Comedy A-F
7 of 11973 BBC Television 7 of 1 was a series of 7 comedy pilots, all starring Ronnie Barker. The "Porridge" and "Open All Hours" series came out of it.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1988 BBC Television The anarchic Alexei Sayle (of Comic Strip and Young Ones-fame) went on to have his own BBC2 series in 1988. Co-written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick, the series concentrated on Alexei's manic observations of life and other such 'stuff'. Guests Tony Millan (Tucker in Citizen Smith), Felicity Montagu (Lynn in I'm Alan Partridge), Harriet Thorpe (Carole in The Brittas Empire), Mark Williams (of The Fast Show) and Angus Deayton (of Have I Got News For You) appeared regularly throughout the first series of 6 episodes.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1989 BBC Television Alexei returned to BBC2 with a second helping of Stuff in October 1989. In this series he was joined by Jan Ravens (of Dead Ringers) and Owen Brenman (Mr Swainey in One Foot In The Grave), replacing Felicity Montagu, Harriet Thorpe and Mark Williams. Once again, 6 episodes were produced.
Alexei Sayle's Stuff1991 BBC Television The third and final series of Alexei Sayle's Stuff was shown on BBC2 in October 1991. All the regulars from series 2 remained for the last batch of 6 episodes.
Birds of a Feather1993 BBC Television Birds of a Feather ran from 1989 to 1998. The series was written by Laurence Marks & Maurice Gran. Two sisters end up living together after their husbands are sent to prison. It starred Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph.
The Bounder1982 Yorkshire Television The Bounder ran for just 2 series in 1982 and 1983. The series featured Peter Bowles as a fraudster just realeased from prison. It also starred George Cole, Rosalind Ayres and Isla Blair. The series was written by Eric Chappell. Notice how the ident was blended into the title sequence as was often the case with Yorkshires programmes at that time.
Brush Strokes1990 BBC Television Sitcom following the ladish antics of Jacko, a cockney painter & decorator. The series, which ran from 1986 to 1991, was written by John Esmonde & Bob Larbey. It starred Karl Howman, Gary Waldhorn, Elizabeth Counsell, Mike Walling, Nicky Croydon & Howard Lew Lewis.
Carry On Laughing1975 ATV ATV's attempt in 1975 to transfer Carry On to the small screen. Numerous stars from the Carry On movies including Sid James, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Peter Butterworth, Kenneth Connor and Barbara Windsor, made guest appearances in the 13 episodes produced between 1975 and 1976.
Citizen Smith1978 BBC Television "Power to the People!" Robert Linsday starred as Wolfie Smith - workshy revolutionary and leader of the Tooting Popular Front. Other characters included Wolfie's girlfriend Shirley (Cheryl Hall), her parents (Peter Vaughan and Hilda Braid) and his friends Ken (Mike Grady), Tucker (Tony Millan) and Speed (George Sweeney). Following a sucessful pilot episode in 1977, four series and a further 30 episodes were produced, including a Christmas Special, between 1978 and 1980.
Comic Relief1988 BBC Television The centrepiece of 1988 - the original TV spectacular - was the sketch show "73 of a Kind". Apart from Henry, Rhys Jones, Ross, French, Saunders, Enfield et al, it featured at least 73 stars, everyone ranging from Sue Cook, Valerie Singleton, Phillip Schofield and Nick Ross, to Geoffrey Palmer, Penelope Keith, Ralph Bates and Martin Shaw, plus Kenny Everett, Tony Robinson, Celia Imrie and Gorden Kaye. Even Melvyn Bragg made an appearance as himself, in a South Bank Show spoof guest starring Timothy Spall as a pissed-artist.
Cool It1986 BBC Television After a number of years on the cabaret circuit, the very talented Phil Cool was given his own series by the BBC in 1985. This was followed with another in 1986 and just one more in 1988.
Dad's Army1968 BBC Television Dad's Army ran from 1968 to 1977. The series was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft. It featured the antics of the British Home Guard at Walmington-on-Sea. It starred Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, Ian Lavender, James Beck, John Laurie, Arnold Ridley and Bill Pertwee.
Dad's Army1969 BBC Television In 1969, with the introduction of colour the title sequence was slighty modified.
The Darling Buds Of May1991 Yorkshire Television Comedy based on the books of H.E. Bates. The series starred David Jason, Pam Ferris, Philip Franks and Catherine Zeta Jones.
Dawson & Friends1977 Yorkshire Television Les Dawson made numerous sketch and stand up series with Yorkshire Television from 1969 to 1977. Dawson & Friends consisted of four, one hour specials.
The Dick Emery Show1976 BBC Television The Dick Emery Show ran from 1963 to 1981. Guest stars included Roy Kinnear and Joan Sims. The series was produced by Harold Snoad.
Fawlty Towers1975 & 1979 BBC Television Fawlty Towers is certainly considered as a classic of the 1970s. The programme only consisted of two 6 episode series. It starred John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Connie Booth and Andrew Sachs. The writers were John Cleese and Connie Booth.
Filthy Rich & Catflap1987 BBC Television Filthy Rich & Catflap was written by Ben Elton and starred Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson and Nigel Planer.
Frankie Howerd1966 BBC Television One of many standup shows which Frankie Howerd had over his long career.