Goodnight Sweetheart

This very popular show, running for several years, and six series, in the 1990's finally gave television viewers the chance to think of Nicholas Lyndhurst as someone other than Rodney Trotter. Despite what must have been an overwhelming feeling of typecasting for Lyndhurst from the earlier sitcom it only takes a few minutes viewing of 'Goodnight Sweetheart' to accept him entirely within this role as television repairman Gary Sparrow.

Gary is married to Yvonne and they live a relatively happy, albeit uneventful, suburban life together. This all changes - for Gary anyway - when he accidentally discovers the portal to another dimension of time, which takes him into the wartime streets of east-end London, where (with surprising rapidity) he meets, and falls in love with cockney barmaid Phoebe Bamford. From this moment on Gary is torn between two time zones and two women.

These are the plot basics, within which the show's writers manage to create an impressive array of plot-lines and more than fifty episodes. Needless to say that Gary's somewhat tedious and routine existence is dramatically transformed by this remarkable turn of events, as he spends his days flitting randomly between the two eras, somehow without unduly arousing the suspicions of either woman, despite his far-fetched succession of excuses; none of which causes either Phoebe or Yvonne to suspect that there might be another woman involved in all of this. Obviously neither would suspect the time-travelling talents Gary has acquired, but - women being women - it stretches even the most flexible credibility to imagine that neither would become dubious of their wandering paramour's repeated and inexplicable absences. Still, it is all in the name of comedy, and the cast plays it well throughout.

There is only one person privy to all of Gary's secrets, and that person is his best friend (in the present day) Ron Wheatcroft. Only he is aware of Gary's trans-era philandering - leading eventually to bigamy - and only he truly sees Gary for the essentially selfish, callous and self-centred person that he actually is. Although we, the viewer, regard Gary as the nice guy/hero of it all, this is a man who really only ever thinks of his own requirements and desires, whilst making convenient use of everyone else. Ron is useful to him because he is a skilled printer who can produce the appropriate wartime documentation and five pound notes essential to his luxurious 1940's lifestyle. These - now obsolete - type of fivers were eventually removed from circulation in Britain, precisely because they were too easy for forgers to print; but during WW2 they were still in use; although probably few working-class people ever saw one because of their high value at the time. Meanwhile; back in the '40's Gary takes advantage of Phoebe's naivete and her dimwit (platonic) friend Reg's stupidity, to impress them that he is a secret agent and talented songwriter. This last 'skill' being achieved by the simple (for a time-traveller) expedient of playing classic songs well-known to the viewer, but as yet unheard of several decades in the past. All the while Gary is paying his way with an endless supply of forged banknotes, and buying items at 1940's prices which he takes with him back to him own future-time to sell as semi-valuable antiques.

For the entire duration of the war Gary has it all his own way, as long as friend Ron keeps printing the money for him. Indeed Gary's greed and selfishness even extends to charging rent to Ron when he (Ron) moves into the luxury apartment which Gary still owns in the present day; conveniently forgetting that he was only able to buy it (in the '40's) because printer friend Ron provided the money for him to do so. If not for the charm and light touch provided by Lyndhurst's amiable personality; along with some sympathetic script-writing; this would be a thoroughly dislikeable person when you see the real him. Again, only Ron sees this. In a memorable quote he points out that 'You've got a nasty side to you Sparrow.' How true. Indeed, in one episode Ron even voices the opinion that Gary might actually be a psychopath. This subtext to Gary's personality might appear to be looking rather too deeply into the persona of a sitcom character; but it is obviously something the writers were consciously and deliberately aware of, otherwise why would they have the character of Ron even bothering to voice such thoughts and opinions of his supposed friend. Despite all of his character flaws Gary remains sympathetic to the viewer because of his one saving grace; in that throughout his selfishness, he is, after all, not malicious. He is simply amoral, and taking advantage of the remarkable turn of fate which could only happen in TV sitcom land.

At the beginning of series four there is a significant change of cast on the female side, with Dervla Kirwan (Phoebe) being replaced by Elizabeth Carling, and Michelle Holmes (Yvonne) being replaced by Emma Amos. This is only mildly disruptive to the character of Phoebe, who remains essentially as originally written; but Emma Amos is so significantly different in every way to her predecessor that it is difficult for the viewer to maintain interest (or credibility) in her portrayal of Yvonne. Indeed her persona is so harsh and unsympathetic as compared to her predecessor in the role that one cannot help wondering if this change in character reflects some specific and deliberate intention on the part of the writers, or is simply the result of miscasting, which resulted in this actress/characterisation incompatibility. This stretch in viewer credulity is tested to the limit when Yvonne - quite incredibly - becomes a multi-millionairess virtually overnight as the executive of her self-created trendy health-food/cosmetics business. At this point Gary's affections (and probably those of most viewers also) turn increasingly toward his wartime love Phoebe.

As with many long-running sitcoms the writers ingenuity must have become increasingly strained to create new plot lines. Additional characters make their unlikely appearance; such as newfound friend Noel Coward (excellently played by David Benson), George Formby, Clement Atlee, and, even more improbably, Jack the Ripper. Although generally they manage well in this regard, the stories do tend to become somewhat more fanciful as we approach the final series, and indeed as Gary and 1940's cast approach the end of the war, which eventually, and perhaps inevitably, marks the end of the show; apart from one add-on catch-up episode tacked on some sixteen years after the main run of the show ended. This late addition is tolerable, albeit a bit pointless; but no doubt many fans of the show were happy to get this little extra anyway. It's okay, in its way.

Overall this is an entertaining show. Frequently rerun on British television it is well worth watching if you haven't seen it before. Or even worth watching again to remind you of how much fun it was the first time around.

Goodnight sweetheart was a brilliantly written, and acted comedy drama. If ever a series needed to be revived, then this is it. There was an equally brilliant one off episode, which was made in 2016, as part of a great British sit-com TV special. Why they didn't make a full series, is one of the greatest missed opportunities in broadcasting history.

The 2016 episode proved that the series was as popular and relevant, as when it was first shown.

This is a lovely, gentle comedy. Nicholas Lyndhurst proves his versatility in his portrayal of Gary Sparrow, a man genuinely torn between two women. The two female leads are also interesting - sarcastic Yvonne, dynamic yet insecure and practical Pheobe, strong but also insecure. Despite the fact that he is a cheat, you find yourself sympathising with Gary's situation. He loves and needs both women, and his struggle is agonising. Some of the episodes are a bit predictable, but even this is forgivable and the series as a whole is well worth a watch. The music, clothing and behaviour of the characters is nostalgic, touching, funny and sad all at once. Fabulous!

I've just recently begun watching this amazing and brilliant English comedy - Goodnight Sweetheart.

Why has it been hiding, and not been "out there" in a more obvious way?

• Due to the fact I so admire Nicholas Lyndhurst, I've been scanning the internet for all the works he's been in. Low & behold, I stumbled across this - GNSH. Ohhh but why were these fabulous actors on for only 6 series? Being presented with a comedy which has British quick-witted, intelligent & amusing dialogue amongst first-rate tremendous actors, does not happen often!

I truly believe that Nicholas Lyndhurst has finally broken the mould as "Rodney" - He stands strong & separate from his Rodney character, although I loved him & Sir. David Jason in Only Fools. Alas! he's also great in another sitcom - New Tricks.

Nicholas Lyndhurst can inspire anyone's imagination about re-living the past... He tends to inspire "what if I could go back and..." His acting is convincing.

I wonder if the writers will want to make GNSH II - Will all the original actors want to make a come-back?

I haven't finished the GNSH episodes yet (I'm taking my time with the great sitcom), however I'm sure there is potential for Part II? the return - possibly as "Goodnight Sweetheart - Modern Day Marvels (1998)"

Is there anyone out there to convey this message to the writers?

I'm putting it out there into the Universe - It might attract the right attention?

Mr. Lyndhurst you are adored in the land of Oz, MiniTots Loves your acting!

One of the most underrated british sitcoms in my opinion.

Despite not being as laugh out loud funny as many other classic sitcoms, this show is just so watchable!

The time travel element is such an interesting idea for a traditional sitcom and it works so well here. The 1940s scenes are very well done and you can that a lot of research was done to get the era spot on. The plots were also very interesting, showing gary interact with various historic characters and how they impact the future.

The casting and characters are also spot on. Nicholas Lyndhurst does well to portray gary in such a way that he is almost likeable, despite committing adultery and doing some very selfish things at times. His face acting is also brilliant, particularly when doing his shocked 'I've been caught out' facial expressions! Ron was also great as Gary's long suffering and only friend, some of his monologues were brilliant and he always provided some comic relief even in some of the more dramatic and serious episodes.

The original series was also wrapped up very nicely with a very satisfying, even if slightly sad, conclusion back in 1999. Although there was also a one off special in 2016.

Overall, this sitcom was absolutely excellent and in my opinion deserves more recognition. It is one of those shows you could just binge watch over and over again, and I actually believe there could be plenty of mileage in any future series following the very open ending in the 2016 one off episode.