Sunnyside Farm

Unlike most of the posters here, I actually have every episode of Sunnyside Farm, albeit on a desperately old fashioned VHS tape. What I tend to do with new (usually badly advertised) comedies is that I tape the entire series just in case it takes years for it to be released on tape or DVD. With Sunnyside Farm this strategy paid off big time as it wasn't even repeated on the telly. Anywhere. On any channel. Ever. For those posters who don't remember a lot of the funny scenes and lines, I will remind you of one of the best bits from episode one. It's the one where Ken (the really stupid one) informs Ray (the less stupid one) that he's lost their herd of cows. When Ray asks Ken what he means by 'lost', Ken says that 'I put them on a bus.' Ray then asks Ken to go through exactly what happened. Ken informs him that there was him, the cows, then there was a bus, then a lot of pushing and shoving, then the cows were on the bus, and then the bus drove off with all the cows. That may not sound funny to anyone who hasn't seen the series or doesn't remember that particular episode, but I almost cry with laughter every time I watch it. Ah, Sunnyside Farm. Fantastic.

NEWSFLASH: If you'd like to buy a newly-converted DVD of Sunnyside Farm, then drop me a line at: robwhiteheaduk@hotmail.com

But I do remember that I thought this was funny and should definitely be made available, and I normally hate that cockney guy.

This And Glam Metal Detectives needs a DVD release.

I wish I could remember more of this but unfortunately I didn't record any episodes.

I'm sure this could hold it's own against the total dross we now in the UK have instead of comedy (excluding Peep Show, TV Burp & Entertainment Now)

WAKE UP BBC! If The High Life can get a DVD release.

Why not this?

The word has it that this programme was commissioned when another production fell through, with only three months notice.

I could have sworn it made it to a second series, but who am I to argue.

The gist of the plot was two brothers inherited a farm, one, the 'cleverer' of the pair was overcome with dismay, at the utter futility of the situation.

He fantasised about having an affair with the 'woman next door' - a pretty if not especially bright 'townie' who's moved from the city with her husband and children (Oberon & Titania) The second brother (by far the more stupid) is content with his lot.

To that extent, it's a thinly veiled remake of the classic 1960's sitcom 'Steptoe and Son'.

In my estimation this should have been ranked alongside 'Father Ted' but the mandarins at the BBC thought otherwise, nd it was quietly 'put out to grass'

For me this was a must see alternative look at life in the country.! All the characters were larger than life,but as someone who grew up in an English village you could see people that could have fit the bill from your own youth. So it was not "pc" but that can only be a good thing looking back as we have now gone too far with that brigade.And what is wrong with having a good belly laugh,?as most times we are probably laughing at ourselves anyway,as none of us are perfect. I put "Sunnyside farm" in the same pigeonhole as "I Hope it rains" starring the late Tom Bell,this too was a minority audience comedy set at the seaside,with him running a really run down waxworks type museum.

I have now tired of sending pleading emails to UK satellite channels requesting that they re-run this show, and would like to leave this comment as a parting shot. I don't suppose for one moment that I was the only person to enjoy this comedy, it's just I have yet to meet another! Phil Daniels and Mark Addy were great in this show, and I can still see Ray Sunnyside standing atop a pile of dung shouting with delight that his sheep had disease (compensation instead of actually having to look after them), the lesbianarium for the visiting female couple, not to mention the natural yoghurt! Yes it was crude, yes the language was foul, and yes the characters were disgusting, but I loved every episode. It was ahead of its time, thats for sure.....jeez I would love to see it again.....maybe just a few more begging emails......