Shelley

Shelley is a British sitcom made by Thames Television and originally broadcast on ITV from 12 July 1979 to 12 January 1984 and from 11 October 1988 to 1 September 1992. Starred Hywel Bennett as James Shelley, originally 28 years old and a sardonic, perpetually unemployed anti-establishment 'freelance layabout' with a doctoral degree. In the original run, Belinda Sinclair played Shelley's girlfriend Fran, and Josephine Tewson appeared regularly as his Landlady, Edna Hawkins. The series was created by Peter Tilbury who also wrote the first three series. The scripts for subsequent episodes were by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, Colin Bostock-Smith, David Frith, Bernard McKenna and Barry Pilton. All 71 episodes were produced and directed by Anthony Parker. Series seven was titled on screen The return of Shelley, and was broadcast in 1988. This time round, Shelley is separated from Fran, and lives on his own, doing his best to avoid obtaining gainful employment. The series begins with Shelley returning to the UK from Saudi Arabia, where he had taught English for a few years, only to find that his calls to his old friends are now screened by answer phones and that yuppieness has taken root in his old neighbourhood. The final three series returned to the on-screen title of Shelley.

Comedy

Seasons

1. Moving In

Air Date: 1979-07-12

Shelley and his girlfriend Fran are looking for accomadation. After viewing unsuitable properties, they find a room at Mrs Hawkins' house.

2. The Nelson Touch

Air Date: 1979-07-19

Shelley is appalled to learn that his favourite pub is to undergo a refit, to be renamed 'The Victory' and the staff are to dress as Admiral Nelson. But that is the least of his problems. At the Unemployment Benefit Office, the Dole Inspector wants to know why, with his qualifications ( ten O Levels, 4 A Levels and a Phd ) he has hardly ever worked. "I don't like work.", says Shelley.

3. Gainfully Employed

Air Date: 1979-07-26

When Shelley fails to come home one night after working behind the bar of 'The Victory', Mrs.Hawkins tells Fran not to worry. "Wherever he is, he won't be with a woman!".

4. The Distaff Side

Air Date: 1979-08-02

Our hero has landed a cushy job writing copy for an advertising agency ( nice work if you can get it! ). He hates it but is looking forward to his first pay check. But when it arrives he is not happy - after tax deductions it is not much higher than the money he got on the Dole.

1. Elders and Betters

Air Date: 1980-04-17

Visiting a health shop, Shelley is appalled at the high prices of some of the items. The moment he and Fran have long dreaded has arrived. Travelling by train, they arrive at the country home/farm of Gordon Smith, Fran's rich Dad. He is a charmless snob who regards Shelley as a layabout even though he now has a job.

2. May the Best Man Win

Air Date: 1980-04-24

Shelley is reunited with his oldest friend, Ned, whom he asks to be best man at his forthcoming wedding. Ned, unfortunately, is a 'Jack The Lad' type who loves to drink, smoke, and make love. Fran dislikes him intensely, and openly says so.

3. Nowt So Queer

Air Date: 1980-05-01

Shelley's attempts to prepare a dinner party meet with continual interruptions; first, a Jehovah's Witness rings the doorbell and refuses to go away, then an elderly neighbour called Mrs.Ratcliffe asks him to fix her shelf. Mrs.Ratcliffe is, unfortunately, senile, and thinks that all the women at that address - Mrs.H included - are on the game.

4. Owner Occupiers

Air Date: 1980-05-08

Shelley, now in work, looks for somewhere to live with wife-to-be Fran and their impending child. They come across a ramshackle house which they want to buy but cannot as they do not have enough money. A visit to the local Bank leads them nowhere - to get a mortgage you first need an account.

5. Expletive Deleted

Air Date: 1980-05-15

Shelley has to come up with a sales campaign for a new range of Instant Paella. The stuff proves hard to market as it is virtually tasteless. In a meeting, he inadvertently insults his boss Cyril ( John Barron ), not realising the comment has been captured on tape. When a colleague tells him this, he is horrified.

6. Tea and Sympathy

Air Date: 1980-05-22

Shelley is working on an ad campaign for striped pyjamas when a crisis interrupts his train of thought. A fellow lodger, Miss Landis, is so lonely and depressed in the big city she takes an overdose of sleeping pills.

7. Hearth and Home

Air Date: 1980-05-29

Shelley and Fran are in their bed-sit as usual. She is engrossed in a dog-eared copy of George Orwell's 'Keep The Aspidistra Flying' while he - plainly lonely - tries to strike up a conversation with her. But her only responses are non-committal grunts.

8. Fully Furnished

Air Date: 1980-06-05

Shelley wants to buy an old book in a junk shop but the dealer tries to make him think it is worth far more than it really is. After a protracted debate, the dealer agrees to let him have it for nothing.

9. Dearly Beloved

Air Date: 1980-06-18

The final episode of the second 'Shelley' series ends with James marrying Fran. Mrs.H and Shelley's mother spend the night at Fran's Dad's palatial house in Shropshire. Isobel's liberal attitude to life and free use of language ( describing her son as 'a little sod' at one point ) clearly embarrass the host.

1. Christmas with Shelley

Air Date: 1980-12-22

Shelley and Fran have decided to celebrate several days early, before they are overwhelmed by parentage. After a big dinner, they ( along with Mrs.H ) sit around a table, looking thoroughly bloated and miserable. Shelley is alarmed because he put ten sixpences in the Xmas pudding and so far they have only accounted for eight.

2. Of Mice and Men

Air Date: 1980-12-29

Shelley and Fran are spending the night in their new house, which is undergoing renovation. Fran hears something scuttling inside in a bin liner. Shelley admits he forgot to throw the bag out. Their debate on whether to dispose of the rodent mutates into a heated discussion on his job.

3. Signing On

Air Date: 1981-01-05

The day of reckoning arrives and Shelley goes to his local DHSS office to sign on for the dole.

4. Nor Iron Bars a Cage

Air Date: 1981-01-12

Shelley, once more with bags of time on his hands, is attempting to put up kitchen shelves, when he is interrupted by Paul 'Bunter' Englund ( Warren Clarke ), the best man at his recent wedding. Bunter is in a state of high anxiety. The police are after him.

5. Foreign Affairs

Air Date: 1981-01-19

Having blown his latest job interview through telling the truth ( that he hates work in all its forms ), Shelley decides to try lying his way into a top job at the Foreign Office. The panel are a sinister bunch, headed by Grace Lissier ( Gaye Brown ), a cross between 'Millicent Fritton' of St.Trinians and 'Rosa Klebb' of SMERSH.

6. Universal Trust

Air Date: 1981-01-26

Shelley is having a quiet cup of tea and reading a paper in Arthur's café, when a tramp ( Nicholas Le Prevost ) sits down and mutters: "What is life?". Rather than tell the guy, Derek Nayland, to sling his hook, Jim engages him in a heated discussion about life, the universe and everything.

7. Dry Rot

Air Date: 1981-02-02

Shelley is attempting to do all the rewiring in his and Fran's new home, while she, heavily pregnant, watches him. His monologue about his woodwork teacher - 'Mr.Smiley' - is cut short when Mrs.H. shows up, and starts complaining about the Moroccans who have moved into her boarding house. Then salesman Mr.Croft tries to persuade Shelley he has Dry Rot under the stairs...

8. You Have to Laugh

Air Date: 1981-02-09

The third season of 'Shelley' ends with the birth of his and Fran's daughter, whom they christen 'Emma' ( named after Hywel Bennett's real-life daughter ). Fran insists on her husband being present at the birth.

1. Unkindest Cuts

Air Date: 1982-02-18

In spite of cutbacks, full time employment att eh Foreign Office looms for Shelley.

2. A Drop of the Pink Stuff

Air Date: 1982-02-25

3. No News is Good ...

Air Date: 1982-03-04

4. Credit Where Credit's Due

Air Date: 1982-03-11

5. Mortal Coils

Air Date: 1982-03-18

6. Slaughterhouse Sling

Air Date: 1982-03-25

1. On the Road to Damascus

Air Date: 1982-11-04

2. Brave New World

Air Date: 1982-11-11

3. Shelley Vs Shelley

Air Date: 1982-11-18

4. Noises Off

Air Date: 1982-11-25

5. Tubes Help You Breed Less Easily

Air Date: 1982-12-02

1. Dry Dreams

Air Date: 1983-12-01

2. It Nearly Always Happens to Somebody Else

Air Date: 1983-12-08

Shelley is angered by the casual attitude of the police when he reports his toaster stolen.

3. Of Cabbages and Kings

Air Date: 1983-12-15

4. The Party

Air Date: 1983-12-22

5. Brief Encounter

Air Date: 1984-01-05

Shelley's mother arranges for him to dine with Fran, who gave him the elbow weeks ago.

6. Untitled

Air Date: 1984-01-12

1. The Return of Shelley

Air Date: 1988-10-11

2. In God We Trust

Air Date: 1988-10-18

3. Emergency Ward 9

Air Date: 1988-10-25

4. One of Those Nights

Air Date: 1988-11-01

5. Why Me?

Air Date: 1988-11-08

6. The Big S

Air Date: 1988-11-15

1. The Artful Lodger

Air Date: 1989-10-17

2. Shelley Washes Whiter

Air Date: 1989-10-24

3. A Happy Event

Air Date: 1989-10-31

4. Born Freeish

Air Date: 1989-11-07

5. Day of the Reptile

Air Date: 1989-11-14

6. For Whom the Bell Tolls

Air Date: 1989-11-21

7. The Gospel According to Shelley

Air Date: 1989-11-28

8. Wages of Virtue

Air Date: 1989-12-05

9. It's Only a Game

Air Date: 1989-12-12

10. Killer Driller

Air Date: 1989-12-19

11. Cold Turkey

Air Date: 1989-12-26

12. A Problem Aired

Air Date: 1990-01-02

13. Help!

Air Date: 1990-01-09

1. A Trial Period

Air Date: 1990-09-24

2. A Question Of Attitude

Air Date: 1990-10-01

3. Golden Oldies

Air Date: 1990-10-08

4. The Bug

Air Date: 1990-10-15

5. Second Best Man

Air Date: 1990-10-22

6. Brainstrain

Air Date: 1990-10-29

7. New Year Special

Air Date: 1991-01-01

1. The Deep End

Air Date: 1992-07-28

2. Come Fly With Me

Air Date: 1992-08-04

3. Love is ...

Air Date: 1992-08-11

4. A Little Learning

Air Date: 1992-08-18

5. Happy Birthday R.I.P.

Air Date: 1992-08-25

6. Accountants and Zulus

Air Date: 1992-09-01

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Rating

7.7/10

Release Date

1979-07-12

Episodes

70 (10 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast