The Larkins

I was only nine years old but I still remember Alf Larkin being hen pecked by his missus Ada in this early ITV sitcom.David Kossoff and Peggy Mount were well cast in their parts.As far as I can recall,it was quite an amusing series,a possible precursor of "George and the Dragon" in which Peggy Mount appeared with Sid James some eight years later.

The Larkins love together under the same roof, a family ruled by its matriarch, Ada. Henpecked husband Alf does what he can do escape Ada's wrath, but seldom succeeds.

It's a very raw and early ITV sitcom, I've worked my way through it, and on the whole I've enjoyed it, it's not belly laugh comedy, but whenever you've got Peggy Mount and David Kosoff, there will always be laughs.

The first four series sees the family pretty much at home, with Alf and Jeff getting into all manner of scrapes. When the show returned for series five however, the setting changes, and several of the cast have gone, the show is refreshed, and set in a café, it feels different.

Standout episodes include Catastrophe and Operation Neighbour.

It never really escapes the 1950's, it's all very proper and domestic, only on a few occasions does it dip its toe into the swinging sixties.

Peggy Mount is a delight as always, and Kosoff is great as henpecked Alf. Personally I loved Hettie, and her constant demands for packets of tea.

Mount would soon appear in George and The Dragon, alongside Sid James, for my money that's a much better show.

7/10.