George & Mildred

British television sitcoms of the '70s have acquired a reputation for being shallow and purile, and 'George and Mildred' is often cited as a supreme example of this.

Nothing could be further from the truth, this sitcom really worked. There was real chemistry between the characters, and while the plots were shallow there was a great deal of comedy present.

Developed as a spin-off from 'Man About The House', it centres around a working class couple (George and Mildred) who move into a middle class neighbourhood. Mildred (Yootha Joyce) is determined to overcome her lowly roots, whilst George (Brian Murphy) is working class and proud of it!!

Their new neighbours are the Fourmiles, Geoffrey is a out-and-out snob, but his wife, Ann, is down to Earth. They have a young son, Tristram.

Most of the comedy revolves around the antics of George antagonising Geoffrey, whilst their respective wives try desperately to maintain tranquility.

The concept of neighbour / class conflict is the mainstay of many a sitcom, but seldom works as well as this. The chemistry between the characters is perfect, especially George and Mildred, I think that the sitcom would probably have failed with anyone else playing these parts.

The success of this sitcom lead to a film version in 1980, but the film never really captured the vital spark that made the television series such a hit.

A hilarious spin-off for Yootha Joyce and Brian Murphy from 'Man about the House'. George and Mildred have moved into a different house in another part of London and are now confronting their new neighbours, the Fourmiles. The snobbish Geoffrey Fourmile thoroughly detests them and that's where the fun starts. Pretty much the same thing that used to happen in 'Man about the House', except you see more of them.

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.