In Sickness and in Health

Till death do Us part ran from 1965- 1975 and spawned a feature film made in 1968, Mitchell was wonderful as the henpecked Docker named Alf Garnett who was constantly at odds with bureaucracy whilst trying to maintain order at home with his family.

This sequel centres upon Alf as an old aged pensioner Elsie played by Dandy Nichols passed away during the making of the first series so her death was written into the series. Anthony Booth ( Tony Blair's father in law) was absent from this sequel because he didn't like the way the corporation was changing as a business and declined the opportunity to reprise his role.

Una Stubbs who played his daughter Rita appears occasionally in this show; the series is about Alf's golden years as an old aged pensioner coping with old age without Elsie by his side.

The series is funny and moving in equal doses and not as obvious and anarchic as till death do Us part.

Warren Mitchell carries the program with alomb and manages to cope without the presence of his family.

Overall: a rarity a sequel which Is better than the original which doesn't happen very often.

While not quite as good as Til Death do Us Part, this is still a great series and is well worth a watch for British comedy fans. The aging Alf remains much the same in his attitudes, though he has now moved into a flat in a different area. Dandy Nichols death meant that from series 2 Alf was now a widowed man, though the series' writing has no dip in quality.

Every episode is seemingly as good as the last with every one of them being entertaining in their own right. I love the second Christmas special in particular. It's not politically correct today of course but this remains one of the best British comedies of the 80s.