Comedy Playhouse

Comedy Playhouse

Comedy Playhouse is a long-running British anthology series of one-off unrelated sitcoms that aired for 120 episodes from 1961 to 1975. Many episodes later graduated to their own series, including Steptoe and Son, Till Death Us Do Part, All Gas and Gaiters, The Liver Birds, Are You Being Served? and Last of the Summer Wine, which is the world's longest running sitcom, having run from January 1973 to August 2010.

Comedy

Seasons

1. Cliquot et Fils

Air Date: 1961-12-15

An undertaker in 1920s France needs to drum up trade for his ailing business.

2. Lunch in the Park

Air Date: 1961-12-22

A pair of office workers have for ten years spent their lunch hour on the same park bench.

3. The Private Lives of Edward Whitely

Air Date: 1961-12-29

The misadventures of bigamist Edward Whitely.

4. The Offer

Air Date: 1962-01-05

Harold Steptoe, a middle aged rag and bone man, yearns to break away from the clutches of his elderly, conniving, and disgusting father, but events always conspire against him.

5. The Reunion

Air Date: 1962-01-12

A reunion doesn't go as planned.

6. The Telephone Call

Air Date: 1962-06-19

A worried man uses his phone to do something about the troubled world.

7. The Status Symbol

Air Date: 1962-01-26

A garage owner doesn't want to return a customer's Rolls Royce because he he likes the way it looks in his yard.

8. Visiting Day

Air Date: 1962-02-02

A group of hospital patients prepare for visiting day.

9. Sealed with a Loving Kiss

Air Date: 1962-02-09

A pair of penpals decide to meet for the first time, but they haven't been telling the truth about themselves.

10. The Channel Swimmer

Air Date: 1962-02-16

A man determines to swim the Channel.

1. Our Man in Moscow

Air Date: 1962-03-01

A Russian musician asks for political asylum and gives the British ambassador troubles.

2. And Here, All The Way From ...

Air Date: 1963-03-08

District Commissioner Donald Lawrence travels to London from Borneo in order to be a guest on his brother's ""This Is Your Life,"" but the show is called off.

3. Impasse

Air Date: 1962-03-15

Two drivers refuse to give way to each other.

4. Have You Read This Notice?

Air Date: 1963-03-29

Norman is beset by nerves as he tries to sneak a watch through the ""Nothing To Declare"" channel at an airport.

5. A Clerical Error

Air Date: 1963-04-05

A con-man, recently released from Wormwood Scrubs prison, dresses up as a clergyman and turns up in a pub collecting for a highly dubious charity.

6. The Handyman

Air Date: 1963-04-12

An out of work machine minder takes a job as a Handyman at a health club.

1. On The Knocker

Air Date: 1963-09-28

Exploits of door-to-door salesman Ronnie Fender.

2. Underworld Nights

Air Date: 1963-10-05

Exploits of crime writer Vogler.

3. Fools Rush In

Air Date: 1963-10-12

A retired Major tries to adjust to civilian life.

4. Shamrot

Air Date: 1963-10-19

Dermot is a London-born Irishman who hates everything about England, but has never even been to the ""Old Country.""

5. The Bachelor Girls

Air Date: 1963-10-26

Two young girls about town share a flat.

6. The Plan

Air Date: 1963-11-02

Albert Fawkes hates his surname and rebels against it by trying to re-enact the Gunpowder Plot.

7. A Picture of Innocence

Air Date: 1963-11-09

Northern Arthur Berry develops an interest in art.

8. Nicked at the Bottle

Air Date: 1963-11-16

Lawyer Mossy advises Mrs Emily Trout and her family of crooks.

9. The Chars

Air Date: 1963-11-23

Exploits of two charladies at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

10. Comrades in Arms

Air Date: 1963-11-30

A window cleaner witnesses an extramarital affair and is soon involved in farcical cover-up shenanigans.

11. The Walrus and the Carpenter

Air Date: 1963-12-14

Exploits of a pair of mismatched elderly friends.

12. The Bed

Air Date: 1963-12-28

The ups and downs of a Northern married couple.

13. The Mate Market

Air Date: 1964-01-03

Exploits of marriage bureau owner John Cook.

14. The Hen House

Air Date: 1964-01-10

Mrs Fanwyn runs her Khartoum House Girls Hostel with a firm hand.

15. The Siege of Sydney's Street

Air Date: 1964-01-17

Sydney Lord hates beaurocracy and determines to fight it whenever he finds it.

16. The Mascot

Air Date: 1964-01-24

Mad keen football fan Arnold Birtwhistle is mascot of Northtown Football Club, but new chairman Mr Gibson wants to change the club's image.

17. Good Luck Sir, You've Got A Lucky Face

Air Date: 1964-01-31

Match seller Gomorrah Weevil tangles with slum landlord Harold Harbinger.

1. Barnaby Spoot And The Exploding Whoopee Cushion

Air Date: 1965-05-28

Barnaby Spoot, the lowly assistant in a novelty shop managed by short-tempered Mr Bostock, is determined to make his mark in the novelty trade by inventing new gags. Unfortunately, his latest device is typical: a talking cheese (the Chatty Cheddar) that no one wants. So Spoot decides to wreak revenge on the conglomerate that controls the shop by assassinating the entire board of directors with....

2. Mother Came Too

Air Date: 1965-06-04

Arthur Pratt struggles to break away from his domineering mother.

3. Here I Come Whoever I Am

Air Date: 1965-06-11

32-year-old Ambrose Twombly yearns to fall in love.

4. Happy Family

Air Date: 1965-06-18

Problems of Ted coping with a wife and four daughters.

5. Memoirs Of A Chaise Longue

Air Date: 1965-07-02

Stories of various couples who have 'used' a chaise longue through the years.

6. Murray And Me

Air Date: 1965-07-08

Murray tries to learn ""The Knowledge' (all the streets in London) in order to qualify as a taxi driver.

7. Hudd

Air Date: 1965-07-15

A solo vehicle for comedian Roy Hudd, later developed into a six-episode series, with no continuing characters or situations.

8. Till Death Us Do Part

Air Date: 1965-07-22

Working class bigot Alf fights with his more liberal daughter and son-in-law on every conceivable issue.

9. The Time And Motion Man

Air Date: 1965-07-29

Time and Motion man Kingsley Binns lets his job spill over into his private life.

10. Sam The Samaritan

Air Date: 1965-08-05

Exploits of three sailors on leave in 1910.

11. The Vital Spark

Air Date: 1965-08-12

Misadventures of Captain Para Handy and his hapless crew aboard ""The Vital Spark.""

12. Betsy Mae

Air Date: 1965-08-19

A twleve-year-old schoolboy has written a winning essay on the works of children's author Betsy Mae Meadows. His prize is a visit to her home—and naturally she detests actual children.

1. The Bishop Rides Again

Air Date: 1966-05-17

The misadventures of a group of clergymen in the cloisters of a cathedral.

2. Beggar My Neighbour

Air Date: 1966-05-24

Two married sisters living next door to one another are locked in a continuous battle of one-upmanship.

3. A Little Learning

Air Date: 1966-05-31

The Dean of co-educational Sheridan College at the University of Wessex is shocked by the appointment of a new female bursar whom he was once close to.

4. Judgement Day For Elijah Jones

Air Date: 1966-06-07

Elijah Jones believes the world is about to end and plans to build himself an Ark and stock it with stolen animals.

5. Room At The Bottom

Air Date: 1966-06-14

The misadventures of the Maintenance Men at Saracens Manufacturing.

6. The End Of The Tunnel

Air Date: 1966-06-21

A businessman has to start again when his wife leaves him.

7. Seven Year Hitch

Air Date: 1966-06-28

Complications arise in the lives of Ern and Is Conway, proprietors of an unsuccessful dancing school, when Ern forgets their seventh wdding anniversary.

8. The Mallard Imaginaire

Air Date: 1966-07-05

Misadventures of an inept MP.

9. The Reluctant Romeo

Air Date: 1966-08-02

Advertising executive Thomas Jones finds himself irresistible to women, but would prefer to concentrate on his job and his fiancée Sally.

1. Hughie

Air Date: 1967-05-19

Released from prison after a 10 year sentence, Hughie wants to return straight to the comfort of his cell.

2. House In A Tree

Air Date: 1967-05-26

Mother and housewife Jennifer Corner copes with the running of her household.

3. Spanner In The Works

Air Date: 1967-06-02

Arthur Machin, owner of a small engineering works, is determined to get the most out of his employees.

4. Heirs On A Shoestring

Air Date: 1967-06-09

A couple are expecting an inheritance from their elderly uncle, but a spanner is put in the works by a prospective new heir.

5. Uncle Fred Flits By

Air Date: 1967-06-16

The exploits of the eccentric Earl of Ickenham.

6. Loitering With Intent

Air Date: 1967-06-23

A good-cause-supporting couple don't like it when a pair of ""Kilburn Refugees"" take up residence in their garden.

7. To Lucifer: A Son

Air Date: 1967-06-29

Nick, the son of the devil, decides that Hell needs to be more trendy and with-it.

8. The Old Campaigner

Air Date: 1967-06-30

Exploits of super salesman James Franklin-Jones or FJ as he is known as he travels the globe for Balsom Plastics and seeking out 'crumpet' at every opportunity.

1. State Of The Union

Air Date: 1968-04-26

Exploits of a trade union secretary.

2. View By Appointment

Air Date: 1968-05-03

A lonely couple decide to sell their house so that potential buyers can be treated as new friends.

3. The Family Of Fred

Air Date: 1968-05-10

Next-door neighbor Aggie Plunkett has her eye on Fred, a widower of twelve years; but there are his three daughters to contend with.

4. Stiff Upper Lip

Air Date: 1968-05-17

Misadventures of diplomats working in the Iron Curtain state of Vulgaria.

5. Wild, Wild Women

Air Date: 1968-05-24

In Victorian times a group of women work in a milliners.

6. Current Affairs

Air Date: 1968-05-31

7. B-And-B

Air Date: 1968-06-07

Stories of a married show business couple.

8. Me Mammy

Air Date: 1968-06-14

The adventures of Irishman Bunjy Kennefick, a top executive with a London company. His jet-set bachelor lifestyle of fast cars and faster women makes him the envy of his friends—until, that is, they meet his ever-present mother.

9. The Gold Watch Club

Air Date: 1968-06-28

Edward Wilkins is looking forward to his retirement, but things don't turn out as planned.

1. The Liver Birds

Air Date: 1969-04-14

Two young Liverpudlian girls share a flat.

2. The Valley Express

Air Date: 1969-04-21

A pair of bored hacks working on a Welsh newspaper decide to invent stories and sell them on to Fleet Street.

3. Tooth And Claw

Air Date: 1969-04-28

Misadventures of a pair of Jewish multimillionaires.

4. As Good Cooks Go

Air Date: 1969-05-05

The exploits of a jobbing cook.

5. The Loves Of Larch Hill

Air Date: 1969-05-12

Episodes in the life of the decidedly strange Love family.

6. The Making Of Peregrine

Air Date: 1969-05-19

Stanley Mold is determined to make a man out of his son Peregrine.

7. Up Pompeii

Air Date: 1969-05-26

1. Joint Account

Air Date: 1969-12-18

A newly wed husband faces problems when he learns his wife is a useless cook.

2. The Jugg Brothers

Air Date: 1970-01-01

Misadventures of brothers Stephen and Robert Jugg.

3. An Officer And A Gentleman

Air Date: 1970-01-08

Character actor James Grout flexed his comedy muscles in the role of military man Major Gissing, but his usual sterling performance failed to rescue this Comedy Playhouse project from the one-off file. (BBCi Comedy Guide)

4. Who's Your Friend

Air Date: 1970-01-15

Exploits of escort Jimmy Sampson.

1. Keep 'Em Rolling

Air Date: 1970-03-11

Exploits of Reggie Turpin, a 19th century photography enthusiast.

2. Better Than A Man

Air Date: 1970-03-18

Wendy Hillbright is the managing director of a steel works, unfortunately one where her troublesome father also works.

3. Last Tribute

Air Date: 1970-03-25

Misadventures of a pair of undertakers.

4. Haven Of Rest

Air Date: 1970-04-01

Exploits of the residents of an old folks home.

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Air Date:

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1. Mind Your Own Business

Air Date: 1970-06-08

The misadventures of a pair of window cleaning Cockney brothers, one of whom happens to be black, the other white.

2. The Old Contemptible

Air Date: 1970-07-15

Old World War One veteran Sam Oakley hates everything about the modern world.

3. Don't Ring Us ... We'll Ring You

Air Date: 1970-07-29

Exploits of two down-at-heel theatrical agents.

4. Meter Maids

Air Date: 1970-08-05

The exploits of a group of a group of female traffic wardens.

1. Under And Over

Air Date: 1971-01-08

2. Just Harry And Me

Air Date: 1971-04-01

Claire and Harry Love face problems with their teenage daughter.

3. Uncle Tulip

Air Date: 1971-04-08

Kenyan Uncle Tulip arrives in England to look after his neice and nephew and is shocked to discover how English they've become.

4. It's Awfully Bad For Your Eyes, Darling

Air Date: 1971-04-15

5. The Rough With The Smooth

Air Date: 1971-04-22

6. Equal Partners

Air Date: 1971-04-29

7. The Importance Of Being Hairy

Air Date: 1971-05-06

1. Idle At Work

Air Date: 1972-01-14

Misadventures of one George Idle.

2. And Whose Side Are You On

Air Date: 1972-01-21

During WWII, German Major Sperling has his cushy existence in a rural village put under strain by the arrival by the arrival of a tough Gestapo officer.

3. The Dirtiest Soldier In The World

Air Date: 1972-03-27

Exploits of a group of Highland soldiers, especially Private McAuslan.

4. Are You Being Served?

Air Date: 1972-09-08

5. Weren't You Marcia Honeywell?

Air Date: 1972-09-07

6. Born Every Minute

Air Date: 1972-01-28

The shady exploits of a pair of con men.

1. No Strings

Air Date: 1974-04-16

Derek advertises for a flatmate. When Leonora arrives his tidy bachelor domain is soon disrupted by a feminine touch.

2. Franklyn and Johnnie

Air Date: 1974-04-23

Two old rivals decide to make up at the funeral of a friend.

3. Howerd's History of England

Air Date: 1974-04-30

4. Happy Ever After

Air Date: 1974-05-07

Pilot for BBC's "Happy Ever After" series.

5. The Dobson Doughnut

Air Date: 1974-05-14

Terry and June Fletcher are a middle-aged, middle-class couple who find themselves alone when their grown-up children, daughters Susan and Debbie, leave home. However, they are not alone for long as Aunt Lucy comes to live with them, along with her talking mynah bird.Terry frequently hits upon an idea, which due to his foolhardy and obsessive manner he then continues with whatever the consequences, while June remains patient and tolerant.

6. The Big Job

Air Date: 1974-05-21

Comedy about a family of incompetent criminals

7. It's Only Me: Whoever I am

Air Date: 1974-05-28

A young man struggles to break free of his domineering mother.

8. The Last Man on Earth

Air Date: 1974-06-04

A man and his wife wake one morning to discover that everyone else on Earth had just disappeared. After initial disbelief, they settle into looting stores until suddenly they come under mysterious sniper fire at the end.

9. Sitting Pretty

Air Date: 1974-06-11

10. Pygmalion Smith

Air Date: 1974-06-18

Pygmalion 'Smithy' Smith, a less than glamorous photographer at an out of work holiday resort, tries to make a young girl into a star.

11. A Girl's Best Friend

Air Date: 1974-06-25

Divorcee Audrey Dalton learns she is going out with the same man as her daughter.

12. The Reverend Wooing of Archibald

Air Date: 1974-07-02

Archibald Mulliner enlists the help of his Uncle in wooing the girl of his dreams.

13. French Relish

Air Date: 1974-07-09

14. Bird Alone

Air Date: 1974-07-16

1. The Melting Pot

Air Date: 1975-06-11

2. Only on Sunday

Air Date: 1975-06-18

An episode of Comedy Playhouse where Trevor Bannister and Peter Bowles play two friends who tell their wives they play for a local cricket team. Every Sunday they grab their cricket gear and head off to the local cricket pitch. This is just a front because really they going off to meet their girlfriends as they do every Sunday. The deception goes on for quite some time until one weekend the wives decide to go with them. What happens next is hilarious.

3. For Richer... For Poorer

Air Date: 1975-06-25

4. Captive Audience

Air Date: 1975-07-02

5. Going, Going, Gone... Free?

Air Date: 1975-07-09

A divorcee looks forward to being single again.

6. delete this

Air Date: 1974-05-21

7. delete this

Air Date: 1974-05-28

8. delete this

Air Date: 1974-06-04

9. delete this

Air Date: 1974-06-11

10. Pygmalion Smith

Air Date: 1974-06-25

Pygmalion 'Smithy' Smith, a less than glamorous photographer at an out of work holiday resort, tries to make a young girl into a star.

11. A Girl's Best Friend

Air Date: 1974-07-03

Divorcée Audrey Dalton learns she is going out with the same man as her daughter.

12. The Reverent Wooing Of Archibald

Air Date: 1974-07-09

Archibald Mulliner enlists the help of his Uncle in wooing the girl of his dreams.

13. French Relish

Air Date: 1974-07-16

14. Bird Alone

Air Date:

1. Over to Bill

Air Date: 2014-04-29

Over to Bill is a sit com starring starring Hugh Dennis as a weatherman who manages to get fired from his job. Bill Onion is fired after making a joke live on air about the south of England being better than the north. A train of events follow which ends in his humiliation in front of an employer from a rival network.

2. Miller's Mountain

Air Date: 2014-05-06

Comedy set around the antics of Jimmy Miller and his ragtag family of mountain rescue volunteers. When the naive and enthusiastic Conor reports for his first day as a volunteer, Jimmy, the shambolic old rescue hand, takes it upon himself to teach Conor the ways of the hills. Conor's education begins in the pub, where he is introduced to the small mountain community of Jules, Bill, and Bernie. No-nonsense barmaid Jules runs the pub, the Busted Femur; Bill spends every living hour looking after dogs, and his social skills have suffered as a result; and Bernie is head of operations, happy to the point of delirium in her work. When the actual mountain rescuing begins, things go from bad to worse, and then to even worse than that

3. Monks

Air Date: 2014-05-13

Gary has been defrauding the dole office for ten years. Faced with criminal prosecution, he decides to join a religious order to save himself from a long stretch of hardship and abstinence. However, it turns out monastic life is a lot like prison but with more praying. Rudley Abbey is a monastery under threat with only four monks remaining, so the abbot welcomes their new recruit - much to the annoyance of his deputy, Brother Francis. This could be Gary's chance to learn about himself, take some responsibility and bring some meaning to his life. Gary causes an expensive accident and is forced to raise money for the monastery, by increasingly unorthodox means. In the meantime, Brother Francis is forced to take measures to control his anger.

1. Hospital People

Air Date: 2016-02-26

This episode follows how the big decisions can affect the little people in the hospital.

2. Broken Biscuits

Air Date: 2016-03-04

Five disparate groups of people, friends, partners and parents stories unfold.

3. Stop/Start

Air Date: 2016-03-11

Studio sitcom about three marriages in various states of disrepair. Rob and Cathy have been married for a long time, and it shows. Evan and Fiona's marriage is one big, noisy argument punctuated by even noisier make-up sex. And David and Georgy have just moved in next door to Rob and Cathy - he's in his 60s, she's in her 30s - firmly putting the (younger) cat amongst the (not very welcoming) pigeons. When things get tricky in these relationships the characters are able to stop the action, explain themselves directly to the audience and start it all up again.

1. Tim Vine Travels In Time

Air Date: 2017-09-01

Master of the pun Tim Vine journeys back in time to the days of Robin Hood in a quest to mend a golden arrow and a broken heart. Tim is in search of a celebrity for the grand opening of his antique shop. It just so happens that his very first customer is presenter and Strictly Come Dancing champion Ore Oduba, who asks Tim if he can mend his ancient golden arrow. Tim steps inside his very special Grandfather clock which travels him back in time to Sherwood Forest in the days of Robin Hood and his band of merry men. On arriving, Tim is greeted by Robin himself (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Ore Oduba). Robin is suffering from a broken heart. He has mysteriously lost his famous bullseye aim, and with it the love of Maid Marion. Tim must get to the bottom of the mystery but local tyrant and shouty killjoy, the Sheriff of Nottingham, is determined to drive him out of town. Can Tim get to the bottom of this skullduggery and help Robin regain his archery prowess and win back the love of Maid Marion? Will he be able to repair the broken arrow and secure Ore Oduba to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of Tim’s Antiques? Only time travel will tell...

2. Mister Winner

Air Date: 2017-09-08

Mister Winner is a sitcom starring Spencer Jones (Upstart Crow, Tim Vine Travels Through Time) as Leslie Winner, a well-meaning but hapless chap who is prone to accidents, complications and landing himself in unusual and often somewhat dangerous situations. Leslie plans to propose to his girlfriend, Jemma Smith (Aimee-Ffion Edwards - Skins, Peaky Blinders), but unknown to him, she is having doubts about their relationship as he doesn’t take life seriously enough. Jemma is a young professional from Croydon who loves Leslie, but doesn’t know if that’s enough as he doesn’t have a job, any money, or ever take her anywhere. But he makes her laugh more than anyone else ever has. Jemma’s parents, Chris and Teresa, (Shaun Williamson - EastEnders, Extras; Dorothy Atkinson - Call The Midwife, Mum) have stuck together through 30 years of marriage. Chris is managing stress with colouring books (although he didn’t realise there were ‘adult’ ones so is frequently seen colouring in pictures of elephants and children with balloons) and Teresa refuses to take life too seriously. Both are supportive of Leslie’s endeavours to win Jemma’s hand in marriage, even after Leslie has an accident with Chris’s prize possessions, his Koi Carp. Leslie attempts a big proposal on a weekend break to London. After an eventful open-top bus tour, questionable accommodation and a surprise trip to the aquarium, this all results in an impromptu swim in a shark tank. Will Leslie win Jemma over?

3. Static

Air Date: 2017-09-15

Not only is Rob now jobless, but he’s now having to live on a sofabed in his parents’ caravan in a holiday park 80 miles from London whilst he figures out his next move. It seems like a disaster to begin with, but his mum’s delighted to have someone to cook for, and his dad’s figured out how to get thousands of football channels on the telly. Before long Rob’s getting used to being with mum and dad again, and through them he’s quickly drawn into the world of the park, not to mention the extraordinary characters within it. Static is at heart a family sitcom - warm, working-class, multi-generational and broad, with acutely and affectionately observed characters.

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Rating

6.0/10

Release Date

1961-12-15

Episodes

142 (18 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast