Don't Forget to Write!

This was a TV comedy series, but it was produced by the BBC's drama department, not its comey department; hence, each episode ran 50 minutes, not half-and-hour, and there was no audience or laugh track. Charles Wood wrote it, and part of the fun lay in our wondering how much of it was based on his own life, as the hero, Gordon Maple, described as a "lesser-known English dramatist", makes most of his money by writing screenplays for films which are never made. Throughout the first series, he was toiling away at a script called "Thundering Hooves", whilst coping with his near-hysterical wife (Gwen Watford) and oddball children, not to mention his neighbour, best friend and deadliest rival, a very successful playwright indeed, allegedly based on Wood's real-life neighbour and friend Peter Nichols. The friend (Francis Matthews) is said to be the author of a play called "Soldiers In Spurts" - Nichols had recently written "Privates On Parade"; Gordon is said to be the author of plays called "Elephant" and "Dog" - Wood had written a play called "Dingo". The first series also featured a famous actor-knight clearly based on John Gielgud, who had starred in Wood's script for "The Charge Of The Light Brigade". By episode six of the first series, Wood seemed to have deliberately written himself into a corner to avoid a second series, but a second series nonetheless appeared in 1979. It was very nearly as brillaintly funny and original as the first, but the BBC have never repeated either. Why not? More people should know it.

The recordings of this series do exist and I believe they are in the archives of York University. In spite of the wonderful performances by George Cole and Gwen Watford the BBC didn't like this series at all for some reason best known to them. They played the usual trick of putting the second series out later and later at night - why they play this game is beyond me but play it they do once it has been decided, presumably by the Drama Controller (if there is such a thing) that they wish to be disassociated. I doubt if anything can be done about getting them to change their minds and show it again and it would probably not find favour with present day audiences. Perhaps the University of York could do a special showing but I think it is unlikely for copyright reasons. It would in itself make a very good episode. Of course Gordon Maple (George Cole) would find that he was refused admission while his friend would be a guest of honour.

I also remember this show very fondly. George Cole's character was perpetually blocked and his best friend Francis Matthews was always very successful and prolific. George Cole and Francis Matthews were VERY good in this show, but I adored the late great Gwen Watford as his wife.

I can't remember what her catch phrase was exactly, but every time George Cole's character explained WHY he'd gone to such lengths to avoid any work and cause huge upset in the household, she's deliberately under-react. "Yes, I see" she would say, very angry and about to explode, but not till she got out of earshot. She put over the exasperation very well. Wish I could remember the exact phrase but it was priceless...

I do miss Gwen. She was very sexy in this role, despite being middle aged. All around wonderful show. PLEASE put it on DVD as soon as possible.

I remember this as a really enjoyable comedy series, with some lovely performances by skilled actors, such as George Cole, Gwen Watford, Francis Matthews, and Daphne Heard, to mention just four.

Light comedy at it's best! Series of this quality are just not made any more - too civilised, I suppose, and not sensational enough...

Another aspect of the series was it's uniqueness - I don't recall any other comedy series that was centred around a writer's inability to write, set within a family context!

I noticed that a previous reviewer said that it should be released on DVD - well, I, for one, would buy it!

I remember this very fondly, not least because my friends thought George Cole's family in it resembled my own. It also appeared in the Financial Times' TV critic's list of the 10 best sitcoms ever made. Apparently it's pretty strongly autobiographical, with George Cole playing the 'Charles Wood' character and Francis Matthews Wood's real-life neighbour Peter Nichols.

There were some exceptionally droll setpieces in it, including a scene where George Cole goes through all the motions of shaving while trying to hold a conversation but entirely fails to get the razor onto his face. I also remember the son having a probation officer who was about 19 and would just go to his room and listen to records with him.

Cole's character spends much of the two series with writer's block and at one point bemoans the fact that he is forced to make ends meet by knocking out episodes of a sitcom based on his own family.

It was also (along with Alan Plater's "Middlemen") one of the best showings by Francis Matthews who seemed set to become a big comedy star but dropped out of view somewhat after this.

I agree the BBC should repeat this series without delay (ideal for BBC4), or better still put it out on a DVD.