Toby's hackles with his wild hippy ways, while Sally-whom Uncle has an unhealthy fondness for ("Hey there, Sally girl!")-just wants to sew teddy bears! Granny sat in the background saying nothing. Featured a theme tune by pop moptop LuLu probabaly.



Fancy Free (1969-71) was written by Carla Lane (Brass Eye) and starred Nerys Hughes as Marla Kippers, a young liverpool nurse having love troubles with boyfriend 'Randy' Reggie (Robin Askwith). Marla's brother Ned (James Bolam) and Reggie don't get on, leading to all sorts of infractions, but Dad (Bill Owen) insists on stirring things up even more by complaining about Marla's goings on ("Women's Lib? Save the bleedin' animals?"). The controversial episode 'And Baby Goes A Bunting' caused a stir when it was first shown, with it's suggestions of back-street abortion and single motherhood. Mary Whitehouse reputedly sent Carla Lane a horse's head in protest. Featured a theme tune sung by Cilla Black.



Dear Landlord! (1974-75) was a much-loved sitcom set in a rundown apartment building. Ralph Bates played put-upon landlord Roy Bladders, with a host of tenents to put up with. Leonard Rossiter here takes a break from playing a landlord in Rising Damp, as Tony Perrin-a nod to Rising Damp, in which he did play a landlord-as the viewers were constantly reminded with "My brother's a landlord....oh no, I'm not a landlord!!", and constantly complains about the 'rising damp'. Fulton MacKay played Mr. Smeggins, the dodgy perv upstairs, while carefree batchelor Mr. Smyth-Higgins (Ronnie Barker) was always coming in drunk and proposing to Mrs. Sneadles (Wendy Craig) upstairs, who is secretly in love with Mr. Bladders. Meanwhile Brian Wilde played Mr. Hargreaves, the 'apartment warden', who was always keeping an eye on things ("I'm enquiring as to the whereabouts of a kettle!"). The classic episode 'Murder Most Foul' has Mr. Hargreaves atempting to arrest Mr. Smeggins on suspicion of murder-until he discovers it's not a dead body but a blow-up sex doll under the bed!



Chokey (1974-78) featured an all-star cast, and was set in Worthingdale prison, where life means life-and oh boy, this is the life! For while prison head Mr. Harley (Peter Vaughan) tries to keep a tight rein, the lads will have their way! Billy Connolly played Hamish McTavish, who was always ready to perform his latest prison protest song, and who takes young Billy Keckins (the silly nazi in Allo Allo) under his 'prison' wing-while Bernard Hill played Knives O' Houlihan, convicted murderer and-amusingly!-flower arranger. Meanwhile, Clive Dunn played the prison 'grandaddy' Don Hovis, a viscious mob boss who manages to run drug and prostitution rings from the comfort of his own armchair. However, the most laughs were gained from Lord and Lady Twittington (Christopher Biggins and Frances De La Tour), the prison's patrons who-much to Mr. Harley's annoyance-are more than happy to sign a check whenever the boys need a new vintage guitar, flower garden or set of false license plates! There were no classic episodes, but series 2's 'Needle In An 'Aystack!' raised a few mild chuckles.

[Glebe]

After A Bit Of Fry And Laurie finished up, Stephen Fry was still keen to do another series, but erstwhile partner Hugh Laurie was not interested-but Fry's witty way with the English language led to him concocting 1996's A Bit Of Fry And LORRY. Yes, that's LORRY not LAURIE! It's a pun on the name Laurie (which sounds like Lorry!). Instead of his humble counterpart, Fry was accompanied by a large truck, which would respond to his wry observations with a brisk toot of it's horn! Driving up and down the highways and byways of Britain, stopping off for a traditional truckers' 'FRY'-up now and then, the pair got up to all kinds of mischief in the name of off-the-wall college humour. The final episode of the series saw a surprize appearance by Hugh Laurie, popping out of the back of the truck where he had been secreted all along!



After many years on Only Fools And Horses and a varity of unfunny middle-of-the-road comedies, it seemed like there was nothing Nicholas Lyndhurst couldn't do-and so he decided to try his hand at chat, with Lyndhurst & Co. (2000). Although not classic and not strictly a comedy series (or not at all a comedy series) there were plenty of laughs! Lyndhurst settled in to his role as convivial host comfortably enough, and was joined by an extremely small variety of guests for some refreshing light chat, laughter and song. Guests included Uri Geller, Alan Titchmarsh and Daly Thompson, while there was music from the likes of Korn, Slipknot and The Farm. Despite low ratings, it was all going well until an interview with OFAH co-star David Jason, during which the audience shouted "Cosmic!" and "You plonker!" Lyndhurst blamed Jason's appearance for reminding audiences he was OFAH'S Rodney, who's shadow he would never escape. The pair never spoke again, except to record OFAH Christmas specials ("the minute the camera's stopped rolling, there was a frosty silence" the woman who plays Marlene told The Sunday Sport). "If I ever meet him again-outside of recording OFAH specials-I'll wrap his intestines around his throat" commented Lyndhurst via Marlene to The Sunday Sport allegedly.



By the end of the 90's, Noel Edmonds was all washed up. Noel's House Party had run it's course, and so he decided it was time to wheel out another high-quality product, in the form of Noel's Hackneyed Amateurish Mess (2000). The show saw Noel and hysterical, bubbling idiot Mr. Blobby moving from Crinkley Bottom to the confines of Floppy Dinkle, a converted Hackney rank/Amateur theatre company/army 'mess' hall. Celebrities of all shapes and sizes came calling, getting themsleves involved in tiresome skits that wouldn't pass muster at a village fete. The House Party's 'Gotcher Oscar' was replaced by the 'Tricked Yer Bafta', the gunge tank was renamed to the more hip-sounding 'Grunge tank' (instead of gunge, buckets were filled with unsold copies of Stone Temple Pilots back catalogue) and audiences members were invited to join in impromptu quizzes where they could win up-to-but-not-exceeding £100. The release of spin-off single 'Blobby Ragamuffin' was the beginning of the end, it's failure to sell one copy resulting in the actor who played Mr. Blobby going nuts on set and fully suited, screaming "I can't take it any more!" and shooting himself. The incident was hushed up, but a civil action by Blobby's family against Edmonds left him bankrupt, forced to sell cleaning products door to door and sliding into drug addition. However, his fortunes eventually changed when he returned to television, hitting the big time with a show where people open boxes and find money.

[Glebe]

After the abject failure of Clockwise, John Cleese was desperate to recapture his glory days, and made what is considered his worst piece of 'comedy', in the form of the self-plagiarising Disaster Hotel (1987). It starred Cleese as Parsley Disaster, owner of an Exeter B&B, and Connie Booth as Collie Sherbert, his wacky American wife. Only six episodes were ever made:

"Disaster Strikes" - the hotel needs reburbishments and the crockery needs scrubbing-but instead of calling in the professionals, Parsley gets resident limbless builder/dishwasher Robin O' Nest to do the job! Collie fumes.

"The Kippers" - Beridden resident Mrs. Pepperpot (Prunella Scales) is visited by family and friends. But since she can't speak, Collie has to do a spot of ventriloquism under the bed!

"The Butterflies Are Off!" - Eddie the chef (the guy from the Flash ads) had better get his act together, as an inspector calls in the shape of Geoffrey Palmer!

"Collie Puts The Kettle On" - The elderly Tibbs Sisters (Judi Dench and Maggie Smith) pop down for a spot of tea-and get more then they bargain for!

"The Drunken Germans" - Oktoberfest fever hits Exeter, but watch out-Parsley is having a psychotic episode, and alcoholic racist Colonel MacGowan ("Fetch m'bludderbuss, Parsley!") is on the warpath! Cue silly walks, kraut jokes and uproarious mayhem.

"He's not from Barcelona" - a warm reunion, as a pre-Brand/Ross crisis Andrew Sachs cameos as Bunuel ("my brother work at hotel in Torquay!"). Unfortunately, his pet ferret gets loose and runs up the trouser leg of an angry old American! Mayhem did of course ensue.

The series flopped miserably, but there was a silver lining to this comedic dark cloud-while on the set, Cleese spent quiet periods working on a script called A Parrot Called Wendy. A few changes later, and a classic comedy film was born....

[Glebe]

Evening All! was a Dixon Of Dock Green-inspired comedy that ran on BBC from 1958-1960. It's cheeky lead was a pre-On The Buses Bob Harper as PC Pete Scrillings ("'Arry ap, 'arry! It's pie an' mash t'night!"), who was forever in thrall to visits from chief inspector Bob Cravens (a demure pre-Dad's Army John Le Mesurier). A raggle-taggle of eccentric citizens formed the rest of the cast, played by the likes of a pre-Beyond The Fringe Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller, a post-St. Trinian's Alastair Sim and a post-something Arthur Askey. Askey played the miopic Mr. Lemons ("Inspector, can you 'elp me find me specs? Ooh, they're on me nose, wahwahwah!!"), Bennett and Miller played angry young beatniks Al and Jon ("Ooh Inspector, we really must c'plain about these excessive beatings, facisms on the rise!", Bennett would cry, adjusting his glasses pendantically). Meanwhile, Sims played Ebengeezer Kneesup, who was always popping by to wish the station a Merry Yuletide, whatever the weather! ("What day is this? It's Christmas Day!") Classic episodes include 'Hide The Chicken' ("'Urry up! Put 'im under the counter before Cravens gets in!"), 'Light The Lamps' ("It's cat's 'n 'orses out there!"), but the series high point came in the form of the pre-fetal soul of Peter Kay, who made an apperance in the episode "Isn't Yer Nan Mental?!"



Branching out from Hancock's Half Hour, Sid James played the titular barstool hero Arthur Shandy from 1960-62, bringing along a veritable cornucopia of Carry On crew to support him. Arthur held court with a pint of bitter at the show's setting, The Frog's Elbow, philosophising on everything from "Birds to Barnsley!" His Best mate Andy Crapps (Summer Wine's Bill Owen) usually stuck his head in the door with the latest racing tips ("Two fifteen at Ascot? On yer bike!"), while Joan Sims played the lovely landlady Naggie, always ready to "Pull a pint-or something else! Wark wark wark!!" Then there were the other barflies-Kenneth Williams as Mr. Poofs ("I just popped by to see if I could pick something up-oooer!"), the dashing and mysterious Major Briggs, played by Leslie Phillips, who "could tell you a tale or two about the land of the darkies!", Kenneth Connors' put-upon Alkie Dubbins, who could usually be found in a dark corner, getting away from the wife ("She's gettin' on me barnet!") and strong support from Charles Hawtrey as little Timmy Timmons, who was only allowed a ginger ale! The series featured the first ever semi-naked woman on British television, with Barbara Winsor cropping up as Babs The Stripper!



US sitcom Mister Ed spawned UK version Cheeky Mare! (1962-64), which starred Nelly The Talking Horse (the voice of Diana Rigg, who's voice-and physical body-starred in The Avengers). Pembrooke Farm was all a flutter, and it was all thanks to the actions of this vocal four-legged friend! Farm proprietor Lady Pembrooke (Beryl Reid) was always having to call in local vet Dr. Nookins (Jim Dale) to deal with the equine menace. Meanwhile, young 'pop-picker' Timothy Pembrooke (Tommy Steele) was always trying to organise a rockin' sign-a-long with Nelly, much to annoyance of Peter Butterworth's Farmer Craddock ("T-that bloody horse!"). While Nelly's antics caused much laughter among young and old alike-escaping into old London town, biting police officers, etc.- it was the young male fans who tuned in for Rigg's sexy voice, leading to a generation's sexual awakening often incorporating bestiality.



Behind Closed Bushes only ran from one series in 1974, perhaps because it was a rather obvious spin-off from Man About The House. Bloomers St. was the setting for the saucy hijinks of a new generation of swingers-Richard O' Sullivan played Percy Porker, the cheeky young tinker with a pair of dolly birds (often MATH's Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett, in obvious, cringeworthy cameos) on each arm every hour of day and night! Next door lived depressive, alcholic artist Harold Staccatoe, who was always-unsucessfully-trying to cop off with his life models! He was always at loggerheads with his two gay neighbours, Mr. Humpfries and Mr. Gaysons, played by John Inman and Larry Grayson ("I'm freee-zing!" "Shut that window!"). Meanwhile, Ronnie Barker had a career low debuting his short-sighed character Clarence, oft to be found poking his head over the hedge for a look at the randy goings-on ("Ee, this generation!"). However, the real star of the show was a moonlighting Stephen 'On The Buses' Lewis, who played Percy's arch nemesis, neighbourhood watch warden Beaky ("You'll see...one day I'll catch y'at it!). After six episodes, the game was up, and a second season was never commissioned. But the show's writer's Ian St. Drummonds and Michael Clair Fremantle went on to write ground-breaking  material for the likes of Jim Davidson and Bernie Winters.