Helped by a supporting band of formidable wives, hen-pecked husbands, sexually-charged mistresses, inventors, pigeon fanciers and balding lotharios, our three heroes are never far from one adventure or another. Television so desperately wishes to be edgy and would really rather that those for whom edgy is unwelcome and unpleasant might disappear into their bland little holes and, well, die.

I also updated the post to include the featurette 'The Funny Side of Christmas' that I forgot to include. And there can never be any Wallace and Grommit again, for no-one else could voice that sterling little inventor. Even if each episode was 30 minutes long (some episodes are much longer) it would take you nearly a full week of non- stop viewing to watch them all!The only times the trio came close to being in concert mentally was in their encounters with others, such as Sid and Ivy at the café, or Mr Wainwright and Mrs Partridge at the Library. Michael Aldridge, another veteran character actor, was introduced in the full-length special, ‘Uncle of the Bride’, which would set the tone for the series for the rest of its run. I don’t, however, think that this development was solely down to the introduction of Foggy, but rather a development that the show would have needed anyway: as originally played, the trio got themselves into trouble naturally, by accident. At its beginning, the series was nothing like as sentimental or silly as it became, and indeed was based on a relatively grim situation.

The revival of the classic sitcom Open All Hours as a one-off special, replicating the formula with David Jason mimicking the late Ronnie Barker and a new, genuinely young actor mimicking Jason’s old role as Granville has been revealed as the most popular programme on Boxing Day, with an audience, at its peak, of just over 10,000,000 viewers. Of more lasting import, the fourth episode introduces the brilliant Joe Gladwin and his fantastic throaty Lancashire burr as Wally Batty. Citing differences with the BBC and his dislike of their indifference towards the series, Bell said, "I have now decided I will not do it again.For the last two series, Russ Abbott appeared as Luther ‘Hobbo’ Horndyke, ex-milkman, with Alvin, and Burt Kwouk as Entwistle.

By mbc1955 in The Goggle-Box July 5, 2023 1,132 Words 4 Comments Wednesday Morning Sitcom Time: Last of the Summer Wine s02 e01-04 – Forked Lightning/Who’s That Dancing With Nora Batty?

A photography exhibition at the Library, bringing Bloody Wainwright and Mr Partridge back into the background limelight, inspired Cyril back to his old hobby of photography.