Rising Damp Forever

For anyone who hasn't seen the original. Martin Clunes ain't a patch on Leonard. Great actor though he is, Doc Martin is more suitable for his talents.And Kate should stick to the big budget , slumming it doesn't work well here... for anyone who has seen the original TV series, and the very few who that were fortunate to see the stage version.

A look back at one of ITVs best known comedies. This was a two parter that could had easily been done in one hour. I'm afraid like a lot of similar documentaries, it is cursed by padding.

With two regular cast members still alive. Frances de la Tour does not take part, leaving Don Warrington to reminiscence about his time on the show.

It was notable when he said that there were times he drove up north from London with Leonard Rossitter and they hardly ever talked. More than few people mention he was a difficult man to get on with. A perfectionist with some right wing views.

Christopher Strauli who appeared in the feature film version of Rising Damp, spoke how Rossiter thought that if no one found the film funny. It would be Strauli's fault.

I did learn a few new things. Richard Beckinsale wore a wig which he disliked. That Beckinsale wanted to move away from comedies and into drama. There is some footage from a drama he made for director Stephen Frears just before his untimely death. His part had to be recast.

The late Richard Beckinsale's daughters contribute as to the impact about their dad's role still has in their lives.

Rising Damp deserves a program to look back at it. This was a bit too frothy.