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The Upper Hand

  • TV Series
  • 1990–1996
  • 25m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
684
YOUR RATING
The Upper Hand (1990)
Clip: Meet New People
Play clip1:54
Watch The Upper Hand: The Complete Fourth Series
2 Videos
8 Photos
SitcomComedy

An affluent divorced woman named Caroline Weatley, raising her son Tom with help from her mother Laura West, seeks a housekeeper, and a man named Charlie Burrows applies for the job.An affluent divorced woman named Caroline Weatley, raising her son Tom with help from her mother Laura West, seeks a housekeeper, and a man named Charlie Burrows applies for the job.An affluent divorced woman named Caroline Weatley, raising her son Tom with help from her mother Laura West, seeks a housekeeper, and a man named Charlie Burrows applies for the job.

  • Creators
    • Martin Cohan
    • Blake Hunter
    • Gavin Petrie
  • Stars
    • Joe McGann
    • Diana Weston
    • Honor Blackman
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    684
    YOUR RATING
    • Creators
      • Martin Cohan
      • Blake Hunter
      • Gavin Petrie
    • Stars
      • Joe McGann
      • Diana Weston
      • Honor Blackman
    • 14User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes95

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    TopTop-rated

    Videos2

    The Upper Hand: The Complete Fourth Series
    Clip 1:54
    The Upper Hand: The Complete Fourth Series
    The Upper Hand: Series One
    Clip 1:31
    The Upper Hand: Series One
    The Upper Hand: Series One
    Clip 1:31
    The Upper Hand: Series One

    Photos7

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    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Joe McGann
    Joe McGann
    • Charlie Burrows…
    • 1990–1996
    Diana Weston
    Diana Weston
    • Caroline Wheatley…
    • 1990–1996
    Honor Blackman
    Honor Blackman
    • Laura West…
    • 1990–1996
    Kellie Bright
    Kellie Bright
    • Joanna Burrows…
    • 1990–1996
    William Puttock
    • Tom Wheatley…
    • 1990–1996
    Robert Beck
    Robert Beck
    • Dan Thatcher
    • 1995–1996
    Dave Atkins
    • Pixie
    • 1990–1995
    Lynda Baron
    Lynda Baron
    • Auntie Pat…
    • 1992–1995
    Nicky Henson
    Nicky Henson
    • Michael Wheatley
    • 1990–1991
    Roger Walker
    Roger Walker
    • Jim Thatcher
    • 1995
    Anthony Newley
    Anthony Newley
    • Nick Murray…
    • 1992–1995
    Charlie Creed-Miles
    Charlie Creed-Miles
    • Al
    • 1992–1993
    Patricia Brake
    Patricia Brake
    • Peggy 'Peg' Thatcher
    • 1995
    Annabel Ryan
    • Julia
    • 1991–1993
    Patrick Duggan
    • Father Murphy
    • 1993–1995
    Carolyn Allen
    • Debbie
    • 1992–1993
    Patrick Murray
    Patrick Murray
    • Joey
    • 1991–1993
    Joanna Hall
    • Camilla
    • 1991
    • Creators
      • Martin Cohan
      • Blake Hunter
      • Gavin Petrie
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    6.6684
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    Featured reviews

    crmnyc

    Fantastic Remake

    This was great show. and had huge ratings in the UK. It even got an extra original season made in the end, because the US version left things unfinished.

    The cast were fantastic. As were the re-written scripts for the UK. Blackman and the other cast blended well together. Always made me laugh how the Sets really are look a likes for the US version. In the UK this was a prime time comedy which is very rare for the ITV Networks who showed it. ITV during the 90's were not big fans of Prime Time Comedy, this show broke the mold.

    I would say to anyone watch this show you will like it.
    stig114

    The Utter Bland

    New man meets career woman in this romantic "comedy". Each week viewers were presented with a series of lukewarm jokes set around domestic mishaps and the "will they won't they" relationship between the two main characters. This premise often makes for good TV, however the lack of chemistry between the two leads and the simpering niceness of the entire production, meant that the audience really couldn't give a damn if they did or did not.

    The show was helped neither by the stereotypical teenage daughter nor the wimpy kid that played the son calling his mother "mummy" all the time. I suppose Honor Blackman did her best with the part of Laura, but that's because she's Honor Blackman- enough said.

    In all this is turgid bourgeois drivel,with an awful theme tune (particularly the rather dodgy piano bit in the closing credits).
    10britishtvfan

    Real Comedy / Drama

    "The Upper Hand" was an extremely funny comedy but was also a drama series. The story goes that Charlie Burrows (Joe McGann) is a single parent, trying to bring up his daughter Joanna (Kellie Bright) in a rough area of London. When a job opportunity arises which allows Charlie to leave London and give Joanna a better life, he grabs it with both hands. This job is working as a live-in housekeeper for divorced business woman Caroline Wheatley (Diana Weston) and helping to look after her son Tom (William Puttock). As the series progresses a friendship begins to grow between Charlie and Caroline, which eventually leads to love. "The Upper Hand" is stuffed full of comedy much of which comes from the hilariously naughty character of Laura West (Honor Blackman) Caroline's mother. The two children are also another source of light relief especially when the relationship between Caroline and Charlie begins to develop. Looking back at "The Upper Hand" now, the set and the "niceness" and perhaps innocence of life do make the viewer very aware that it was a series of the 90s but this does not make it any less entertaining to watch. Indeed, it is about time the series was released on DVD for fans of the show and for those who didn't see it first time round. From the first notes of the theme tune right to the end, every episode is a joy to watch.
    7dhaesesimon

    This is so funny I constantly nearly fell off my chair 💺.

    This is one amazing, funny comedy. All the actors, really play their parts well. My very favourite character is Charlie, the housekeeper. Following Tom the little boy. Tom is perfect. It's a laugh a minute. Watch it. I'll be surprised if you don't like it. They don't make comedy's quite like this anymore. The 80s and 90s for comedies were simply brilliant. Charlie's daughter now in EastEnders. Sadly, Blackman no longer with us. She sadly passed away. She was also amazingly funny. They should really do a remake to this, with a fresh approach. But keeping The same characters. Brilliant little show. The only downside was not long enough episodes. Just 25 minutes long. English comedy humour at its very best. It's on UKTV play at the moment.
    frodobagginsoftheshire

    brilliant

    this show was about a single father moving away from London to be a housekeeper in the countryside. The show ran for 6 years and was always full of laughs, the cast were superb and it was a shame to the show end.

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    Related interests

    Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry in Friends (1994)
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    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Based on scripts from long-running US sitcom Who's The Boss? But the last season of The Upper Hand is based on new scripts and unlike Who's The Boss it has a finished ending to the show.
    • Connections
      Featured in It'll Be Alright on the Night 6 (1990)

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    FAQ16

    • How many seasons does The Upper Hand have?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 1, 1990 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • En karl i huset
    • Filming locations
      • Hickling, Nottinghamshire, England, UK(External shots of the house)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia TriStar Carlton TV
      • Central Independent Television
      • Columbia Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 25m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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