Happy Families

I remember Happy Families from first time round. A six episode series following the lives of the Fuddle family, the majority of which played by Jennifer Saunders. Most of the Comic Strip played small to medium roles, but Saunders shone through this. The series follows Guy (Adrian Edmonson)on his search around the world for his 4 sisters (Saunders). From an American soap queen to a hard case convict, Guy tracks them all down and takes them home to Granny (Saunders). Whenever I ask anyone if they have seen this programme, I always get a no for an answer. Am I the only one in the world who remembers it? Thank god for UK Gold, who repeated it in the early 90s, thanks to whom I now have a copy. if anyone out there remembers it, or even has a copy, think yourself VERY lucky. This was an example of 80s English comedy at it`s best, and I find it very sad that with regards to video sales, or future screenings, it may be gone for good.

I remember watching this series in the 80s too and found it really funny. The episode I remember best was the one with Madelaine, the dippy, romantic sister who lived in France, believing herself to be an artist, or an artist's model and who actually turned out to be a nude model for the slimey French guy. I also remember Rik Mayall was in that episode as the priest. I enjoyed the series, but have never seen any re-runs of it, sadly. Oh yeah, didn't Dawn French as 'cook', turn blue in the last episode?!!!

Happy Families follows Guy Fuddle (Ade Edmondson) in a search for his four sisters. The first episode is an introduction, then each episode is dedicated to one sister and in the last episode they reunite with the grandmother. Every episode has it's good moments. The episode with Joyce and the people fleeing from hospital to avoid her singing reminded me of Hyacinth from Keeping up Appearances. And Roxanne was great, especially the part when Guy is getting her out of jail. I also liked Cassie, a satirical view of the world of soap-opera stars.

This series shows how versatile Jennifer Saunders is. She plays five different characters and she is believable as each one of them. The conclusion is a little silly but that doesn't hurt the appeal of this show. Ade is wonderful as goodhearted, naive Guy. Dawn French (cook) and Helen Lederer (maid) are very good in their respective parts. I especially liked Flossie's (Helen's) accent. Also, Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry add a little charm to the overall impression. Rik Mayall has a small part in the episode about Madeline. His portrayal of a neurotic French priest is magnificent.

It appears that I am also one of the few that ever remember this great series!? I just wish I could find it on DVD. Scene/s that I remember and grin about wherever I am are Ade trying to buy a sandwich in America and him being run over on the drive of his house and crawling to the door :) Saunders is also superb in the roles she plays, seeming to really be at one with the characters and manages to crush Ade so smoothly every few minutes as his craziate bonkers mum.... (another series quote ;) ) This is one of those shows I saw once and wished i'd found re-run, gutted I missed the Gold repeats :( All in all it was fantastic, but then I'm biased as I sometimes resemble Ade and quote him and his characters ad nauseum ;)

I was at the school that was used for some of the filming (I added the school name to the filming locations). They filmed during the term time so we saw the cast around campus. The headmasters garage being used (and exploded if I remember correctly?); the one side of the school converted to look like a French village street (and desperate attempts by students to get some souvenirs); a bedsit in the same corridor as mine being painted green for a scene (a nasty colour green as well but I don't remember which scene) and Ade Edmonson giving autographs on cigarette packets of students who were not allowed to smoke :) Happy days....