Father, Dear Father

It is amazing that Father Dear Father languishes in such obscurity, despite running for seven series, plus a spin-off movie, as well as an Australian series.

It boasts a host of prominent British actors in leading roles and cameos, the scripts are consistently well written and funny, and to a modern audience there's an extra edge of vintage charm.

Yet it seems that hardly anyone has heard of this comedy. It never makes "Best British Comedy" lists and never gets a mention in the context of other comedies of that time. Very strange and sad.

As others mention, it features divorced crime writer Patrick Glover trying to raise his teenage daughters in late 1960s/early 1970s Britain. The household includes the wonderfully traditional and unworldly Nanny, frequent appearances by various relatives: Patrick's absent-minded mother, his rogue of a brother (a suave Donald Sinden), his ex-wife and her often hot-headed new husband.

Throw in English vicars, comedy American movie producers, sexy literary agents, amorous widows and various suitors of the daughters (notably a young Richard O'Sullivan and Rodney Bewes) and you are in for an absolutely classic treat.

It's hard to recommend this highly enough. If you're a fan of classic British comedy, from Carry On films to Fawlty Towers, this one really deserves your notice.

This was a long running, popular, comedy that ran on ITV during the early 1970's. Patrick Cargill is the author Patrick Glover of tacky thrillers who is separated from his wife, but has custody of his two teenage daughters. Also in the picture is Nanny, the housekeeper, and Georgy his agent, with whom he's also having a long-running relationship. Oh, and there's an enormous St Bernard dog, called H.G.

Each episode is a mini farce, usually with a misunderstanding that leads to conversations which drive Patrick wild. There seems to be a real studio audience for the first few years, and then canned laughter - the standard audio which ITV always used at this time, and which can be recognised, began to be used, and the programme suffers from this.

One thing different to the norm is the introduction as the titles play - a little story unfolds, which usually leaves Patrick in a mess. The later series lost this, so there was just a rather twee, but pointless scene during the titles, with some exceptions, for instance in the last episode of series six. There's also action at the end, actors chaotically moving around.

This comedy is very much played as though it were on stage, and it has a quality of perhaps just a little hamminess which enhances rather than detracts. The wordplay can sometimes be too fast for the studio audience who don't always react to the more subtle jokes.

The first three series can be bought: the first two in black and white only from Australia, but for the rest you'll have to seek out copies from traders. If you can get hold of them, I'd particularly recommend series four and five, and there's a definite dulling of quality after this.

Recently I came across some old episodes of this series and I have to say I was so delighted in watching them again that I tracked down several others.

I was a little too young at the time of original air to pay much attention to the comedy but I particularly remembered the daughters, both gorgeous girls whose appeal even a ten year old boy noticed. It was a nice moment then to relive some of my youth growing up in the late 60's to the mid 70's and this series in particular sums up all that confidence and good feeling very ably. Yes, the father is an upper middle class twit, and it shows.. but it nevertheless reflects a much happier much more innocent time for the UK complete with its fashions and attitudes., yes it is slightly slapstick and at times a tad twee but that just adds to flavour If you're a fan of the era I'd wholeheartedly recommend this it's not rip-roaringly funny but it's gentle and wry sense of humour will make you smile In fact, the only slight downsides are when Cargill seems to stare a little too long at the girls bottoms or chests, not that I can blame him as they're usually dressed in hot pants etc. But it does seem a little seedy given their respective ages. That being said it's not very apparent and some might not even notice as my SO didn't until I pointed it out via the still button.. Not having this function when the show was originally aired I imagine some might have noticed and forgotten it at the next comedic moment..

All in all though a good bet for a wet Sunday afternoon if you can track it down.

No ideal why this is on forces tv in the uk,but wasn't expecting much from 70s sitcom that I had vaguely heard of,I was pleasantly surprised yes the plot misunderstandings are tenuous at best all the actors apart from nanny are projecting like they are on stage indeed with the girls you almost feel they are reading statements rather than flowing conversation but I have laughed several times at every single episode I can't remember the last sitcom I watched that had actual jokes