George & Mildred

'George & Mildred' was the first - and best - of the spin-offs from Johnnie Mortimer and Brian Cooke's 'Man About The House'. Using the proceedings from the sale of their home in Myddleton Terrace, the Ropers' move into a posh residential area ( 'all B.B.C.-2 and musical toilet rolls', according to George ), and find themselves living next door to snobbish estate agent Jeffrey Fourmile, his wife Ann and their son Tristram. George is like the proverbial fish out of water. Somewhat unbelievably, he gets a job as a traffic warden.

The relationship between him and Mildred was much the same; she craves physical affection, and poor George isn't able to provide it. Much of the humour came from George constantly embarrassing his wife in public, such as the time he took a bath in the lounge just as Mildred brought home friends for tea. Like 'Terry & June', it was cosy, predictable stuff, but highly amusing. Mortimer and Cooke wrote every episode, meaning that there was no dip in quality ( as was the case with 'Robin's Nest' ) when new writers came aboard. The first season had a cracking theme by John Hawksworth but when it returned, Roger Webb supplied a bland tune which didn't suit the show at all. In much the same way that Yootha Joyce stole the show in 'House', little Nicholas Bond-Owen upstaged the adult performers as 'Tristram'. Enormously popular, the show racked up huge ratings even on its repeats. Sadly, Yootha Joyce died before a final series could be recorded.

Surely the best ever British comedy series. I know that people talk about Only Fools and Horses being the best, but for me, this is it. In case anybody doesn't know what it is about, it is basically about a middle-aged married couple who, after having their London home compulsory purchased by the Council, move to Hampton Wick into a posh neighbourhood. The series is basically about Mildred, the sex-starved wife, trying to better herself and George, her work-shy husband, who seems to delight in upsetting their neighbours. Only 5 series were made, due to the death of Yootha Joyce, but I would recommend this to anybody who appreciates genuine British comedy.

This series was a huge success in Spain in the early 80s, following the equal success of Man About The House. Then it was screened again on Saturday nights in 1989, and at my family home we all loved it. I have been able now to see it again last month, and I laughed my head off. I managed to get also the first four episodes of Man About The House, but sadly I didn't find it half as funny as G&M. The lovable Yoota Joyce was a formidable comedian, the way she scolds George, flirts with Fourmile and sends Jerry off (a wonderful role by the great bumbling idiot Roy Kinnear). The kid steals every scene he is in with his direct and uncomfortable questions to his parents about where babies come from, the Tories, the working class... Boy, I laughed so much with him. He is too smart for his years. And Norman Eshley as the snobbish ass Fourmile -no wonder, with a name like that- always hating the sight of George: "Good lord! He is vulgar, dirty, scratches himself, picks his nose, belches and can't speak properly!" And the kid says with a smirk "He is working-class, and bloody proud of it". That line was pure gold. And my other favourite character and another great scene stealer is Mildred's posh sister Ethel. "We were just passing by in our brand new XJ6... our brand new MG... look at my brand new vicuna coat, dear... my brand new diamond ring..." and on and on and on, always showing off. It is a pity that Yoota Joyce died after the fifth season, because G&M could have enjoyed a few more years of brilliant success.

One of the best British sitcoms of the 70 s and I still enjoy watching it now as I did back then

I just wanted to give a credit to Norman Eshley. He played the straight man to George Roper, brilliantly.