No, Honestly

You couldn't turn on a television in the '70's without seeing John Alderton. He was everywhere; 'Please Sir!', 'The Fenn Street Gang', 'Upstairs, Downstairs', 'My Wife Next Door', 'Wodehouse Playhouse', 'Thomas & Sarah' and, of course this, in which he co-starred with wife Pauline Collins. They say opposites attract and it was true in the case of C.D. and Clara. He was a struggling actor, she a dizzy deb. This was not a kids' sitcom. I cherish the scene where Clara made C.D. breakfast in bed and she put a button from her cardigan on his grapefruit because she'd run out of cherries! Terence Brady and Charlotte Bingham had written for the pair before so knew what they were capable of. The resulting show was a sheer delight, a massive hit with the public and critics alike. Lindsay De Paul's catchy theme was the icing on the cake. Sadly, Alderton and Collins were not up for a second series, so Lisa Goddard and Donal Donnelly were brought in and the title changed to 'Yes, Honestly'.

I vaguely remembered this show from the early 70's when I saw it on sale at a bargain price expecting mild amusement, however I'm very happy to say that it is a superbly scripted and acted show and is very funny. Pauline Collins plays the delightfully dippy Clara to John Alderton's CD (Charlie) who is much more sensible, and the two of them play superbly off of each other in the various situations that they get themselves into. I seem to vaguely remember that John Alderton didn't want to do another series, which is why they resurrected the same format as Yes Honestly with Liza Goddard and a new male lead the following year. It's a shame there wasn't more of these as I've seen much worse programmes have many series. Well worth a look, I got my copy from Network DVD's online.

This is one of those TV gems you doubt will ever appear on video as it is so obscure, especially to the American audience. Thankfully, it is now available in the US and it is a pleasure to see this wonderful TV series again after 26 years.

Husband and wife John Alderton and Pauline Collins play husband and wife Charles (CD) and Clara Danby who have been married some ten years. CD and Clara tell (a studio audience) of their early days together (which are shown in flashback) when he was a struggling actor, and she was (and still is) a rather ditzy debutante, the product of even ditzier parents. With nothing much in common but love for one another, the hilarity results from their very differences.

Alderton and Collins had appeared together earlier in Upstairs Downstairs, and she of course was Oscar-nominated much later for Shirley Valentine. This TV series has been overlooked for too long, and is an absolute delight. The chemistry between CD and Clara is remarkable, because of the chemistry between Alderton and Collins.

The theme tune was a huge hit in Britain for composer and performer Lynsey De Paul. The show has aged well (apart from the fashions) and looks and sounds great thanks to Acorn Media which has provided us with this belated video edition. The picture and sound quality is stunning, and hats off to Acorn for not tampering with the show as it was originally presented. The London Weekend Television seventies logo is still there, much to the delight of us Brits in America. There is no self promotion on the part of Acorn, a company with which I am NOT associated.

Treat yourself to No, Honestly. You will not be disappointed. No, honestly.

Ditto for all of the comments that have been made before about this delightful series. But these three tapes are about the first seven episodes. Get these first, because in January, 2001, Acorn Media will release the final seven episodes! Get your orders in early!

I watched this delightful series when it appeared on our local WTTW station in the mid-seventies. Almost four decades later, I purchased a multi-region blu-ray player once I discovered a DVD set of the complete series was available (but not for our region). After shelling out almost $300, I was happily reunited with one of my favorite British series. I only wish there'd been more episodes.