The Rag Trade
The Rag Trade is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978. The scripts were by Ronald Wolfe and Ronald Chesney, who later wrote Wild, Wild Women, Meet the Wife and On the Buses. Wild, Wild Women was a period variation of The Rag Trade. The action centred on a small clothing workshop, Fenner Fashions in London. Although run by Harold Fenner and Reg the foreman, the female workers are led by militant shop steward Paddy Fleming, ever ready to strike, with the catchphrase "Everybody out!" Other cast members included Sheila Hancock, Esma Reese Cannon, Wanda Ventham and Barbara Windsor. The Rag Trade was revived by ITV company LWT in 1977, with Jones and Karlin reprising their roles. The 1977 version ran for two series, most of the scripts being based on the BBC episodes from the 1960s, and featured Anna Karen and future EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth as factory workers. The theme tune for the LWT series was written and performed by Lynsey De Paul.
Seasons
1. The Baby
Air Date: 1961-10-06
When Fenner finds one of the girls has brought her baby to work, the resultant fracas between management and staff threatens production of a line of polka dot gowns.
2. Getting Married
Air Date: 1961-10-13
Paddy promises Carole the girls will be able to make her a wedding dress with material left over from an order for Arcadia Gowns.
3. Early Start
Air Date: 1961-10-20
Fenner installs a time clock to help gain a contract with chain store Parks & Spicer and the resultant docking of wages leaves the girls with no money to bet on a sure thing at the races.
4. The French Fashions
Air Date: 1961-10-27
Fenner arranges for Carole to model a pair of slacks at the Ritz Plaza to help secure an American order.
5. The Sample
Air Date: 1961-11-03
Paddy allows Carole to wear a sample dress to lunch with her sailor boyfriend and a resultant mishap jeopardizes a 3:30 viewing by a prospective buyer.
6. Unhappy Customer
Air Date: 1961-11-10
Fenner is determined to enforce a ban on eating in the workroom when an angry customer returns items of food in his garments.
7. Series 1, Episode 7
Air Date: 1961-11-17
(Lost Episode) Fenner Fashions has been awarded a contract to supply Wren uniforms to the Admiralty by inadvertently tendering bankruptingly low prices so the girls have to show their workmanship is shoddy to save the situation.
8. Doctor's Orders
Air Date: 1961-11-24
Fenner is laid low with a heavy cold at the very moment he has to produce a gown which is to be worn on television by an international singing star and lead to numerous orders.
9. The Italian Designer
Air Date: 1961-12-01
(Lost Episode) The arrival of Roberto, an Italian beachwear designer, causes strained relations among the girls in the workroom.
10. Christmas Box
Air Date: 1961-12-08
To make a bit of pocket money for the Festive season, Paddy and the girls produce 300 golliwog dolls, unbeknownst to Fenner.
1. The Thief
Air Date: 1962-04-06
Paddy has installed a fruit machine in the rest room. The factory electricity supply is cut off for non-payment of the bill.
2. Lily's Dog
Air Date: 1962-04-13
Lily's puppy Dinky is feeling poorly so she brings him into the factory.
3. Locked In
Air Date: 1962-04-20
A lady factory inspector arrives to discover Reg, dressed in drag, in the ladies' rest room.
4. Painting Fenner's Flat
Air Date: 1962-04-27
Fenner gives Reg the keys to his flat so that he can paint the walls. Paddy holds her birthday party there. Fenner returns unexpectedly and so does his battle-axe of a mother-in-law.
5. Series 2, Episode 5
Air Date: 1962-05-04
(Lost Episode) Carole and Paddy take the day off, but find themselves in hot water when Mr. Fenner returns unexpectedly.
6. The Client
Air Date: 1962-05-11
Fenner makes a time and motion study of the girls, but loses money on the deal. His potential buyer for the dresses is a gourmand, so he tries to get Reg and the girls to provide a slap-up meal in his office.
7. Stay-In Strike
Air Date: 1962-05-18
A stuck-up new secretary takes Carole's job of modelling causing Paddy to take industrial action.
8. The Fish and Chip Shop
Air Date: 1962-05-25
(Lost Episode) Paddy and Reg take over the running of a fish and chip shop.
9. Safety Precaution
Air Date: 1962-06-01
Paddy calls frequent stoppages for fire drills. Reg has to impersonate a French designer and romance a female buyer.
10. Stainproofer
Air Date: 1962-06-08
Chaos results at Fenner's Fashions when bleach is exchanged for stain proofing.
11. Doctor
Air Date: 1962-06-15
The factory's girls are attracted to a young doctor. This causes them to fall behind with their work. Paddy tries to rectify the situation by bringing in outside help, but a factory inspector turns up.
12. Barber's Shop
Air Date: 1962-06-22
Paddy adds laundry service to Fenner's Fashions to earn some extra money.
13. The Bank Manager
Air Date: 1962-06-29
Fenner tries to persuade his bank manager that Fenner's Fashions is a good investment. He cannot sell a batch of baby doll nighties, but the girls sew fringes on them and they sell as flapper dresses.
1. The Australian
Air Date: 1963-01-05
(Lost Episode) Fenner and Paddy try to find Reg a woman
2. Triplets
Air Date: 1963-01-12
(Lost Episode)
3. Series 3, Episode 3
Air Date: 1963-01-19
(Lost Episode) Fenners hires Reg's mother as his new assistant
4. Series 3, Episode 4
Air Date: 1963-01-26
(Lost Episode)
5. Baby Dolls
Air Date: 1963-02-02
(Lost Episode) Fenner becomes obsessed with horse racing
6. Mistaken Tax
Air Date: 1963-02-09
(Lost Episode) Reg's lies over his tax forms come back to haunt him
7. After The Ball
Air Date: 1963-02-16
(Lost Episode) Fenner has to pretend Judy is his daughter when they go to represent Fenners Fashion at a ball
8. The Budgie
Air Date: 1963-02-23
(Lost Episode)
9. Series 3, Episode 9
Air Date: 1963-03-02
(Lost Episode)
10. The Italian Girl
Air Date: 1963-03-09
(Lost Episode) Judy accuses Reg of having an affair
11. Babysitters Unlimited
Air Date: 1963-03-16
(Lost Episode) Fenner finds himself in debt with only the girls to help him
12. National Productivity Year
Air Date: 1963-03-23
(Lost Episode) Paddy's job is on the line when another strike attempt sadly backfires
13. The Engagement Ring
Air Date: 1963-03-30
(Lost Episode) Reg and Judy's engagement party is ruined when the engagement ring is stolen
1. Stay In Strike
Air Date: 1977-09-11
Fenner entertains a German client who's keen to see the workforce. Unfortunately, it's before nine o'clock and the workers aren't working. To ensure the staff arrive on time, a clocking-in machine is installed which leads to a strike.
2. The Sample
Air Date: 1977-09-18
The girls have produced an exclusive Italian sample dress for a potential buyer. Unfortunately, when the buyer arrives to see it, Kathy is wearing it out on a date.
3. Fixing the Rate
Air Date: 1977-09-25
Fenner has a problem - a rising wage bill and falling production. To improve the situation, he sets up a time and motions study. The girls of course throw a spanner in the works.
4. The Lunch Problem
Air Date: 1977-10-02
The local diner has put its prices up, leaving the girls out of pocket. They are outraged when Fenner refuses to give them a special subsidy, so they take special measures to dine in luxury at the factory.
5. The Export Order
Air Date: 1977-10-09
Fenner is ecstatic to land an order from the US. Knowing the American market is demanding, he insists on perfection. Unfortunately the girls spend the afternoon celebrating Kathy's birthday.
6. The Italian Line
Air Date: 1977-10-16
Mr. Fenner brings in an Italian designer to help with the smooth running of the factory. Paddy is instantly opposed, until she meets the Italian heart-throb.
7. Olive's Baby
Air Date: 1977-10-23
After a row with her old man, Olive has no choice but to bring her baby into work. Terrified that Fenner will disapprove, she tries her best to hide him.
8. The Wedding Dress
Air Date: 1977-10-30
Kathy announces that she's marrying Big Jim who works on an oil rig. To save her expense, the girls agree to make her a wedding dress from stock fabric. Unfortunately, Mrs. Fenner is helping to stock-take.
9. The Sideline
Air Date: 1977-11-06
Fenner has picked up an order for a line of fur coats. When Olive makes a panda toy with some of the waste, Paddy spots an opportunity to sell her new boyfriend, Roger, a batch of soft toys.
10. The Guvnor's Wife
Air Date: 1977-11-13
When Kathy and Paddy tape down the button which switches the intercom on, Mrs. Fenner hears some home truths from her husband who is talking with the girls in the work room.
11. The New Girl
Air Date: 1977-11-20
Mr. Fenner realises that during his absence, production plummets. To counter this, he hires stuck-up June to supervise. The girls hatch a plan to get rid of the stuck-up overseer.
12. The Bet
Air Date: 1977-11-27
Fenner gets the chance to supply a large chain with Fenner Fashions, however, the girls are distracted when they place a bet on the horses.
13. The Accident
Air Date: 1977-12-11
When Kathy falls off a chair in the restroom while trying on a dress, Paddy tries to get her compensation by rigging up an accident in the workroom.
14. The New Brother
Air Date: 1977-12-18
Skilled seamstress Shana Ahmed is employed to complete the hand embroidery on a new line. Her husband objects to her working there and is worried that she'll pick up bad habits.
15. Christmas Rush
Air Date: 1977-12-24
Production always slows down as Christmas nears and one dress gets destroyed as the clock reaches 5pm. Will anyone stay behind and help Mr. Fenner?
1. The Annual Ball
Air Date: 1978-09-08
The girls are busy getting an order ready for Glamour Gowns, but once again their work is interrupted by Mrs Fenner, who wants her dress altered, unfortunately it vanishes.
2. The Leather Line
Air Date: 1978-09-15
Fenner has an order, a design and the stock for a range of leather garments, unfortunately Paddy and the girls feel that it is work they should not be carrying out, claiming that leather work is a specific skill.
3. Stress
Air Date: 1978-09-22
The Banks start to close in on Fenner Fashions, and he's forced to economise or go under. Fearing for his health, and the possibility of Mrs Fenner taking over, Paddy demands the girls work harder and economise.
4. A Bad Patch
Air Date: 1978-09-29
Things go from bad to worse for Fenner, not a single order comes through, to keep busy, the girls offer to decorate the restroom, for £30 a head.
5. Come Back Paddy
Air Date: 1978-10-06
Fenner is close to landing a large order, but he's up against Roger Jackson's rival factory. Chances of the order seem slim when Jackson offers Paddy a job at his factory.
6. Self Defence
Air Date: 1978-10-13
The girls are terrified by the number of attacks in the area, and threaten industrial action, unless Fenner pays for them to have lessons in self defence.
7. Fenner's Folly
Air Date: 1978-10-20
Fenner's in a flap over a sample cocktail dress, and even agrees to an extortionate rate from Paddy, the reason, Miss Butler of The Chelsea Boutique.
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Rating
5.7/10
Release Date
1961-10-06
Episodes
58 (5 seasons)
Status
Returning Series
