Rather disconcerting to see that some of the pupils in the first episode of Please Sir! look older than their new teacher.
There was a time when you had to look that you were about to enter middle age if you wanted to be cast as a schoolboy on a British sitcom. Then again seeing mini skirted sensuous Sharon would give the viewer a fair idea why an older actress had to be used.
John Alderton is Bernard Hedges, a newly qualified teacher on his first day at Fenn Street school. He has been given the unruly pupils at 5C who have a reputation of being troublesome.
Hedges has also upset the officious and cranky caretaker Norman Potter (Deryck Guyler) who is not happy.
Hedges somehow wins over the class as he gets a reputation of knowing karate.
The sitcom was probably inspired by the success of To Sir with Love. Although I would also say that the Will Hay schoolmaster character might also be an inspiration. I think the casting of Guyler certainly led me to that conclusion.
The first episode establishes the characters and the task in hand for the new teacher. It also has the slightly cheeky and risque humour of late 1960s swinging Britain.
