Please Broadcast Bless This House ITV3!

 

I don't often get on my soap box but I really do think ITV3 are missing a trick here. I have come to love this ITV station for showing some classic British comedy. Of course ITV3 also gave us the wonderful Carry On Forever series last year which brought back together some familiar Carry On stars and breathed fresh life into many classic tales.

ITV3 frequently repeats many wonderful old shows but there is one in particular that hasn't seen the light of day in quite some time. I remember about twenty years ago the now defunct Granada Plus used to show the great Bless This House every morning before I went to school. It was my first introduction to this giant of the domestic sitcom and showed Sid James in a completely new light. Sadly, although the series has been made available on DVD, I don't believe it has been repeated since (I may be wrong on this, so if I am, I stand corrected!)

 

I know there are often complex reasons for not repeating old shows. For a start, television companies are constantly pilloried for the volume of repeats they broadcast instead of new material. There is also the issue of us all having moved a great deal since these shows were first aired. Society has, in some cases, thankfully moved on since the 1970s and certain content may not be totally palatable now. There are many shows that simply couldn't be repeated now and that's mainly due to changing times. Viewing some of these programmes with a modern eye may be unavoidable but sometimes not helpful. However the likes of George and Mildred, Dad's Army and Man About The House are shown again and again but no sign of the domestic life of one Sidney Abbott. 

So why do I think Bless This House deserves another viewing? Well, first of all there is undoubtedly a huge market for nostalgia. There's a reason why the BBC constantly repeat Dad's Army on a Saturday evening on BBC2. It's because people from all generations love it and watch. Also, I do believe Bless This House is probably the finest, purest example of a domestic sitcom we have ever produced. Thirdly, just look at the cast. You can never see enough of Sid, Diana Coupland, Patsy Rowlands et al as far as I'm concerned. 

 

I think the star quality of Sid James gives Bless This House currency, even in 2016. He is still such a recognisable figure - nearly everyone around today would still know Sid James. I think his role as Sidney Abbott is also one of his best performances. Sid is completely relaxed in the part, works well with his supporting cast and while there are occasional glimpses of his Carry On or Hancock persona, I think this role is the closest we ever got to the real Sid, the family man, in performance. It's a joy.

Thames Television produced 65 episodes of this classic series, over six series between 1971 and 1976. Sadly the original run was only brought to an end in '76 because of Sid's untimely demise on stage in Sunderland. And don't forget it also spawned a rather wonderful, very seventies sitcom spinoff film version, produced by the Carry On powerhouse of Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas and bringing together sitcom royalty including June Whitfield, Terry Scott, Peter Butterworth and Carol Hawkins.

So come on ITV3, don't let us down! It's time to go into the archives, dust off those old spools of film and treat both old and new generations of viewers to some prime comedy and classic Sidney James.

 

You can read more on my love of Bless This House here

And you can read more about the film version here 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

From the Archive: Sid's Sitcom Successes - Bless This House

On the fortieth anniversary of Sid's death, here's another chance to read my blog celebrating his greatest small screen success, that wonderful 70s sitcom Bless This House.

I have been writing about some of our favourite Carry On stars on the small screen, and more specifically focussing on some of their well known sitcom roles. I have previously looked at Hattie Jacques' contribution to Sykes and Joan Sims' part in the success of On The Up. Today I'm going to write about Sid James.

The trouble is that Sid starred in so many situation comedies over the years that it's impossible to condense them all down into one blog. There will be more to come, however today I am going to start with his last and probably best remembered series, Bless This House.

Bless This House ran for six series on ITV from early 1971 right up until Sid's sad death in 1976. So popular was the series that a seventh lot of thirteen episodes was already in the pipeline before the current series had come to an end. Broadcast on Monday nights, it was regularly the most popular show in the time slot and even spawned a feature film, produced and directed by Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas and co-starring the likes of Terry Scott, Peter Butterworth and June Whitfield.

The sitcom format of Bless This House was nothing particularly original, however the main casting was. By the early 1970s, Sid the character actor had become Sid the star and Sid was primarily the star of the bawdy Carry On films. Sid's persona was one of a lecherous wide boy, forever chasing younger, glamorous women. As Sidney Abbott, he was allowed to play away from all those on screen antics and settle down with his television family. For the first time, the younger generation (in the form of Robin Stewart and Sally Geeson as his teenage children)  are running rings around him and are often more worldly wise than their dad.

Sid plays it respectable as the suburban father, occasionally henpecked by his wife Jean (Diana Coupland) and stressed out by his life as a salesman. Yes, he still likes the odd drink and a smoke down the pub with his best mate Trevor, but it's still far removed from his big screen womanising personality. The role of Sidney Abbott fitted James like a glove - it was probably the one role that most closely represented the man himself. Interestingly, as Bless This House became increasingly popular, the family man pipe and cardigan image began to appear in the Carry Ons - Sid Plummer may have spent the entire film chasing Chloe Moore but at heart he was a family man in At Your Convenience. 

Bless This House was very much of its time. It was light, frothy and farcical. It also replicated what was no doubt happening across Britain at the time. The older, post-war generation were now struggling to understand their teenage children who were very obviously benefiting from the liberal 1960s. Sid's character runs the gamut of free love, birth control and adventurous fashions, struggling to take it all in and keep up. Interestingly, Jean, although from the same generation as her husband, has no such trouble with the changing face and quickening pace of the 1970s youth. 

At the heart of Bless This House was a wonderfully warm, funny and believable husband and wife double act between Sid and Diana Coupland. Diana was a brilliant foil for Sid, always coming out on top. You could tell they got on and enjoyed working together. Sid also had terrific chemistry with Robin Stewart and Sally Geeson and his friendship with Anthony Jackson as Trevor was on the money too. Throw in a semi-regular role for Carry On favourite Patsy Rowlands and you have one hell of a show! Incidentally, apparently Sid recommended Patsy for the role as his neighbour Betty in Bless This House as he had enjoyed working with her in the Carry On series.

The series also had some excellent writers, including Harry Driver, Vince Powell, Dave Freeman, Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. Driver was a regular contributor to Coronation Street while Dave Freeman worked with the likes of Benny Hill and later wrote Carry On Behind. Lane worked on Bless This House years before her hit comedies Butterflies and Bread. 

So there you have it. Bless This House is a wonderful example of the classic 1970s sitcom that British television used to do so well. It is also a fitting legacy for the tremendous Sidney James. It brought out a side of Sid audiences may have found unfamiliar at the time but it showed once again just what a gifted comedy actor our Sidney was.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

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The Death of Robin Stewart

The sad death of Robin Stewart on Sunday came as rather a shock. At just 69, his demise is untimely. Another actor gone too soon. Although he hadn't acted significantly for many years, his link to Sid James and that classic sitcom, Bless This House meant those far off days were still tangible.

As Sidney Abbott's layabout son Mike, Robin starred in the sitcom success for over five years. Although there were suggestions he wasn't as professional on set as some of the senior stars would have liked (indeed he missed out on the 1972 big screen version), there was no doubt a great deal of affection between the regular stars in the series.

Robin had made a return to the limelight in the past few years after having been based in Australia for some time. He appeared alongside old co-star Sally Geeson at several events and met fans at film conventions all over the country. I'm glad he had the chance to reconnect with the past in his final few years.

Sadly, the death of Robin Stewart comes with the dawning realisation that now there is only one surviving member of the Bless This House cast. Sally Geeson is the last Abbott standing. Following Sid's death in 1976, we lost Patsy Rowlands (Betty) in 2005 and both Anthony Jackson (Trevor) and Diana Coupland (Jean) in 2006. They are all greatly missed.

I loved Bless This House. It was my favourite television role for Sid. He was, many say, most at home in this domestic comedy and the role of Sidney Abbott was most like the real Sid - the family man. I used to watch the repeats on the now long defunct Granada Plus every morning before I went to school. Although the teenage problems and marital strife over the housekeeping of the mid 1970s were a long way off by the time I watched in the 1990s, it was still a fun show with lighthearted stories and timeless comic performances from the cast.

As with all successful actors, Robin Stewart leaves behind a legacy of laughter and classic comedy performances. He had the chance to create a niche in Bless This House and work with some of my heroes. Not bad at all. 

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan 

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Sid's Sitcom Successes: Bless This House

I have been writing about some of our favourite Carry On stars on the small screen, and more specifically focussing on some of their well known sitcom roles. I have previously looked at Hattie Jacques' contribution to Sykes and Joan Sims' part in the success of On The Up. Today I'm going to write about Sid James.

The trouble is that Sid starred in so many situation comedies over the years that it's impossible to condense them all down into one blog. There will be more to come, however today I am going to start with his last and probably best remembered series, Bless This House.

Bless This House ran for six series on ITV from early 1971 right up until Sid's sad death in 1976. So popular was the series that a seventh lot of thirteen episodes was already in the pipeline before the current series had come to an end. Broadcast on Monday nights, it was regularly the most popular show in the time slot and even spawned a feature film, produced and directed by Peter Rogers and Gerald Thomas and co-starring the likes of Terry Scott, Peter Butterworth and June Whitfield.

The sitcom format of Bless This House was nothing particularly original, however the main casting was. By the early 1970s, Sid the character actor had become Sid the star and Sid was primarily the star of the bawdy Carry On films. Sid's persona was one of a lecherous wide boy, forever chasing younger, glamorous women. As Sidney Abbott, he was allowed to play away from all those on screen antics and settle down with his television family. For the first time, the younger generation (in the form of Robin Stewart and Sally Geeson as his teenage children)  are running rings around him and are often more worldly wise than their dad.

Sid plays it respectable as the suburban father, occasionally henpecked by his wife Jean (Diana Coupland) and stressed out by his life as a salesman. Yes, he still likes the odd drink and a smoke down the pub with his best mate Trevor, but it's still far removed from his big screen womanising personality. The role of Sidney Abbott fitted James like a glove - it was probably the one role that most closely represented the man himself. Interestingly, as Bless This House became increasingly popular, the family man pipe and cardigan image began to appear in the Carry Ons - Sid Plummer may have spent the entire film chasing Chloe Moore but at heart he was a family man in At Your Convenience. 

Bless This House was very much of its time. It was light, frothy and farcical. It also replicated what was no doubt happening across Britain at the time. The older, post-war generation were now struggling to understand their teenage children who were very obviously benefiting from the liberal 1960s. Sid's character runs the gamut of free love, birth control and adventurous fashions, struggling to take it all in and keep up. Interestingly, Jean, although from the same generation as her husband, has no such trouble with the changing face and quickening pace of the 1970s youth. 

At the heart of Bless This House was a wonderfully warm, funny and believable husband and wife double act between Sid and Diana Coupland. Diana was a brilliant foil for Sid, always coming out on top. You could tell they got on and enjoyed working together. Sid also had terrific chemistry with Robin Stewart and Sally Geeson and his friendship with Anthony Jackson as Trevor was on the money too. Throw in a semi-regular role for Carry On favourite Patsy Rowlands and you have one hell of a show! Incidentally, apparently Sid recommended Patsy for the role as his neighbour Betty in Bless This House as he had enjoyed working with her in the Carry On series.

The series also had some excellent writers, including Harry Driver, Vince Powell, Dave Freeman, Carla Lane and Myra Taylor. Driver was a regular contributor to Coronation Street while Dave Freeman worked with the likes of Benny Hill and later wrote Carry On Behind. Lane worked on Bless This House years before her hit comedies Butterflies and Bread. 

So there you have it. Bless This House is a wonderful example of the classic 1970s sitcom that British television used to do so well. It is also a fitting legacy for the tremendous Sidney James. It brought out a side of Sid audiences may have found unfamiliar at the time but it showed once again just what a gifted comedy actor our Sidney was.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.